Have you ever experienced flare from shooting into the light? It happens often when shooting into the sun—backlighting your subject—or if the light source is to the side of the camera. In this case it’s a remote strobe from a recent wrestling match. It’s completely accidental as I was following the action, unaware of the placement of the strobe.
Sometimes flare can be used effectively, adding a particular feel to a photograph. Placing the light source just outside of the frame on a corner is a nice place to start. Try shooting with a small aperture (high f-stop number) to create beams of light—that’s how you make the sun look like a sunburst. When shooting into the sun, you’ll need some kind of fill light for balance so that you’re subject isn’t a silhouette. But using flare as a creative tool can become gimmicky fast, so use it sparingly.
If you want to void flare, use a lens hood or even your hand to block the light.
World Photo by Benjamin Brayfield
