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unwanted green circles
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Jan 22, 2012 17:51:08   #
bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas
 
First question: What's this green circle pattern? I cleaned the lens and many of my zoo photos came out with this ghostly green circle/circles.
Also, my photos seem to be very soft all the time? Can you help?
This photo: 7D 24-70 lens at 24mm focal length; Shutter priority 1/125 s; ISO 250; metering mode pattern; no flash; auto WB; taken at 11:57 AM on a sunny day. I was facing north.
Your help is very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!

Ft Worth Zoo
Ft Worth Zoo...

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Jan 22, 2012 18:05:58   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
They are reflections from shooting too much into the sun. A lens hood might help. Also, if you have a UV on the lens, try taking it off. Cheap filters will also cause these. The shadows show you obviously were not facing North, looks like SouthEast.

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Jan 22, 2012 18:09:34   #
PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach
 
What you are seeing is flare from the sun. The color of the flare is dependent on the chemistry of the lens coating.

To shoot the picture with NO flare. Simply hold your hand (or have somebody else hold their hand) between your lens and the sun. Were you to stand in front of your camera, you would see a SHADOW over the lens.

Keeping the sun off the lens will always remove flare.

Were you enterprising, you could buy a C-Stand with arm, and an 18x24 black cutter, and use THAT to bath your lens in shadow.

Finally, make sure you do not include the hand or cutter in your shot!

As an aside, your camera placement, lighting wise, is very good. Putting the sun behind your subject makes for more interesting images. Just control the flare.

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Jan 22, 2012 19:54:33   #
bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas
 
Shooter, you are quite right. I took a north photo, turned and took this one facing a southern direction. I tell students that mistakes are opportunities to learn and often you might get a chance for a "do-over", well I get to have a "do-over". I have learned something today. I have a clear Promaster filter for a lens protection, should I remove it?
I am not as visually astute as you all and feel that all my photos are not as sharp as they should be. Can you help me correct this challege?
Your time is valuable and I appreciate all of your help. I indeed need all I can get. :)

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Jan 22, 2012 21:16:41   #
bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas
 
Thank you for your quick response and your sense of humor. :)

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Jan 22, 2012 22:10:09   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Its simply a matter of reducing the number of reflecting surfaces and shading your front lens element. I am the biggest advocate there is for lens protection provided the filter used is a quality filter. Yours is most likely not multicoated from the looks of the reflections. Remove it and use a lens hood for these kind of shots. If you still have the sun glare on your lens (you can see it in the viewfinder) then you need to further shade the lens with your hand or some other object as suggested by PhotoArtsLA. A magazine or brochure works great, just make sure it is not actually showing up in your shot. That should take care of your problem. I would also set your WB to sunny under these conditions rather than AUTO as the metering can still be fooled here.
Good luck, hope this helps.

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Jan 22, 2012 22:13:55   #
nzprice
 
This is the kind of comments everyone should be making on this forum not only did you give good advice you had something nice to say about the photo....some could learn from you.

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Jan 22, 2012 22:44:49   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
bedgmon wrote:
First question: What's this green circle pattern? I cleaned the lens and many of my zoo photos came out with this ghostly green circle/circles.
Also, my photos seem to be very soft all the time? Can you help?
This photo: 7D 24-70 lens at 24mm focal length; Shutter priority 1/125 s; ISO 250; metering mode pattern; no flash; auto WB; taken at 11:57 AM on a sunny day. I was facing north.
Your help is very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!


I actually had to train myself to look for those before I take the shot.
Shading beyond the hood with your hand does work as was stated .. just have to make sure you look up and your hand is not in the photo.
also if you angle the camera a bit more either down or to the side I find the glare is gone.
I have to hold the camera with both hands but an umbrella or something like that would also shade the lens from the sun
the main thing is try to look for them .. you will be surprised how simple it is to correct before you take the shot.

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Jan 23, 2012 09:37:42   #
CamObs Loc: South America (Texas)
 
I always wear a gimme hat. Makes a good shade and doesn't get in the way, packs light and kkeps the sun out of the viewfinder.

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Jan 23, 2012 10:39:51   #
bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas
 
Wonderful idea.

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Jan 23, 2012 12:37:15   #
DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois
 
MT Shooter wrote:
They are reflections from shooting too much into the sun. A lens hood might help. Also, if you have a UV on the lens, try taking it off. Cheap filters will also cause these. The shadows show you obviously were not facing North, looks like SouthEast.


Actually,I'd guess southwest.

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Jan 23, 2012 12:48:02   #
dennis g
 
The more glass surfaces with air up against them, the more problems arise from surface reflections. Get rid of the filter, use your lens cap for protection and shade the lens.

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Jan 23, 2012 14:42:45   #
kamoopsipooh Loc: Big Island
 
Regarding the "softness," is your camera on portrait mode? Portrait mode is supposed to make your images softer. Check your menu.

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Jan 23, 2012 14:59:28   #
chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon
 
You could leave the UV on (Promaster is a good brand) and add a circular polarizing filter. The CPL will also reduce the flare.

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Jan 23, 2012 20:19:58   #
bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas
 
kamoopsipooh wrote:
Regarding the "softness," is your camera on portrait mode? Portrait mode is supposed to make your images softer. Check your menu.


I am following Peterson's advise and my camera is in Faithful mode 100% of the time. I have been shooting in Raw to be able to lighten or darken. Do you think I should change this?

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