How do I photograph a sunset without the glare?

[greatshot]

Hi all,

I have a question. I have been taking some photographs of sunsets/sunrises lately and they have a tone of glare in them. How do I fix this? Just use a polarizer? Or can i fix this by adjusting my settings? Here is an example of what I am talking about.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg257/greatshot2/PicsfromBoat071.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg257/greatshot2/PicsfromBoat109.jpg

Thanks for any help!

[bretedge]

There really isn't anything you can do to completely eliminate flare. However, there are ways to minimize it.

1) Be sure to shade the front lens element. Use a hat, magazine or whatever else happens to be handy. Be sure the entire front element is in shade before releasing the shutter.

2) Use the best lenses possible. Pro lenses are made with better glass and glass coatings. They deal with flare much better than consumer level lenses.

3) Lenses with huge focal length ranges are more prone to flare, i.e. 18mm - 200mm.

4) The fewer pieces of glass you put in front of the lens the less flare you will have. So, that polarizer will actually introduce more flare, as will a UV filter.

5) Use a lens hood. It is still a good idea to shade it separately as mentioned in #1.

6) Clone out what little flare remains using Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.

Hope this helps!

[greatshot]

Ok,

I will try what you said! Thanks.

[argyle]

For shots like these, with the sun in the frame and close to the horizon, you really need a reverse GND filter...sure beats sitting in front of a monitor and photoshopping for a few hours.

[Tareq]

For shots like these, with the sun in the frame and close to the horizon, you really need a reverse GND filter...sure beats sitting in front of a monitor and photoshopping for a few hours.

I was thinking about that, i will give it a try later as we have same this strong sunset in my country, few feet to the beach ;)

[jcsurfn]

There really isn't anything you can do to completely eliminate flare. However, there are ways to minimize it.

1) Be sure to shade the front lens element. Use a hat, magazine or whatever else happens to be handy. Be sure the entire front element is in shade before releasing the shutter.

Hi!

I don't want to take over the post. I was just reading it and I am pretty much a newbie and wanted to know what you ment by shading front lens element? Like when using a hat where do you put it like a hood? or what? I guess I don't know where the front lens element is. I know I know I need to read. :rolleyes: Which I have been doing a lot on this BB. :lol:

Thank You:lol:

[bestfromnw]

front element is your front glass. use a hood and dont use cheap polarizers

[Trev_P]

Using shade won't work when the sun is in the frame like it is in these images. You can only do this when the sun is out of frame. In those situations you are trying to stop direct sunlight from hitting the lens which will cause flare.

With the sun in frame, it has to hit the front element.

Making sure your lens is clean will help with flare.