Lens Flare at DVinfo.net

Philip Hinkle · April 25th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Now that my wedding season is underway I have been trying to shoot some setup footage of venues by shooting through a tree and getting a nice lens flare with the sun shining through the tree leaves. I like to dial down the iris/shutter to get a clean flare and make it sort of explode. Makes a nice transition point when editing. I also like to get a silhoutte of the happy couple with a well timed lens flare between their heads. Problem is the lens flare with the A1 is a white spot with a straight line going up and down. It doesn't flare into a nice round spot with beams coming out like I used to get with my old GL and VX/PD cams.

Is there a way to get those cool lens flares or am I doing something wrong.

Philip

Don Palomaki · April 25th, 2007, 10:46 AM

Thought the really neat flares are accomplished as post production effects rather than in-camera?

Philip Hinkle · April 25th, 2007, 11:07 AM

They can be accomplished that way but it takes time and not everyone is an AE literate person. :-) I know enough about AE to be dangerous but wouldn't consider my self skilled.

I like the in camera flares I used to get that had the rays and nice appearance. Besides a good in cam flare looks way better that a computer generated one .... IMHO!

They only take a few moments to do in cam and are a great way to show the day was a bright sunny day.

Mark Fry · April 26th, 2007, 07:04 AM

Try a star filter in front of the lens? 4, 6, 8 or 10-pointed stars whenever you want them. Might have to go without I.AF, but for such a carefully crafted shot, you'll be in manual focus anyway...

Steve Yager · April 26th, 2007, 10:20 AM

Both Motion and Final Cut have keyframable lens flare generators that look nice if you can't get a good one in camera. This is also assuming that you have Final Cut Studio. I don't like to assume, it makes an ass out of Uma Therman.

April 25th, 2007, 10:00 AM	#1
Philip Hinkle Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Stoughton, WI Posts: 169	Lens Flare Now that my wedding season is underway I have been trying to shoot some setup footage of venues by shooting through a tree and getting a nice lens flare with the sun shining through the tree leaves. I like to dial down the iris/shutter to get a clean flare and make it sort of explode. Makes a nice transition point when editing. I also like to get a silhoutte of the happy couple with a well timed lens flare between their heads. Problem is the lens flare with the A1 is a white spot with a straight line going up and down. It doesn't flare into a nice round spot with beams coming out like I used to get with my old GL and VX/PD cams. Is there a way to get those cool lens flares or am I doing something wrong. Philip

April 25th, 2007, 10:46 AM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Thought the really neat flares are accomplished as post production effects rather than in-camera? __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 26th, 2007, 07:04 AM	#4
Mark Fry Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 425	Try a star filter in front of the lens? 4, 6, 8 or 10-pointed stars whenever you want them. Might have to go without I.AF, but for such a carefully crafted shot, you'll be in manual focus anyway... __________________ Steam Age Pictures - videos in aid of railway preservation societies.

April 25th, 2007, 11:07 AM	#3
Philip Hinkle Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Stoughton, WI Posts: 169	They can be accomplished that way but it takes time and not everyone is an AE literate person. :-) I know enough about AE to be dangerous but wouldn't consider my self skilled. I like the in camera flares I used to get that had the rays and nice appearance. Besides a good in cam flare looks way better that a computer generated one .... IMHO! They only take a few moments to do in cam and are a great way to show the day was a bright sunny day.

April 26th, 2007, 10:20 AM	#5
Steve Yager Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 157	Both Motion and Final Cut have keyframable lens flare generators that look nice if you can't get a good one in camera. This is also assuming that you have Final Cut Studio. I don't like to assume, it makes an ass out of Uma Therman.