green reflection on my sunset pictures... what am I doing wrong?

[hayleyfraser24]

can anyone help me with this, I keep getting a green reflection when I take photos of the sunset or sometimes a yellow reflection. I use uv filters and circular polarising ones but it doesnt make much difference.. what am I doing wrong?.. often I have to crop out the green because I like the photo but I dont know how else to get rid of it... some examples...

 

[hayleyfraser24]

these are some pictures that I could not salvage as the reflection was too prominent

 

[Robin Usagani]

lens flare.. nothing you can do. You pretty much dont want any direct sunlight hitting the front element. A hood will help but with sun that low, nothing you can do.

 

[tyler_h]

Remove the CPL and UV filters. They won't help with the flare you see in those pics.

The CPL won't do much shooting into hte sun at all anyway.

 

[Big Mike]

That is lens flare. It's a result of the light bouncing off of the lens elements or even the sensor itself. It's almost impossible to avoid when shooting directly into the sun like this...and it's often caused or exaggerated by the use of filters, as that is just another glass surface for reflections. Cheap filters are especially bad, whereas expensive filters have coating to reduce reflections.

You should be able to see the lens flare when shooting, so you may be able to find an angle that eliminates it or a least puts it in a more desirable location in the image. But be careful about looking at the sun, especially through a lens.

 

[analog.universe]

lens flare.. nothing you can do. You pretty much dont want any direct sunlight hitting the front element. A hood will help but with sun that low, nothing you can do.

If you are using filters, you increase the likelihood of lens flare occurring, so try a few shots with no filters. If you're still getting it, then it is cause by the design of the lens... some lenses are much better at controlling flare than others.

 

[hayleyfraser24]

Thanks its a shame as some of the most beautiful sunsets are right in my back yard and I keep getting this lens flare!

 

[amandalee]

You can always try and clone it out in photoshop!

 

[hayleyfraser24]

I only have lightroom just now and im not sure if that is possible with that program?... I have tried a few things but they havent worked and but I am still learning! (im not the most computer savvy person!) but thankyou.. I do plan on getting photoshop but as im sure you all know this can be an expensive hobby

 

[analog.universe]

Until you get photoshop, GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program is pretty impressive for being free. After using it, you may find you don't even need photoshop, depending..

 

[Railphotog]

As has been mentioned, ditch the filters. The polariser only works when shooting at right angles to the sun anyway. There is nothing to be gained by using it otherwise, other than to cut down on reflections.

 

[analog.universe]

P.S. that would be quite a clone job.... a large area of the image is affected, and against a complicated non-repeating texture as well.

 

[KmH]

You pretty much dont want any direct sunlight hitting the front element.

Or any other kind of bright light source.

A hood will help but with sun that low, nothing you can do.

A lens hood only helps when the bright light source is not in the image frame.

Lens flare is reflections of a bright light source between air gaps in the lens/camera. Adding UV or CPL filters to the front of the lens adds air gaps, which increases the likelyhood of having unwanted lens flare.

what am I doing wrong?..

So the only thing you may be doing wrong is giving short shrift to learning and understanding the technical nuances/limitations inherent in doing photography.

 

[hayleyfraser24]

wow, thanks everyone, and ill definatly give "gimp" a go, especially if its free! much appreciated!

 

[Edsport]

Clone tool in Photoshop...