Sun-rays...

pchidell

pchidell

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I often see photos of the sun where it's rays really show. Is there a special combination of settings that allows this to happen? Most of my shots of the sun just look like a ball of light.

Thanks :thumbs:
 
If you can see them with you eyes the camera can pick it up too! Post processing can help by making them stand out more, but I wouldn't have said there's any particularly special technique, make sure you don't blow the highlights too much and possibly use HDR.
 
I find the most likely time to get this effect is when early morning mist is being burned off by the sun. I don't use any special settings or HDR.

Look out for likely places around, eg low ground or near water and watch out for a weather forcast of overnight mist/fog followed by a sunny day. The effect sometimes only lasts a few minutes so being prepared helps. Good luck. Hope to see some piccies from you soon. :)


Just noticed where you're based. I would think the Dee estuary would be good, or the River Dee in Chester with one of those really attractive bridges and trees lining the riverbank.


Jean
 
You also need to stop down at least two stops on the lens to get the effect to be really pronounced.
 
^ I too think we're talking about star bursts, there are no settings you can alter to create sun ray's, they are either there in reality made visible by mist or whatever, or they aren't.
Star bursts are created by small apertures, shoot at f9 or smaller.
You may get lens flare shooting in to the sun.
The fingers of a starburst mark the point in the lens that the diaphragm blades meet, a 6 blade diaphragm will produce 6 fingers, odd numbers double so a 7 will produce 14 fingers, I dunno why that is, I believe the shape of the blades also have an effect..:shrug:
 
I see sun rays a lot in the evening in Cornwall, other than that it's just luck.
 
Thanks for all the info! Sorry, Joxby, that I'm so ignorant :bonk: but what are diaphragm blades? :)
 
The diaphragm blades are the bits inside your lens that close up as you drop your aperture down. Set F16,look down your lens and press the depth of field preview button - you will see them then.
 
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