Strange things are happening

jazzywheelz

jazzywheelz

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James
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I was out shooting some light trails the other night (first attempt) and I noticed a few unwanted effects on some of the shots.
The picture below shows the two effects I'm referring to...

IMG_1422.jpg


Top-right of the picture, near the street lamps, there are some concentric lines which I'm assuming are part of the inner construction of the lens itself. There was a very bright street lamp out of shot to the top-right, could this be the cause of the lines? Could it have been avoided by using a lens hood?

Also, near the centre of the picture there is an inverted duplicated image of the illuminated sign on the forecourt of the petrol station. Could this have been caused by the UV filter which I forgot to remove from the lens?

Thanks in advance :)
 
I think both your ideas are reasonable explanations James, but I expect someone with better knowledge could illuminate the situation.
That bit over the lights dont half look like a fingerprint to start with :)
 
The concentric circles look like the rings you get around the front element of some lenses. I can only think that you must have been using a filter which has picked up that reflection - same with the inverted street sign?
 
The double image of the sign is the filter for sure, picking up light reflected off the sensor and bouncing it back off the rear surface. The concentric lines are, I'm guessing, something to do with the light baffling inside the lens somehow picking up on those bright street lights, but I'd also put money on them disappearing if you take the filter off.
 
HoppyUK said:
The double image of the sign is the filter for sure, picking up light reflected off the sensor and bouncing it back off the rear surface. The concentric lines are, I'm guessing, something to do with the light baffling inside the lens somehow picking up on those bright street lights, but I'd also put money on them disappearing if you take the filter off.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd say the circles are a reflection from the filter of the bit around the outside of the front element which are often stepped like that.

Irrespective of the other arguments, night photography with street lights is definitely NOT a time to use a UV filter.
 
ohara said:
Fingerprint :D
Click to expand...

I thought so too at first glance but the circles are too round and too even. What you're undoubtedly seeing is those circles around the front element being reflected back onto the filter.


rings by tonky8203, on Flickr
 
Thankyou everyone for your replies :)

I completely forgot the filter was on until afterwards. I tend to just keep it attached to the lens as I don't really have anywhere else to store it. I'll make sure I take it off next time. I definately need to get myself a lens hood too.

It's good to know I was thinking along the right lines, and now I know how I can improve.

Thanks again everyone :)
 
jazzywheelz said:
Thankyou everyone for your replies :)

I completely forgot the filter was on until afterwards. I tend to just keep it attached to the lens as I don't really have anywhere else to store it.
Click to expand...

Those reflections don't just happen at night - they'll be there in all of your shots. Perhaps not as noticable, but contributing to an overall loss of contrast.

My suggestion is you store the filter on a coffee table, they do make good coasters.
 
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