How do I avoid this from happening? Such a nice shot and this red reflection circle kind of ruins it.
almost perfect sunset
One way is to avoid aiming directly at the sun. Did you have a filter on the lens? If you use a UV filter for protecting the front element, take it off before shooting.
No special lenses or anything, just aim and shoot with a digital camera. So offside the shot a little you are saying?
Yes, that's probably the best way. The flare comes from light bouncing around in the lens - reflections off of the individual elements (pieces of glass). Filters can increase the chance of it and zoom lenses are more prone to it than a prime (fixed focal length) lens. The expensive, higher grade lenses have better coatings on the glass to help prevent it.
Sometimes you can remove them in post, but it may not look right.
Hi cbdigital!
This is called lens flare, and CAN happen anytime a bright light source (sun) is in your picture area. As stated previously, remove any filters that may be on your lens. Then you'll just have to try to see this flare in your viewfinder, and move the camera around to eliminate it, hoping at the same time your composition still appeals to you.
Flare is less likely if you shot directly at the sun since the bright light will head straight down the barrel of the camera. So, the key here is to visualize the framing, use a somewhat wider lens, and crop afterwards. That does limit the shot somewhat and require a higher MP count to crop, but such is the problem. If the sun is outside the image, then normal flare control methods should be used.
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