Embracing Sun & Lens Flares

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this post or not.

I've spent the last ~28 years trying to avoid lens flare. But, as it is something that has become quite "trendy" over the last few years, I've decided to try and embrace it . . . or at least learn how to work with it.

These two photos---which I shot tonight---have just had basic adjustments done in Camera Raw. The only unusual thing that I've done to them is jack the "haze" slider basically all the way up. I'm not yet ready to embrace hazy, washed out, images. I did not jack up the clarity.

These photographs were shot with my 6D (ran into a shutter speed limitation for the first time) and my 24-70 f/2.8 II.

This one is at f/2.8:

Heya,

Flare will change based on aperture. Wider aperture will result in a much more hazy flare. F22 or just narrow aperture will produce a more defined flare that shows the spikes & elements of the lens.

As for focusing into the sun, that's why it's hard, because of the flaring. If you just use your hand to mask the sun your lens will focus without a problem. Just compose as you wish, then use a hand to mask the sun while looking at your viewfinder, or whatever you use, suddenly the scene will have contrast and focus will work fine.

I generally avoid flare too. I had to sell my Tokina because it was just too crazy with flare in the sun.

But as you said, sometimes, flare can be interesting.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oveh​Yj

Thank you, Martin.

Sometimes the really obvious answers (like shading the camera with my hand to allow the lens to focus) allude me.

I also used the most flare resistant lens in my collection (according to Google), and I left the lens hood on.

It looks like I may be blessed with nice sun again tonight, so I'll try again tonight: utilizing your tips.

Sunrise Colorado National Monument

Really liked #1