Generate circular lens flare with direct sunlight and a bit of copper pipe

Use a piece of pipe to add a glowing golden ring to your portraits

01 what you’ll need

The best lens to use here is a prime with a focal length of 50-100mm and a wide maximum aperture, such as f/1.8. You’ll also need a piece of metal pipe that’s around an inch in length and diameter. Cut it to size with a pipe cutter if you need to.

02 Subject choice

As we’re demonstrating a technique here, the subject isn’t so important. That being said, portraits look gorgeous with added lens flare. Shoot your subjects with the sun (or light source you’re using) behind them, as this is when flare will appear.

03 camera Settings

There’s not an ideal setting for all scenarios, but we used Aperture Priority mode, so we didn’t have to worry about constantly changing the exposure at the same time as moving the pipe. Most of our shots were taken at ISO100 and around f/2.8.

04 See the Light

You can utilize any light source for this, including the sun, street lamps, bulbs or flash. Bright sunlight is easy, effective, and free to boot. It also creates particularly good-looking flare when low in the sky during the afternoon and early evening.

05 use Live view

Switch to Live View so you can easily assess how shots (and flare) will look. Rotate the pipe back and forth in front of the lens and move around your subject to reposition yourself in relation to the light source. Fire the shutter when you’re ready. Flare-tastic!

06 pipe dreams need practice

You won’t magically get a flare as soon as you hold the ring in front of your lens. Consider where the sun is in the sky, and the position of your subject in relation to it. Practice makes perfect, so keep tweaking until all the elements line up.