What is "Flaring"?

[damian5000]

What is the definition of "flaring"? The context is something to the effect of "This camera has a lens hood you can attach which reduces flaring"

Thanks in advance for the help.. I tried to google this but really couldn't find a definition...

- Damian

 

[Neophyte Photographer]

flaring occurs when you shoot pretty straight towards the sun

it causes very bright "bubbles" in your pictures.

 

[damian5000]

"Bright bubbles"... I think i know what you mean...any example pictures?

 

[warped_baller]

NOT MY IMAGE! This is a extreme case of flare.

Not mine again. Also flare but this is more common.

I got theese off of a google image search

http://www.zeroimage.com/gallerya/chritopher_Condit/flare.html

http://www.kokpeter.dds.nl/Images/Misty_Mountain_Ridges_lense_flare.jpg

 

[Hertz van Rental]

Lens flare (correct term) doesn't have to be obvious. You can get it from any light source that strikes the camera lens.
Light from well off the centre axis of the lens (so that you cannot see the light source in the viewfinder) can still hit the front element. Being glass any light that hits it will 'bounce around' in there. What this does in effect is to increase the light level in the lens. This is not immediately apparent to the eye, but film and sensor register it. The effect is to reduce the density of the shadows making the final image look washed out.
A lot of time and efffort by manufacturers goes into reducing internal reflections in a lens (this is why lenses have coatings) but they will still suffer from flare if lighting conditions dictate it.
For this reason it is essential to use the correct lens hood for your lens at all times.