Lens Flares

Lens Flares

Optical fl ares are caused by secondary refl ections bouncing
around between the camera elements. Because they occur
within the lens, they appear superimposed over the image,
even when partially occluded by objects in the foreground.
Unlike your eye, which has only one very fl exible lens,
camera lenses are made up of a series of infl exible lens
elements; the longer the lens, the more elements within it.
Each element is coated to prevent refl ection under normal
circumstances, but with enough light fl ooding directly in,
refl ection occurs.
Artists sometimes like to get goofy and creative with lens
fl ares; how many of us, after all, are experts in how they
should look? And yet this is one more area where seemingly
unsophisticated viewers can smell something fake
under their noses, so certain rules apply.