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Lens flare is one of the most difficult types of photography to master, especially on smartphones. However, it’s not impossible to get things right. In this guide, I’ll show you how I take lens flare pictures with my smartphone camera.
1Increasing the On-Screen Brightness
One of the easiest ways to get better lens flare in your pictures is by enhancing the on-screen brightness. I have often found that when I do the opposite and make the picture darker, it also makes the picture’s light spots look less like “flare”.
Regardless of your device, it’s quite easy to increase the on-screen brightness on your camera. You should have a setting where you can move the slider up until you reach your desired level. It’s also worth thinking about usingsmartphone camera apps that will lead to better photos.
2Focusing on the Light Source
Another easy way to take better lens flare photos with your smartphone is to focus the point on a light source. I did this while on a midsummer trip when I was trying to capture the late-night sun, as you can see from the picture below.
Again, it’s normally quite easy to focus on your light source. In most cases, all you have to do is tap your camera on the sun or whichever artificial light is in your picture. You’ll have to take the picture soon after, though, because some smartphone cameras will reset and focus on another point instead.
If you’re looking to up your photography game even further, consider checking out thesesmartphone photography tricks that actually work.
3Switching On Exposure Adjustment
One of the most underrated iPhone camera features that I use to take better lens flare photos is Exposure Adjustment. This feature will showcase how much you’ve exposed your picture at the top of your screen, making it easier to not only take better pictures in the now but also determine how much you need to change in future shots.
Turning on Exposure Adjustment is very straightforward:
4Shooting in Landscape Mode
I shoot the majority of my smartphone pictures in Portrait Mode for several reasons. Firstly, it’s more convenient—but secondly, it also suits the types of photography that I enjoy the most. However, I sometimes shoot in Landscape Mode for pictures with lens flare.
The main reason that I shoot a lot of lens flare pictures in landscape is that I often find that the lens flare covers a bigger area. As a result, my pictures look more interesting. I suggest trying it out, but you’ll also need to consider that every situation is different.
5Shooting in Softer Light
One of the easiest ways to take better lens flare pictures is by shooting in softer light. I rarely take pictures of this kind in harsher lighting because it can make my shots look less detailed than I would like. Moreover, I dislike how much contrast there often is in pictures taken during these conditions.
You don’t have to photograph your lens flare shots in softer light, but you’ll probably find that it makes a big difference. Start by photographing around sunrise or sunset. And if you want to post your pictures online later, check out theseperfect golden hour captions for social media.
Taking pictures with lens flare on your smartphone isn’t easy, and I often find it much easier to use my mirrorless camera. Nonetheless, it isn’t impossible—and some outside-the-box thinking will make your pictures stand out. Try the tips this guide and see what you can come up with.
