As a designer, going on to someones website and seing the default lens flare effect plastered all over their images shows a lack of thought, design and well, shows the creator is probably trying to hide something in their work! The point is it is very generic looking, and those in the know can spot it from a mile off.

Saying that, the default lens flare can be used very effectively and work really well, in the right style and on the right image.

‘‘Lens flare is the light scattered in lens systems through generally unwanted image formation mechanisms, such as internal reflection and scattering from material inhomogeneities in the lens.’’

Read more at Wikipedia

How to…

An amazing graphic and web designer whos work I have been admiring & following for some time now, Nick La creator and designer of some beautiful web sites such as Web Designer Wall, N.Design Studio and Best Web Gallery, shows us in one of his tutorials Vector Polishing Techniques how the default lens flare can be very effective.

The image, shown below is one of his vector pieces and used on the website Next2Friends. It includes a very effective use of the default Photoshop lens flare.

Vector Image by Nick La

In this image Nick ads the lens flare very subtly, and it isn’t just placed on the image any old how it is edited and moved around until it sits just right on the vector artwork.

I had a go! I took a standard photograph and added the lens flare to act as light coming in from the direction of the sun rather than as a standard lens flare.

Original Photography by Justin Hankins

This example is really simple and shows a diverse way of using the lens flare effect without it being to…how can I put it… ‘Lens Flarey’!

I basically added a new layer above the photo, filled it with black and then created my lens flare on this layer. I chose the 105mm Prime as it has the least hue and would sit nicely in this image.

I then made a screen of the layer and placed it where I wanted on the image.

Last thing to do is touch up the image with the ‘Burn Tool’ and voila!

How Not to…

Some images just do not need lens flares, they would degrade the quality of the image, and just become a distraction rather than an effect. The following example is a way of NOT using a lens flare to enhance an image;

Now, this lens flare is just put on any old how, it offers no enhancement to the image, looks out of place, doesn’t make much sense in its positioning, and basically makes the whole thing look quite amateurish. I mean, come on…its a carrot!

The Conclusion

As demonstrated above adding a lens flare to an Image can be an effective way of enchancing the image or targeting a focal point on an image, but it shouldn’t be over used and when it is used it should be used with thought. Dont just stick with the norm photoshop default as it becomes very samey, Alter the hue, burn the image and cut and paste bits you want.