How do I eliminate lens circles in my pictures?

Question

I have taken a few pictures that show these circles, and I'm getting very annoyed at this problem. Seems most common on sunny days. This particular picture is not my own, but it is a good example of what I'm talking about. I can understand certain situations where I could use this to my advantage, but I am wondering right now, is there any way to reverse or prevent this effect?

P.S. As I said before, I have realized that I can sometimes use this to my advantage. In that respect, does anyone know how to cause it?

Asked by J. Walker

Answer

This is lens flare, where reflections within the lens end up showing on your photos.

General guidance to minimise it includes:

• Avoid getting the sun in shot (and ideally, avoid having it just-out-of-frame too)
• Use a lens hood to shade the front element
• Try to use lenses that have anti-reflective coatings
• Keep the front element clean, but follow the lens manufacturers advice about use of wet cleaners (generally, don't; only use a microfibre cloth)

Answered by Rowland Shaw

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