Flare

[dm64]

Hi all

Took this photo at the weekend but got this really weird flare from the sun.

Any thoughts, have just progessed over to digital from film and while I know highlights can be an issue I didnt expect this.

Was taken at 200ASA 1/8000 -4 stops Exp Compensation on F16

Cheers Dennis

[Manta]

Woah! That's wild!
I have no idea how that would have come about but I think the boys at Roswell may know something about it.

We are not alone....

[gstark]

Dennis,

Welcome; please put your location into your profile.

I've seen this sort of thing before, and it seems that it's simply that the light intensity is overpowering the sensor.

[Hlop]

If I understood that correctly, it's a problem of electronic shutter - everything that slower than 1/250 is handled mechanically, and everything that faster is electronic. So, this is an incorrect bahvior of electronic as reaction to very bright object

[rokkstar]

I had exactly the same problem when I was photographing the clouds the other day.
I looked at the shot and it looked like it had a rip in the photo. Right over the brightest light source.
Gary is right, I think it is the intensity of the light and the sensor gets overpowered.

[MHD]

yep, for really really overexposed pixels the charge spills over into adjacent cells...

this is a pretty extreeme case...

[the foto fanatic]

I'm sure that I have read somewhere that it is important not to point your camera into the sun because the sensor may be overwhelmed.
I have seen this sort of effect on slide film - complete overexposure leading to burn-out.
When the sun is relatively low like this, it's probably best to use a lens hood, even holding one hand above the lens to keep the direct sun rays out if necessary.

[dm64]

Thanks for the thoughts guys

I like Manta's comments - I think I should send it off to some obscure magazine and tell them I have a UFO shot

I was trying to get a starburst effect by shooting into the sun but its not to be ...oh well

Might try some next time with a low shutter speed but stopping the lens right down and see what I get....one of the things I love about digital...no wasted film!!!

Den