is there a way of getting the 'star' effect??

Matt L

Matt L

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Matt
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with flash guns?

I have an idea for a shot i want to try where the flash guns are facing the camera but i want them to have the star effect on them, but im unsure if its possible or whether the lights need to be on constantly to get that effect :lol:

also if there is an actual name for said effect it would probably help me lol saves referring to it as a star effect lol.

thanks
matt

edit: flash guns are 300afd things from jessops so no manual control at all they will be on full power.
 
2 ways:

Set your aperture to small as possible.

Use a star filter. A star filter will soften the entire image.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by 'star effect' - do you mean this sort of thing?
beam.jpg

If so, it has nothing to do with the type of light, it's simply a diffraction filter (also sometimes called a star filter or a crosshatch filter) which fits over the lens. They are engraved with a square pattern that causes controlled flare. The effect is of course much greater at small apertures.
 
We used to call them starburst filters, you can apply a similar-ish effect in post process with a star brush, although it's not as good in my opinion.
 
Matt L said:
yeah thats what i mean gary.

I was led to believe the higher the f number the better the effect (without a filter) when taking long exposure shots anyway.
Click to expand...

Well, you can get UNcontrolled flare without one, simply by using a very small aperture on a lens that badly needs cleaning
 
LEE do a great star filter - a 6 point star (you can get 2, 4, 6 and 8 point varieties from ost makers!) a GRADUATED star, this alllows you to pick one or two points of light to get the star from, without having the entire image looking like one of Liberace's coats.
 
gonna sound retarded for someone who isn't a n00b (well not much of one) but small here is small hole right not small number?
 
david1701 said:
small here is small hole right not small number?
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Yup, assuming you're talking about the lens aperture. If you mean the example in the photo, I have no idea. ;)
 
david1701 said:
gonna sound retarded for someone who isn't a n00b (well not much of one) but small here is small hole right not small number?
Click to expand...

Small aperture = high f/number, e.g. f/11 is smaller than f/8. The aperture I used in that example photo was f/11, which is about as small as you would want to go with a cropped framed DSLR
 
Throw the filter holder away (or sell it) and buy yourself a packet of blu tac to hold your filters in place....works on every lens!
 
I have a Hitech one... got it for farting about at christmas time... It's a 100mm slot in. The only downside is that with narrow DoF you get a honeycomb pattern in the background :(

 
Star filter will do. if you don't want to buy one, try to use a very small F number as Garry said. I usually use F16
 
you can do some pretty cool stuff by cutting out shapes in card and sticking them in front of your lens

i'd find a tutorial etc but i've just got in from work and i am le tired ;)
 
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