Glare in Photos
Glare is the appearance of a white or grey circle in the middle of the photo where light is reflecting off the camera lens. It can be caused by light reflecting off the surface of the lens. Glare usually appears in photos taken outside or in a dimly lit environment. Glare can be removed using software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements. To reduce glare, ensure that your subject is away from a reflective surface or that you have taken the photo outside during the day. If the problem persists, ask a photo shop if they offer software that can remove glare.
Glare, whether in sun or at a computer screen, can be very annoying. You may find that you have to turn the brightness down or even the contrast to reduce the glare, and this can affect the quality of the photo. For photos taken in bright sunlight you will need to use a polarizing filter. This will prevent the reflection off water or a white wall from shining in, reducing glare and making colors more vibrant.
Tips to remove glare in photos
1. Use a lens that minimizes glare. This is especially important if you are taking photos in bright light. A rule of thumb is that the sun should be at least 20 degrees away. This helps prevent reflections and glare.
2. Try shooting at a lower ISO. ISO is a setting that lets you increase the sensitivity of the camera sensor. The higher the number, the less sensitive the sensor. In general, try using an ISO of 100, 200, or 400.
3. Turn off Auto-ISO. Many DSLRs come equipped with this feature, which automatically increases the ISO whenever the exposure is too dark. It’s a great feature but it also means you are more likely to overexpose your image.
4. Shoot in RAW mode. Raw (not JPEG) files store the original image data, meaning that the camera doesn’t make any adjustments to the file and there is no need to change it on your computer.
5. If you shoot in RAW mode, use Adobe Lightroom to process your images. Lightroom allows you to apply a variety of different adjustments to your image including levels, curves and even saturation.
6. Take the same shot several times. By taking the same photo several times, you can see whether the problem is with the photo or your technique.
7. If the problem persists, try taking a picture of something else. You’ll have a better idea what’s wrong if the problem is lighting or a camera setting.
8. If the glare persists, there’s a chance the camera has an anti-glare filter. This is a small filter on the lens that reduces reflections on the front element of the camera. Try removing and reapplying the filter.
9. Try different settings. If the problem is the lighting, try switching the flash to off and on again. Move the camera closer to or farther from the subject, or look for a different angle.
10. Turn your head, move closer or farther, and adjust your position. The best way to reduce glare is to make sure you aren’t reflecting light into the camera.
12. If you are taking a selfie and the glare is particularly bad, try using a reflector such as a whiteboard or mirror. You can buy one online or ask your local hardware store to make one for you.
13. Use the white balance setting. There are two types of white balance: automatic and manual. Automatic uses the ambient light to balance the colour. Manual lets you choose the temperature.