What exactly is wrong with lens flare?

[Number_6]

What exactly is the big deal with using lens flare? I know it's supposed to be tacky, but it seems appropriate for some things.

[Flake]

Lens flare is the final classy touch for any image.

[asoir]

I only find it suitable in 3D movies and games (GTA etc), as it can add a nice effect, but for digi paints...or anything digi...it's just lazy/ugly.

[darth massacre]

Lens flare is the final classy touch for any image.
Only when you use 5 of them together. /m\ \w/ /m\ \w/

[Flake]

At least five, the more you add the classier it gets.

One day I hope to complete an image composed entirely of lensflare, it will be my masterpiece.

[S.C. Watson]

I think it stems from the fact that we're really talking about digital painting. If a lens flare is *painted* in, there shouldn't be an issue if it is done correctly (hypothetically speaking, of course).

The issue is that it is *the* quintisential Adobe Photoshop filter, instantly recognizable the world over and a dead give away that a filter was used. When it's used on a painting, it typically ruins whatever effect that painting had (regardless of skill level of the artist).

Though, I do think it would be fun to do a high profile T-Dome where one of the stipulations was that you *had* to use Lens Flare.

Heh.

~Oreg.

[endregan]

When your illustration is lacking a compositional element, a lensflare almost ALWAYS fills that void.

Its sheer brightness and shinyness is attractive and therefore the compositional flaw is forgiven.

[James Kei]

Lens flare is the effect of a photographic image or any device that uses a "lens".
If you use a lens flare in an illustration, you are attempting to re-create a photographic anomaly.
It just doesn't make any sense.

-JK

[Elwell]

Edit: I had composed a long reply, but while doing so James posted his, which says everything I wanted to more clearly.

[Pixeldragoon]

Hey evaryone, look! It's James Kei :o

[Ben powis]

The way I look at it, I like to try and make pictures interesting for people to look at, I like to try and do interesting things, try new ways of working, new marks, new textures, to try and make people stop that extra few seconds and look at my work - to take the time to really look, everyone deserves this time, but you have to earn it with effort put into the picture.

Lens flare is, as stated above, overused - so when we look at a picture we jump to all these things we have seen a millions times before and switch off. Because we are familiar with our tools we recognise them instantly in pictures. Ain’t art supposed to be a little more creative than that? ;)
The best way to captivate/entertain people is to show them something they have never seen before - or something they have, cleverly decorated ;)

My personal answer to your question is that lens flare isn’t ‘wrong’, its more of a bad choice. Creating art is all about making choices, pushing yourself to do things differently. Painting your own lens flares, to see if they are worth the actual effort, when you slap on a filter in seconds with no real thought it ALWAYS shows, its amazing how much stuff like that shines through. Lens flare is a shortcut, shortcuts lower the visual standard of work.

It is your duty as an artist to give more to the viewer than a filter.

This is totally just my personal view.

EDIT:

The issue is that it is *the* quintisential Adobe Photoshop filter, instantly recognizable the world over and a dead give away that a filter was used. When it's used on a painting, it typically ruins whatever effect that painting had (regardless of skill level of the artist).

Though, I do think it would be fun to do a high profile T-Dome where one of the stipulations was that you *had* to use Lens Flare.


Yeah...what he said ;) Good call man...not sure about the TD idea thou ;)

~ Ben

[Number_6]

Though, I do think it would be fun to do a high profile T-Dome where one of the stipulations was that you *had* to use Lens Flare.


I'd like to see that actually. It'd be cool.

[dfacto]

Yeah, that's a pretty good idea Oregano. :)

[DavePalumbo]

Lens flare is the final classy touch for any image.

there it is, quote of the day

[figure2]

What exactly is the big deal with using lens flare? I know it's supposed to be tacky, but it seems appropriate for some things.If you were to find a new and original way to use the lens flare filter that elevated your work to a new level that made us stop and ponder and admire your originality then there would be nothing wrong with using it. That is as long as you didn't overuse it by applying the same effect in every painting you did.

However if you were to use lens flare the way most noobs do by attempting to salvage a poor composition or to disguise a poor drawing or to save a lackluster image, we would be perfectly justified in heaping ridicule upon you, laughing & pointing at your work and whispering behind your back.

[N D Hill]

Lensflare KICKS ASS!!!! My 133T 5K1LLZ mad theez arts evn bttr!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/sistinechapel.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/Davinci-mona-lisa-1503-06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/lastsupper-incolor.jpg

[K-17]

the old saying "if it works, use it" is highly underrated these days

[S.C. Watson]

Exo, I can't believe you screwed up a lens flare. It needs to be where God's and Adam's fingers touch! Duh! :teeth:

~O

[dfacto]

It should be noted that lens flare + radial blur is a very easy way to get a good glow effect. Gets rid of those excruciatingly annoying artifacts and crap.

EDIT: well, with 105mm prime that is. Some gaussian blur goes a long way too.

[Magic Man]

Lensflare KICKS ASS!!!! My 133T 5K1LLZ mad theez arts evn bttr!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/sistinechapel.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/Davinci-mona-lisa-1503-06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/ndexohill/lastsupper-incolor.jpg

Awesom3. Pure awesom3.

[Snarfevs]

Lens flare is the final classy touch for any wholesale sleeper and paving brick company advertisement.

Corrected.

Oh by the way my studies have led me to believe that the fire of god contained in the ark of the covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark was in fact a lens flare, 105mm prime. As you can see it pwns the nazis in the most horrible way imaginable, just by looking at it.


...

[dfacto]

Oh by the way my studies have led me to believe that the fire of god contained in the ark of the covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark was in fact a lens flare, 105mm prime. As you can see it pwns the nazis in the most horrible way imaginable, just by looking at it.


Fuck yeah. Bow to its awesome power.

[endregan]

in conclusion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with lensflare!

I believe I've been saying this for sometime. I think everyone should make a concious effort to include more lensflare in their artworks, and start using them if you haven't already!

[DavePalumbo]

Oh by the way my studies have led me to believe that the fire of god contained in the ark of the covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark was in fact a lens flare, 105mm prime. As you can see it pwns the nazis in the most horrible way imaginable, just by looking at it.

in that case, a lens flare is, according to Indiana Jones, "Lightning. Fire. The power of God or something"

[Magic Man]

I think I just had a revelations.

The power of god, in the click of a filter.

Fuck Neo...Seetharaman Narayanan IS THE ONE!

[darth massacre]

Fuck Neo...Seetharaman Narayanan IS THE ONE!
Seetharaman Narayanan is the true anomaly...
Yes...
We will find him and eradicate him....
We will....

[LaPalida]

Because only cameras see lens flare. I have yet to see a hexagonal human eye.

[Snarfevs]

in that case, a lens flare is, according to Indiana Jones, "Lightning. Fire. The power of God or something"

Sallah: Indy, there is something that troubles me.
Indiana: What is it?
Sallah: The Lens Flare. If it is there, at Tanis, then it is something that man was not meant to disturb. Death has always surrounded it. It is not of this earth.

[N D Hill]

You know, it's the fact that so many people are actually making lensflare tutorials and fail to recognise boring, cheesy, cliche shit that gives me renewed hope that I might actually be able to one day make it and survive as an illustrator. To all the Manky85s out there, thank you. It's rare when mediocre artists like myself have even a little piece of mind.

[powerman_x]

Lens flare is a bit like black and white. It makes stuff look good. Just like ading, "i" at the beginning of words, Ipoo, Islut, Izipper. Or -core at the end of stuff to make it tough.
Its overrated but deff adds a lot to an image if used right.

[Advocate of Fate]

lens flares are responsible for 48 percent of deaths in the world for adolescants aged 8-16.

[Floris Didden]

http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/maratrilogy.jpg
http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/EXTERIOR.jpg

[mr. Point]

http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/maratrilogy.jpg
http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/EXTERIOR.jpg


oh that a bad one. amateurs..... :tihi:

[Crash]

oh that a bad one. amateurs..... :tihi:


doesnt matter WHO does it, it still looks horrid.

Bad mullins, BAD /m\ \w/

[FLenG]

there is a group that kills people whom used Lens flare.

[jfrancis]

It used to be if a Director of Photography allowed lens flare he'd be fired from the picture. You just didn't do it. Then in the late 60's and early 70's DP's started defiantly embracing shitty cinematography as a sort of verite style.

After a while, it became acceptable.

The photoshop lens flare, I'm told, was developed at ILM for the movie, Hook, in order to give the CG work added realism - as if it were shot by a camera.

People overuse it, though.

[Waffle_King]

Something's wrong with lens flares?

:?: :P

-Andrew

[Main Loop]

http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/maratrilogy.jpg
http://goodbrush.com/cm/albums/commercial_projects/bungie/EXTERIOR.jpg

See? not even Craig Mullins can make it look good

[Uziel]

Lens Flares got a bad rep because so many times their used by people who first discover photoshop and plaster the effects into their artwork

Héhé my first and last lensflare action (this is pretty old)
I counted 8 flare spots...who can do better?
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/jarrafatti2/lensflare.jpg