Strange artifact

[Kris V]

The photo is obviously a throw-away, but I wonder what could cause the bright orange circle on the lower part. I took 3 shots, and it shows up on all 3 pictures.
When I saw it on my computer, I went back to check if it was some reflection under the steps, but nothing.
Tried again, and saw a small pinpoint of light in my view finder. Clicked, moved the camera just a bit and took another shot.
The orange circle showed again on the first shot, but not on the 2nd one.
I have never been able to replicate this, but I wonder how I can prevent this from happening again.
Hmmm.....Maybe there's an alien living under this abandoned house?

[Shadowman]

You can try a lens hood or position the camera away from any reflecting surface or light source. I actually like getting the effect in some images, but I usually end up trying to edit out.

[Kris V]

You can try a lens hood or position the camera away from any reflecting surface or light source. I actually like getting the effect in some images, but I usually end up trying to edit out.

The strange thing here is that I checked under the steps and did't find anything that could have reflected.
What really puzzled me is the fact that it's a perfect circle.

[Manfred M]

Kris - this is lens flare; reflections off the internal surfaces of the lens. If you look carefully, there is a second, albeit weaker, circle under the roofline as well.

Look carefully where the arrow is, and you will be able to see it.




These are easy to get rid of in post, and sometimes people (including me) will try to get these into the image as a compositional element. Usually its easier to do with a less expensive lens, like your 18-55mm, than the more expensive ones.

[Dave Humphries]

The sun is obviously just out of shot above the lens and this is almost certainly a flare, being diametrically opposite it.

I see from the EXIF data that the aperture was f/8, so you would normally expect to see the aperture blades, the fact you can't suggests three possibilities:
a) It is a very peculiar flare that only appears at certain very precise angles of sun image hitting a round aperture inside the lens, that is before the iris
b) The (I assume) curved blades of the iris are cut to be perfectly circular at f/8, or
c) There was a circular drop of something on the front element/filter, which acted as an additional lens and caused the flare.

b) or c) are most likely, the patterning perhaps favours c) as the cause

or the alien

Cheers,

[Kris V]

Kris - this is lens flare; reflections off the internal surfaces of the lens. If you look carefully, there is a second, albeit weaker, circle under the roofline as well.

Look carefully where the arrow is, and you will be able to see it.




These are easy to get rid of in post, and sometimes people (including me) will try to get these into the image as a compositional element. Usually its easier to do with a less expensive lens, like your 18-55mm, than the more expensive ones.

Thanks - I never noticed the one under the rooftop.

[Kris V]

Will a lens hood prevent this from happening? I hate for this to show up on a picture I want to keep.
I never used one before, but I will order one from Amazon - postponed it long enough, considering those things are fairly inexpensive.

[Kris V]

The sun is obviously just out of shot above the lens and this is almost certainly a flare, being diametrically opposite it.

I see from the EXIF data that the aperture was f/8, so you would normally expect to see the aperture blades, the fact you can't suggests three possibilities:
a) It is a very peculiar flare that only appears at certain very precise angles of sun image hitting a round aperture inside the lens, that is before the iris
b) The (I assume) curved blades of the iris are cut to be perfectly circular at f/8, or
c) There was a circular drop of something on the front element/filter, which acted as an additional lens and caused the flare.

b) or c) are most likely, the patterning perhaps favours c) as the cause

or the alien

Cheers,

So, everything was working together to screw up my picture - wrong time, wrong place and the alien!
Dave, my best guess would be b).
I keep my lenses clean, so c) can probably be eliminated.

[Shadowman]

Will a lens hood prevent this from happening? I hate for this to show up on a picture I want to keep.
I never used one before, but I will order one from Amazon - postponed it long enough, considering those things are fairly inexpensive.

Yes it will, should have come with lens when purchased.

[Manfred M]

No, that lens does not come with a lens hood (I do own one) and frankly I find that shading the lens with one hand works just as well, if not better than shooting with a hood.

[IzzieK]

Don't eliminate the "alien"...I like the guessing game: mysterious, weird, out of this world, name it. It is mind boggling at its best!

[Kris V]

Don't eliminate the "alien"...I like the guessing game: mysterious, weird, out of this world, name it. It is mind boggling at its best!

Or plain operating error caused by the alien.....