Lens flare is a common issue in photography, caused when direct light enters the camera lens, creating unwanted reflections, streaks, or haze. While lens flare can sometimes add artistic appeal, in most cases, it reduces image clarity and impacts the overall quality. This is especially problematic in real estate photography, where clear, high-quality images are essential for attracting potential buyers. In this guide, we’ll explore how to remove lens flare in Lightroom and ensure your images maintain a professional look.
What is Lens Flare?
Lens flare occurs when a strong light source, such as the sun or artificial lighting, directly hits the camera lens. This results in hazy, washed-out images, loss of contrast, or bright spots appearing across the frame. The main causes of lens flare include:
- Capturing images directly facing the sun or a bright light source.
- Using low-quality or dirty lenses
- Internal reflections within the lens elements
- Not using proper lens accessories like hoods or filters
Understanding how lens flare happens helps photographers take preventive measures before shooting, reducing the need for extensive editing in post-production.
Prevent Lens Flare & Remove in Lightroom
While post-processing tools like Lightroom are effective at fixing lens flare, preventing it during the shoot can save time and effort. Here are some practical tips:
- Use a Lens Hood – A lens hood blocks stray light from entering the lens and reduces flare.
- Adjust Your Shooting Angle – Changing your position or adjusting the angle of the camera can prevent direct light from causing flare.
- Use Your Hand or an Object for Shade – If a lens hood is unavailable, shielding the lens with your hand or another object can minimize unwanted reflections.
- Avoid Shooting at Noon – The sun is at its highest and most intense at midday, making lens flare more prominent. Opt for early morning or late afternoon shots.
- Use a Polarizing Filter – A polarizing filter helps reduce glare and reflections, improving image contrast and clarity.
Step Guide: Remove Lens Flare in Lightroom
Even with the best precautions, lens flare can sometimes be unavoidable. Fortunately, Lightroom provides powerful tools to remove unwanted flare and restore image quality.
1. Using the Spot Removal Tool
The Spot Removal tool works best for correcting small, localized flare spots.
- Start by opening your photo in Lightroom, then navigate to the Develop module, where you can access various editing tools to enhance your image.
- Select the Spot Removal Tool (shortcut: Q) and choose the Heal option.
- Click on the affected area, and Lightroom will automatically replace it with a similar nearby texture.
- Adjust the feathering and opacity to blend the correction naturally.
2. Using the Graduated Filter
For larger flare effects covering part of the image, the Graduated Filter is useful.
- Select the Graduated Filter tool from the right panel.
- Drag the filter over the affected area, covering the lens flare.
- Adjust Exposure, Highlights, and Shadows to balance the brightness and remove the washed-out effect.
- Fine-tune the settings to ensure a seamless transition between edited and unedited areas.
3. Using the Adjustment Brush
The Adjustment Brush offers precise control for complex flare removal.
- Select the Adjustment Brush tool.
- Paint over the lens flare area carefully.
- Modify Exposure, Contrast, and Clarity to match the surrounding tones.
- If needed, use multiple adjustments to fully blend the area with the rest of the image.
Conclusion
Removing lens flare in Lightroom is an essential skill for photographers, especially in real estate photography, where clarity and detail are crucial. By understanding what causes lens flare, taking preventive measures, and mastering Lightroom’s editing tools, photographers can enhance their images and maintain a professional standard.
For professional real estate photo editing services, consider Alida, an expert in high-quality image enhancements. Contact us at photonews121@gmail.com for more details.