Is lens flair always considered as a defect in a photo? If so why does PhotoShop have a Filter to add it? I used it in this photo to simulate the Star of Bethlehem. Did I violate some basic rule of photography?
Uncontrolled flare is generally considered a bad thing - that's why so much is spent on coatings for lenses, lens hoods etc. Most flare really appears as loss of contrast or blurred edges, rather than the more obvious 'twinkle' that can add a lot to a picture.
Like everything, if you use it effectively, there are no 'rules'. It is the using it effectively part that is tricky in that, not the ignoring the rules part.
Hmmm...nice effect. Looks real, though not necessarily star-like. It looks more like the streetlight in the Bethlehem Home Depot parking lot.
Seriously, though, I'm sure they have a 4-cornered star flare somewhere. When I think of the whole nativity star thing, I think white with four points of light.
I used lens flare to some critical acclaim in this shot here.
jimmythefish,
Very nice photo. Did you use a real filter to get this or is it PhotoShop? Either way it works well.
I only have PS Elements 1.0 and I can't find any other flair filter and, your right, it does look like the Home Depot parking lot light.
No filter at all for that...just straight shot. The properties of the Sony lens create the four-point flare. I didn't mean any offense by the comment, by the way ;). Cheap excuse for a joke. Not familiar with photoshop elements at all...
You'll have to work a lot harder than that to offend me:)
That shot as taken at the Mesa Arizona Temple on Christmas Eve. You can see more here if you are interested.
Thanks,
Roger
