Sun flare photography is all about embracing sunlight as a dramatic storytelling element. When captured intentionally, flares can add warmth, whimsy, or mystery to an image—transforming an ordinary scene into something magical. Whether you’re photographing portraits, landscapes, or everyday moments, learning how to create beautiful sun flare effects can elevate your work. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best techniques and tips to master sun flare photography.
What is Sun Flare in Photography?
Sun flare occurs when light enters the lens directly and scatters internally, causing visible artifacts like glowing orbs, streaks, or haze. While traditionally considered a flaw, sun flare has become a stylistic choice embraced by photographers for its cinematic and dreamlike aesthetic. It’s often used to evoke emotion, create a nostalgic mood, or emphasize the warmth and energy of the sun.
Sun flare can occur in various forms:
- Circular or Orb-like Flares: Perfect for dreamy, ethereal vibes.
- Streaked Flares: Great for a dramatic, almost surreal look.
- Haze or Glow: Adds soft light that can envelop your subject.
When to Use Sun Flare
Sun flare can be used creatively in a variety of situations. Here’s when and how to use it:
- Golden Hour : Golden hour (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) is the perfect time to experiment with sun flare. During this time, the sun is lower and softer, which allows for beautiful light and less harsh contrast. The warmth of the light adds a golden, inviting hue to your images, making it the ideal backdrop for stunning sun flares.
- Backlighting Portraits : Backlighting, where the subject is lit from behind by the sun, creates a halo effect around your subject. This type of lighting works wonderfully for portraits—especially for emphasizing hair, creating a silhouette, or giving a dreamy aura to the shot. The sun flare can enhance this effect and make your subject stand out.
- Nature and Lifestyle Shots : Sun flare is especially effective for landscape or lifestyle photography, where it can infuse the image with warmth and a nostalgic feeling. Imagine a couple walking on a beach at sunset, a field of flowers swaying in the breeze, or a lone hiker trekking toward the horizon—the flare will add to the emotional depth and atmosphere.
Looking to add a cinematic touch to your images? Learn how to shoot cinematic wedding photos for a stunning, professional effect that makes use of the natural beauty around you.
How to Create Sun Flare Effects: Step-by-Step
Creating beautiful sun flare effects is all about mastering light and positioning. Here's how to do it:
- Shoot Toward the Sun : To create sun flares, position your subject so that the sun is either directly behind them or just outside the frame. This allows the light to spill into the lens, creating the flare effect. Ensure that you have enough space in the frame for the flare to form and shape your image.
- Use a Small Aperture : The aperture controls how much light enters the camera, and using a smaller aperture (like f/16 or f/22) will produce the iconic star-shaped flares. These smaller apertures give the sun's rays a defined, angular shape that adds to the flare’s dramatic impact.
- Partially Obstruct the Sun : For a subtler, more controlled flare, you can partially hide the sun behind your subject—whether it’s a tree, building, or another object in the scene. This will reduce the intensity of the flare but still create a magical glow around the subject. The edges of the sun can peek through the obstruction, creating a soft and dreamy effect.
- Experiment with Lens Choice : Different lenses create different kinds of flares. Generally, prime lenses (lenses with a fixed focal length) tend to produce cleaner, more controlled flares, as they have fewer lens elements that can distort the light. However, zoom lenses might generate more complex, unique flare patterns. Experiment with different lenses to see how they affect your flare and find one that matches your desired aesthetic.
- Remove the Lens Hood : Lens hoods are designed to block stray light, which can help reduce flare. But for sun flare photography, you want the opposite. Removing the lens hood allows more light to enter the lens from different angles, which can produce beautiful flare effects. Just be cautious—without the hood, there’s a greater chance of unwanted lens flare, so experiment and adjust based on your needs.
- Use Manual Exposure Settings : Shooting toward the sun can often cause the image to be overexposed, especially in bright daylight. To maintain detail in the highlights and prevent the sky from being blown out, it’s important to use manual exposure settings. Adjust the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture until you achieve the perfect balance, keeping the highlights under control and preserving shadow detail.
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Tips for Better Sun Flare Shots
Want to take your sun flare photography to the next level? Here are a few additional tips to consider:
- Clean Your Lens : Any dust, fingerprints, or smudges on your lens can distort the flare or create unwanted glare, making your photos less sharp. Always clean your lens before shooting, especially if you’re aiming for precise, clean flare effects.
- Bracket Exposures : When shooting into the sun, exposure can be tricky. To ensure you get the perfect shot, consider bracketing your exposures. Take multiple shots at different exposure levels, and choose the best one when editing. This gives you more flexibility in capturing the perfect balance of light and flare.
- Shoot in RAW Format : Shooting in RAW format preserves all the details in your image, especially in the highlights and shadows. This gives you more room to edit in post-production and ensure that the flare looks as magical as possible without losing any important details.
- Try Live View : Live view can be incredibly helpful when shooting into harsh light, like the sun. It allows you to see exactly how the light and flare are interacting with your subject, making it easier to frame and focus your shot.
Interested in mastering studio lighting techniques too? Check out our beginner’s guide to artificial lighting for tips on using controlled lighting in studio settings.
Composition Ideas with Sun Flares
Sun flare can enhance your composition in multiple ways. Here are a few creative ideas for incorporating flare into your shots:
- Silhouettes : A great way to showcase sun flare is by creating silhouettes. Position your subject between the camera and the sun, allowing the flare to wrap around them. This creates a bold, striking contrast between the subject and the light.
- Lens Rainbow : Sun flares can create colorful streaks or rainbows when the light hits the lens at certain angles. These colorful flares can add a dreamy, whimsical feel to your photos. Play with the angle of the sun to see how the light bends through your lens and creates these vibrant streaks.
- Symmetry & Balance : If you’re photographing a scene with symmetry, like a road leading to the horizon or a perfectly centered tree, position the sun flare in a way that complements the composition. This creates balance and harmony in the image, drawing the viewer’s eye toward the flare as a focal point.
Looking to expand your creative photography skills? Learn how to create artistic double exposure photos for a truly surreal look.
Use Sun Flares in Your Style
Integrating sun flare into your personal or brand style can make your work stand out. When done intentionally, flares can evoke emotion and mood that traditional lighting often cannot. Many photographers use sun flare to add a sense of nostalgia, romance, or energy to their images—making it a signature feature of their work.
Ready to build your visual identity and create a brand for your photography? Discover how to grow your personal brand as a photographer for a unique and professional edge.
Conclusion
Sun flare isn’t just a happy accident—it’s a creative tool. With the right timing, technique, and artistic touch, you can transform backlighting into powerful compositions that feel vibrant, emotional, and full of life. Experiment with different angles, apertures, and subjects to see how sun flares can elevate your work, adding an ethereal, cinematic quality to your photography.
Remember: the best way to learn is to experiment boldly. Let the light in, embrace the flare, and make your photos glow with beauty.
Looking for more gear or lens tips? Start with the best cameras for beginners to get started on your photography journey.
