Photographing sunrise and sunset.

[CarlukeDave]

With the clear skies we've been having recently I've tried to get some shots of the sun rising and setting. I seem to be getting a lot of flare in the shot, I've uploaded one of the shots.

What can I do to get a better image? Do I need to get a filter?

 

[Witch]

Shooting directly into the sun, flare can be hard to avoid. A polarizing filter might help - although I'm not any sort of expert on the subject to be able to say for certain. I take it you are using the hood on your lens? It should also be mentioned that some lenses are better than others - it can depend on the coating on the surface.

 

[CarlukeDave]

Thanks for the info.

I'm using a Sigma 17-70 lens, I actually didn't have the hood on for this shot, it was a bit rushed, just stopped at the side of the road on my way to work!

I'm thinking about investing in a polarizing filter, I had a UV filter on for this shot!

Dave

 

[dod]

a hood won't help shooting straight into the sun. The only thing which will prevent flare in that situation is making sure your lenses and filters are absolutely clean. The smallest smear or dust speck will give you what you see there.

 

[CarlukeDave]

a hood won't help shooting straight into the sun. The only thing which will prevent flare in that situation is making sure your lenses and filters are absolutely clean. The smallest smear or dust speck will give you what you see there.

Thanks for the advice.

Might be a silly question, but is there a guide anywhere as how best to clean equipment. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

Dave

 

[laser_jock99]

For shooting directly into the sun (or any point sources and bright lights for that matter) the thing that will help most is using top quality lenses. Nikon ED or Canon L and possibly other apochromatics will do the trick. They cost more but the surface figure of the lenses, the different glasses used and the anti-reflection coatings are all better. Some modern zooms feature moulded plastic lenses!

Avoid using zoom lenses of any type due the large number of optical elements they contain. Zooms have as many as 14 elements and each one is a potential source of flare. A good prime lens with just 4 or 5 optics will control flare better.

You can pick up old manual focus prime lenses on E-bay for next to nothing. Look for something like an old Galaxy/Clubman/Optomax/Vivitar brand 300mm F5.6 lens. Most of these will have a T2 mount which means you can get an adapator for £5 to fit most DSLRs.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Prinz-Galaxy-...oryZ4688QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FD-Fit-...ryZ48552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FD-Fit-...ryZ48552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FD-Fit-...ryZ48552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FD-Fit-...ryZ48552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any of the above lenses will beat a zoom hands down photographing the sun. You will need set the exposure manually but then you usually have to add +2 stops when the sun is in the frame anyway. Best of all some of those lenses are less than a quid! Have a go.

Here's a photo taken with a Sigma 300mm apochromatic prime lens. Sun well off centre and still no hint of flare.