Topic: Does anyone else like pinhole flare?

[Matt Lethbridge LRPS]

I took a little spin around The Peak District yesterday with both my Zero Image 2K and my RSS 5x4, looking for a few dilapidated field barns to photograph. Both the shots below were taken into the Sun and both produced "lens" flare.  Personally I quite like the effect and it was interesting to see the differing results from each camera. Does anyone else out there have a secret love of flares........

[Bryan]

I don’t mind lens flare when it adds to the image, some times it screws up the image.  I like the effect you got on those shots, it’s an interesting effect.  Is it really “Lens” flare with a pinhole?  Maybe it’s hole flare

[Matt Lethbridge LRPS]

Good point...........Hole Flare it is.........
The effects just seem to be different with Pinhole, none of the circular patterns from the aperture blades obviously, which I usually find distracting.😉

[Kai-san]

Fascinating effect, i would describe it as a sun shower. 

[leanne]

Sun shower is a great description.

[Francois]

Looking at this got me wondering about something though.
I know I get similar flare on my Ondu, which has a shiny brass pinhole.
But I'm wondering if I also get it on the Holga stereo, which has a thin black metal pinhole or the Lomo Multi-Pinhole which has a black plastic pinhole?

I'll have to check my scans to see...

[Sandeha Lynch]

It can add to an image but some subject matter doesn't benefit so much. This I like, and I think it needs it.


160829_acr_04 by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr


This, while I like the image well enough, I'd have been just as happy without.


180505_f200_02 by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr

[Matt Lethbridge LRPS]

Interesting point Francois, never really thought about that.
I agree Sandeha, it seems to suit colour film a lot less than black and white, I think the colour streaks are a bit off putting.....

This one for example, just doesn't work in my eyes.....

[Late Developer]

Strangely enough, I've learned to love flare. I've never seen it via a pinhole previously - so thanks for that - but I tend to shoot into the sun a fair bit and it's often unavoidable.  The photos posted are fantastic.

[Francois]

Interesting point Francois, never really thought about that.
I agree Sandeha, it seems to suit colour film a lot less than black and white, I think the colour streaks are a bit off putting.....

This one for example, just doesn't work in my eyes.....

Last night I went through some index sheets to check out my theory and it turns out that it doesn't hold. Both the black plastic and the thin black metal produce pin flare. But possibly to varying degrees.
But I'm still wondering about what causes the unevenness in the flares?

But one thing's for sure, they are definitely part of the look.

Hey! I'm just thinking about one thing; there aren't any pinhole cameras that have a"pinhole shade".

[Matt Lethbridge LRPS]

Too wide angle I guess. I'm quite happy to shoot into the sun, the "Sun shower" effect is just part of the serendipity of shooting pinhole I guess, part of what makes me enjoy it so much.

[KevinAllan]

I think I've only caught pinhole flare once. In this case I think it helps create a "Warning - TARDIS about to take off" effect:


2019-4-13 North Blyth, RSS 6x6F pinhole, Pan F by Kevin Allan, on Flickr

[Matt Lethbridge LRPS]

Lovely picture Kevin, I think the Sun shower effect adds to the "feel" of the picture....

[cs1]

I haven't shot many pinhole photos yet but from what I can see I think that b/w flares are much more acceptable than colour flares. The TARDIS shot is fantastic, Kevin.

[Francois]

Went looking for some pictures with pinhole flare and found this one in my archive.