Major lens flare using variable ND help

[IronMaskDuval]

Hey folks,

I took the variable ND out today, which is a promaster, and I experienced some major flare issues. It's not the first time that I have used it, but it is the first time for the flares. If I shoot away from the sun, my exposures come out fine, but directly at the sun, and it looks like a cheap car wash job. Is this normal? Is there anything that I can do about it?

 

[480sparky38 37]

Use a hood.
Hold your hand up and shade the lens.
Hold your hat up and shade the lens.
Shoot in the shade.
Shoot on cloudy days.
Shoot with the sun at your back.

But sometimes, you just gotta shoot with the sun in the frame and nothing will work.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

Thanks sparky. It's a pita to put my hood on with the filter on, so I left it off. I'll go for that from now on.

 

[Scatterbrained]

You could try a french flag.

 

[Scatterbrained]

Amazon.com: Dinkum Systems FlareDinkum COMPACT Lens Shade: Camera & Photo



Of course if the sun is directly in the frame you're only hope is a higher quality coated filter or none at all.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

You could try a french flag.

?????

 

[minicoop1985]

No, more like this one:

It needs a snail and a Citroen, but it's a work in progress.

What about a hood that screws into the filter?

 

[Scatterbrained]

You could try a french flag.

?????........

A flag is a device used in lighting for motion picture and still photography to block light. It can be used to cast a shadow, provide negative fill, or protect the lens from a flare..........A smaller variant with an articulated arm, colloquially known as a French flag, is occasionally attached to the movie camera at the discretion of the focus puller solely for the purpose of blocking light flares which the matte box and its accessories cannot reach.

 

[minicoop1985]

I learned something there. I honestly thought you meant giving up/surrendering. Well then.

 

[tirediron]

I keep an 8x10 piece of matte black craft foam (Wal-mart/Michael's <$1.00) in my bag; it makes a great 'DIY' lens shade for exactly this sort of occasion.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

I keep an 8x10 piece of matte black craft foam (Wal-mart/Michael's <$1.00) in my bag; it makes a great 'DIY' lens shade for exactly this sort of occasion.

I have a flag in my bag. I was several beers in before I started to shoot, so I didn't even look at the shots until I got in. Even then, I wouldn't have known to use the flag anyway.

 

[astroNikon]

I learned something there. I honestly thought you meant giving up/surrendering. Well then.

Same here ... thought he meant "give up on it" or something like that lol

I've used my hand when possible to block the sun.

 

[table1349]

How to make a French Flag