Shutter Sisters

all the right places

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I fell in love with shooting into the sun many, many years ago. Like, before I had ever even heard of digital photography. Some of you might remember those days. I recall the element of sun-shiny surprise to be intoxicating. No matter what event I was shooting I always fired off a couple of frames, lens pointed toward the sun. Whether I shot straight into it or just allowed the light to skim across my lens was no matter. It felt good t throw caution to the wind just to see what would come from it.

In those days, there were no test shots and nothing to double check to be sure you were getting the results you were hoping for. It was all good intentions and a lot of finger crossing. Fast forward to now, when you can experiment with any photographic technique with immediate feedback. I am even more invested in trial and error than ever before. Why not? There is nothing to loose. Not even developing costs.

I have been really focused on flare lately. It’s become an obsession. Where to put it, how to get the flare and the sunspots to work together, how to manipulate the shape of the flare itself. These are all questions that can’t be perfectly answered as using the light as a creative paintbrush  will always yield somewhat  inconsistent results. However, there are ways of getting a least a little more control of this illusive subject.

I hold closely the invaluable information that Sarah has shared here with us on flare and what Kristin shared too. It’s always nice when someone who has taken good notes, can shed a little light on things for us. Pun definitely intended.

Regardless of what we know or don’t know about flare, how long we’ve been working on it or how early we still are on our hunt to harness it, sometimes the photographic planets do align and we get a shot where the light shines exactly where it should. Insert heavenly voices singing together here.

Share with us that shot. The one where the light falls into place even better than if someone set it there themselves.

The beautiful belly above belongs to Superhero Andrea Scher.

Comments

  6. Wow – that is a well placed flare! I have not experimented with sun flare. Only captured it by accident. In this shot it sort of came down and tousled the mane of our filly, Trixie. I am considering starting a photography journal – actually printing out the photos and journaling why and how I took it and what I was looking for and what I got.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanderwood/4830022141/

  11. I learned how to create the Star effect with my lens and was teaching it to some of my class mates when I took this shot.

  13. your photo is breathtaking. what a perfect capture to symbolize the expectation of a mother-to-be.

    here is one of my favorite sunlight/flare captures. i had been at this old, abandoned bridge for a couple of hours with a friend taking pictures. then as we were leaving, the sun began to set, and was doing some cool things with the old iron structures that shot up from the bridge.

    http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2010/07/another-post-inspired-by-shutter.html

  20. I used to always have it stuck in my head that you wanted the sun at your back. Advice from my father, who takes really great photos. But kinda safe, standard photos.

    A little over a year ago, after being inspired by beautiful images such as the one you just shared above, I turned my camera into the sun….and I haven’t stopped. Not sure if I’m always successful, and can’t always tell when I click that shutter. But how exhilarating when you download, or spin your lens around and take a look, and see the magic!

    A recent one of my niece…skin tone got super funky so went black and white…miss the warmth but the light is still there.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/4828469870/

  29. Just discovered your site through Allessandra’s site, through … and will be coming back for more. Been trying to work on flare shots a bit, so this is perfect timing, thanks!

  39. I absoflippin’lutely love flare! I’m a bit of a junkie, actually…and there is something about a mama with a babe in her belly that just totally and completely calls for flare:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/pumpkinoodle/4800113054/

    also, ordinarymagical moments with my muse, a swing, and sunset:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/pumpkinoodle/4838833324/

    and, heck, I could go on all day…but, well, here:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/pumpkinoodle/tags/flare/

    Awesome topic!!

    xoxo
    Lilia

  43. Okay, could SOMEBODY tell me how Andrea is not a dark sillouette (no flash) or a too-bright apparition (flash)? I want to take shots like these!!!!! Anybody? (Beautiful by the way.)