Lens flare

Lens flare refers to a phenomenon wherein light is scattered or flared in a lens system, often in response to a bright light, producing a sometimes undesirable artifact within the image. This happens through light scattered by the imaging mechanism itself, for example through internal reflection and scattering from material imperfections in the lens. Lenses with large numbers of elements such as zooms tend to exhibit greater lens flare, as they contain a relatively large number of interfaces at which internal scattering may occur. These mechanisms differ from the focused image generation mechanism, which depends on rays from the refraction of light from the subject itself. Photograph of NASA lunar lander containing lens flare. Besides the obvious flare around the Sun, the light artifacts at the bottom right are also caused by flare.Sample of artificial lens flare, as might be used in an animated movie or video game.High-end lens flare rendering using a recent techniqueLens flare is extremely difficult to control when a bright light source like the sun is just outside the frame.When the subject of a photo is the light source itself, lens flare can be a desirable and dramatic effect.Lens flare used to capture details of too bright motive (partial solar eclipse).Lens flare - the sun is outside the frame.Dome of the Rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, JerusalemLens flare commonly associated with the use of anamorphic lenses which are often used in the production of films.Lens flare example in picture of Kensington Gardens - London, UKLens flare example in picture in a portrait. 50 mm at f1.4 Lens flare refers to a phenomenon wherein light is scattered or flared in a lens system, often in response to a bright light, producing a sometimes undesirable artifact within the image. This happens through light scattered by the imaging mechanism itself, for example through internal reflection and scattering from material imperfections in the lens. Lenses with large numbers of elements such as zooms tend to exhibit greater lens flare, as they contain a relatively large number of interfaces at which internal scattering may occur. These mechanisms differ from the focused image generation mechanism, which depends on rays from the refraction of light from the subject itself.