let the light in

When I shot this polaroid the other day, I knew the sun was just outside frame and that I could end up with an overly blown out image. But still, I went for it and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The flare ultimately helped me capture the emotion I felt that afternoon, which was the ease and warmth of a nice 20 minute vacation while my baby girl napped in the stroller.

Lens flare by definition, is an imperfection. A flare is an artifact caused by a bright light source in the image or shining into the lens. It usually occurs when we shoot into the sun or when the sun is just outside the frame. However, there are times when flares are used deliberately, for the sole purpose of adding drama, energy and realism to the shot. Hmm.

This image I shot and the whole concept behind flares got me wondering if we can also accept our imperfections as special traits that add realness and uniqueness to our personalities. Can we let the "light" into our lives by accepting our flaws and embracing our unexpected magic?

Today, in celebration of light, flares and imperfections, share with us those images in which you let the light in. Where the lack of contrast made up for more softness... Where lens flares, streaks and dots revealed dreamy, unworldly and otherwise unknown perfection.

Comments

[cigi]

Great post! Here's a sunset captured with my point-and-shoot. No flare but still a little blown out and definitely not perfect: http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/198365/

[Irene]

this is a stunning shot. I love it so much.

[sarah]

I absolutely love your beautiful and emotive photo. Here's a picture of sunflare and shadow from me, taken during my phase of "point the camera at the sun and click" - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinesphotography/5019921474/in/set-72157624662527268/

[Marcie]

Here's a recent one where the harsh light burned out some of the details..but still the image manages to say it all:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1343

[Ange]

Fabulous shot and the flare is perfect!

I love taking flare shots - sometimes a little too much :)

Here's one I've taken recently...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadic_tendencies/5127616023/

And one of I took a while ago...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadic_tendencies/3203095053

[Jenniféehttp://networkedblogs.com/9TMU0]

I love it when you get light that seems tangible, like in your wonderful image there. A recent favourite of mine is this one - imperfectly exposed but perfectly magical:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5114374101/

[Leslie]

I love flare, too! It's what I was hoping for when I took this shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/westieluvr/4869605479/in/set-72157622197021631/

[Morgen]

Amazing shot! I love capturing flares. I think it is a phase I am going through right now :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearsefamily/4975376186/

[Linda]

I love the 60s feel to it!

[Vickie]

I love your philosophy behind your photography work. Photography is chasing the "light". We can not see the "light" without the shadows nor would there be any shadows without the "light". Wonderful image; it involves the visual, the emotional and the mental (thoughts).

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=346&action=edit

I love flare too. It allows a whole new perspective.

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

Very nice Polaroid! I am a fan of lens flare and sunlight in the photo. That's my thing right now...

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com --> Photo Blog

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com ---> Everything else Blog

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.com/2010/10/24/sun-flare/

Ooops--goofed on my link above--try this one.

[lucy]

your picture is like california dreamin' -- this could be my cousin back in 1967 on the beach in santa cruz. love it.

i was shooting photos of flowers on my deck when our cat walked by. with crazy bokeh, a purple flare, and a funny title, it ended up working!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/5113756589/

[Andrea]

I love the look of flare in photos. <3 Can't get enough in my opinion!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaspencephotography/4858278005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaspencephotography/4991643798/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaspencephotography/4910948401/

[Bethany G]

This is lovely! I've been able to capture sunflare before, but my I just captured first photo with the flare big on the side like yours this week. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunflare/5121872969/ :D

[Naomi]

What a great shot-love it!
I love playing with sunlight--here are a couple I just took last week!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50267281@N03/5118612708/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50267281@N03/5118011573/

[camerashymomma]

i love this pola, alex! california dreamin'
i love what you wrote about imperfection being our uniqueness. i will most definitely carry that thought with me.

and for good measure, here is my most recent photo where i let the light in from a great family session.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/5052563331/

[molly]

this particular one doesn't have lens flare, but it does have an otherworldly feel with the sun just out of the frame...

http://mollyfair.smugmug.com/photos/1071101854_RUgFc-M.jpg

[Misty]

Without it, I wouldn't like this picture. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/5057043416/

[AndMilesToGo]

I agree that the sun flare captured in that photograph sets the perfect mood. I have a photograph to share in which I also used sun flare to invoke a particular mood.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7919926@N04/5131959142/

[Misty]

I almost forgot my other 2 favorites:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/4712648685/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/4644187977/in/photostream/

[life in eden]

Always love me some flare. Your beach shot is amazing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/5131485361/

[Lauren]

I have been loving these type of shots lately:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/5039606601/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4914652675/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4888197859/

[Lauren]

I finally found it.... this one is my fav and I think it suits my neice's personality:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4835337699/

[Dawn B]

Lovely image! This is why I still shoot film and use a Holga. The imperfections and light leaks are the best part. My 2 Holgas are actually pretty light tight, but I did have this jem on my last roll:

http://elfini.tumblr.com/

[Stephanie]

Everyone has such great flare photos! I love breaking photography rules and the "No flare" rule is one of my faves to toss out the window. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/5125028610/

[Stephanie]

I forgot about this one! it's an old flare shot but I still love it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/4851557569/

[Line]

that's a gorgeous shot that light is amazing, I won a copy of you book expressive photography and I love it!!!

[Karen D]

I love this one that I took at Squam Art Worshops..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41584693@N02/5010532024/in/set-72157625189989756/

[Karen D]

Here is another i took awhile ago.. forgot about it until now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41584693@N02/4292217482/in/photostream/

[Angela]

Lovely - and a coincidence because I just purposely used flare today to add some other-worldlyness to this Halloween picture!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelaslp/5132705079/

[Tina]

I love your photo and agree with the person that says it has a 1970s look about it.

My photo, linked below, has bad flare, is an ugly one, but apt for the date :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenhillphotography/5132726547/

[spread your wings]

sunset lens flare taken just yesterday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5134224998/

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[Becky R.]

I usually do flares on accident. I'm to new to the photography scene to understand most of the technical things. However, this one of a cemetery in Allentown, PA, that has no name is pretty nice. It's one of those that I didn't plan but it turned out to be perfect for me.

http://flic.kr/p/8PHsNb

[Tracy]

what an amazing polaroid!
here's a recent flare shot that revealed a bit of magic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/5104349326/

[Jess]

I've been a sun flare nut lately. LOVE the light in these two photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoldnicholsfarm/4752008868/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoldnicholsfarm/5051481354/

[Jess]

I've been a sun flare nut lately. LOVE the light in these two photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoldnicholsfarm/4752008868/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoldnicholsfarm/5051481354/

[xanthe]

oooh i love this shot :)

[Kristine]

Letting the light in and so happy that I did!

http://kristinenoel.com/2010/10/26/indian-summer-2/

[DorkyMum]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/5135807105/

[Trude]

I'm a completely sun flare addict. Use it all. the. time. But this time I wanted to keep the flowers glowing, backlit, so I kept it to a minimum. And I actually liked this shot, with the truck's headlights in the background, better than other ones that didn't have it. Embracing "imperfection"! :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/5122629716/

[Winn]

Here's mine: way over-exposed, but then I fiddled with it to bring back some definition. Makes it look more like a brilliant winter day rather than a frosty fall morning. :)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreenphotography/5130459224/

[Alex]

Thank you for sharing all your awesome flare shots, ladies. I guess I am not the only one who loves light leaks and streaks!! xoxx

[Kiley]

This post really inspired me to go back and review some of my previously discarded film frames from a variety of vintage cameras that I use from time to time. I found not so many sun flares but lots of light leaks. I was so inspired I blogged about my review of the frames.

http://www.gogovivi.com/2010/11/embracing-imperfection.html

Also I am loving all the shots above me! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Brooke]

I love finding a shot that makes the light just look yummy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterboo502/5095341952/

[Emily Perry]

oh, i totally heart flare. and imperfection. and a reminder to get myself down to the ocean asap!

[Michelle]

I love flare. I shot this while bear hunting a few weeks ago. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26029966@N02/5100651273/