Lens Flare

Lens flare (English: lens flare = " lens light reflection " ) is the name given to reflection and scattering of visible against the light in a lens system. The German name is flares or reflective lens.

In photographs, flares often represent by a star, ring or circular patterns that reduce the color contrast of the affected areas. The shape of the reflections shown is also influenced by the diaphragm blades used, so that for example form at an aperture, which consists of six elements, hexagonal pattern. The coloring of the flares can be very different, since develop through different strong diffraction certain light components are also maxima of certain colors for individual reflection patterns.

In the classic photography Blendenflecke be suppressed by suitable lens designs, lens hoods and / or polarizing filters, for better image quality. However, filters tend usually to generate additional flares. For artistic shots sometimes flares are used deliberately to achieve special effects or to have an image appear more real. Also, the human eye is affected by its lens apparatus of lens flares, which manifests itself by unintentionally verschleierndes aperture and thus provides a possible explanation for why many people find images with flare as lifelike.

Use as a stylistic device

In film productions flares usually occur in the use of anamorphic lenses on when a bright light source is just outside the picture. They are also deliberately used by directors as a stylistic device, such as JJ Abrams in the feature films Star Trek and Super 8

In computer graphics, image disturbances of this kind sometimes deliberately into computer-generated ( " rendered " ) images are included to make this look more realistic. To generate a lot of computer games flares.