After a quick search I find no flare appreciation threads

So here goes, looking for interesting quirky flare that adds to a shot rather than ruins it.

I'll go first, here's my Leica 19mm Elmarit-R at f/8 20s ISO800

Yeah, baby! Are you sure you didn't use the OM 21/3.5?

It's immediately what I thought of when I saw the red ring

My 85Ls are so prone to this kind of huge circles ... Here is some subtle flare I like though...

5d2 + Canon FD85L/1.2

These are all VERY nice flares!

thrice wrote:
After a quick search I find no flare appreciation threads

So here goes, looking for interesting quirky flare that adds to a shot rather than ruins it.

I'll go first, here's my Leica 19mm Elmarit-R at f/8 20s ISO800

Gosh, amazing pic.

thrice wrote:
It's immediately what I thought of when I saw the red ring


I thought the alt. forum was for those who didn't like red rings.

Flare can be very interesting. I provoced my rokkor 58 this morning. Will post results later.

Anden wrote:
Flare can be very interesting. I provoced my rokkor 58 this morning. Will post results later.
Looking forward to it

Nikkor 50/1.4 AIS

voka_gsw, that first shot has beautiful flare. This is a good thread - flare appreciation! Good idea, thrice

Toothwalker wrote:
Nice. Would this be with or without a filter mounted on the lens?


Unfortunately I cannot mount filters on that lens, the 19mm Elmarit-R (2nd version) has a built-in filter turret but I was using the ndx1 filter (clear) which doesn't affect shots.

I do enjoy a good flare, especially when it adds mood or interest to a shot. I have a friend in cinematography who complains a lot that new lens formulations/coatings do not flare enough (at all) for emotive work.

thrice wrote:
I do enjoy a good flare, especially when it adds mood or interest to a shot. I have a friend in cinematography who complains a lot that new lens formulations/coatings do not flare enough (at all) for emotive work.

Same here - a lot of the cinematographers I work with use older lenses to achieve flare or simply a look that has something less perfect about it.

I think I've got some other more gnarly flare shots, but here's one thats somewhat more subtle:

thrice wrote:
Toothwalker wrote:
Nice. Would this be with or without a filter mounted on the lens?


Unfortunately I cannot mount filters on that lens, the 19mm Elmarit-R (2nd version) has a built-in filter turret but I was using the ndx1 filter (clear) which doesn't affect shots.


I just wondered, since the bright flare spot in the sky is a mirror ghost of the jetty lamp. Mirror ghosting is normally (not exclusively) due to reflections between the sensor and a filter. Or planar surfaces within the lens design itself, but these are of rare occurrence. In my opinion the ndx1 filter is the prime suspect.

Daniel Buck wrote:
I think I've got some other more gnarly flare shots, but here's one thats somewhat more subtle:


Very cool car shot, Daniel. Was that for an assignment or for yourself? In case it was for an assignment, did the client like/want that kind of flare?

Great photos here. I get some flare when using a polfilter on my Zuiko 18. I have modified the step rings and not repainted so I suppose the flare is caused by the bare metal.

Is this enough flare?

Nikon 35 1.4 ai-s I think :

Very nice flare, Ulrik! Great light on the guy in the foreground.

First shot is very cool, Andreas. Quite spooky somehow. Like it´s keeping an eye on us. And the flare adds to it in a 2001 space odyssey way.

Thank you André. I love it too. I have it printed in 50*70 cm on my wall. A lot of details in the photo. The Turning Torso is visible in the upper left corner...

Lifting this thread with a self portrait.

5DII + Zuiko 18/3.5

I was about to recommend you post this shot in this thread when I saw it in the alternative image thread Anden, great unique flare!

Dan