When a bright light source enters the frame when shooting, you can get an interesting effect with light rays. This effect is commonly called Star Effect.
Star rays effect
This effect is very easy to obtain. Enough for this take a bright light source on a closed aperture... How much the aperture should be closed depends on the lens you are shooting with. Each lens has a specific F-number, from which pronounced effect with rays. For the most part, when using digital cameras that do not have a mechanical iris control device with aperture blades, the effect with rays will not work.
The effect is not always obtained
True, even if you catch a bright light source in the frame, then it does not necessarily have to turn into a star with outgoing rays. For example, in the photo above, the sun was photographed at a closed aperture of f / 22, but no star effect was obtained. It is in this case that the presence of clouds is to blame, which soften the harsh light. To be sure to get a pronounced starburst effect in your photo, you need to shoot bright light sources with so-called 'spot' or 'hard light'.
Star effect
The example above shows a photograph with a pronounced effect of star rays from lanterns.
An interesting fact is that number of raysth emanating from light sources is equal to the number of lens aperture blades if the lens has a pair of them, and double aperture bladesif their unpaired quantity. For example, in the photo below, the sun has 14 rays of a star, while the photo was taken on the lens Tamron AF 17-50mm f / 2.8 XR Di II LD which has 7 aperture blades.
The rays of the star
If the aperture on the lens is not closed, then this effect will not work, and a bright source in the frame may blur in the form of a bright sphere or a sphere with elongated 'tails'.
No star effect
When creating such an effect, parasitic flare, glare, and sunbeams often appear in the frame. What unnecessary artifacts can be enhanced by using simple cheap protective filters.
Star effect
Sometimes the effect with the rays is superfluous and should be avoided, since it does not convey the real atmosphere in the photo well. After all, the human eye does not see any rays, and when photographing they can turn out.
In this atmosphere, the effect of rays will be superfluous
On sale you can find special Star Filters (filters to create a stellar effect), which greatly enhance the ability to receive rays in the frame. Using this filter, you can create a star with a strictly defined number of rays, their intensity and different types.
Sample Star Effect Photo
Conclusions
The effect of the rays of the star can be very easily obtained, sometimes it can give the photo its zest.
Like it. Thanks for attention. Arkady Shapoval.
Many lenses have rounded aperture blades. Will there be a stellar effect in this case?
Yes, at a certain value of Ф it should turn out
".. getting the best in the frame.", Rays and not the best =)
Thanks for the article) as always instructive and intelligible!
Or you can go the very easy way and use the built-in star filter software in Nikon cameras =)
Which cameras have this software filter?
If you consider that even in my D3000 it is, I think in many entry-level cameras.
Interesting article. Of my lenses, the most beautiful stars are issued by Industar 29, because it has 11 petals, 22 final stars are obtained. But the essence is not even in their quantity, but in the beauty of the pattern of the star itself.
Ivan, how is your industrial-29 in terms of sharpness of 2,8?
My Industar 29 is 2,8 soft. Due to spherical aberrations most likely. But suitable for creativity, not for reporting. If I shoot a report, then cover up to 4 or more. Then it is sharp, but at the same time also plastic, which gives the photographs a special picture.
Thank you, very interesting, take note!
"After all, the human eye does not see any rays."
When I was in 1986. in Moscow, Fedorov had a vision correction (notches on the lens), for 5 years after that I saw the lights at night just like that ...
On many SLR nikons in processing on the camera - there is a star filter, very similar to what you have in the photo Arkady.
Is it possible to add a picture like that?
We once accidentally got a pretty interesting asterisk =)
You can add a link to the picture.
What program do you use to paste EXIF data into a photo?)
the effect of different shapes of rays and much more with light can also be obtained in Photoshop using the Knoll Light Factory filter (Red Giant Software)
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It's funny, but I came to the idea of getting rays by accident, when I worked at the night shift, yawned and, respectively, screwed up his eyes. And the eye is also a lens.))
Cross the cross filter several times with your finger several times and that’s all, you have a beam filter.
And the direction of the camera in the sun does not contradict the instructions? Or a closed aperture will not allow the matrix to burn during exposure?
Here is a random accident!
http://vk.com/id64625821?z=photo64625821_286626493%2Fphotos64625821
And I see lanterns with rays, you can calmly and count ...
Nikon d3200 camera, HELIOS-44M-7 lens, will this effect be achieved in photography?)
Arkady Hello, please tell me in what mode did you photograph the road? Well, a very beautiful photo. Have you used the flash? Thank you in advance.
Hello. I don’t understand a little the logic of closing the aperture to f20-25 (does the diffraction of the image start with such aperture?) And yes, I don’t see this phenomenon in your photos :) - please explain what is the catch.
Good day. Tell me how to shoot a night city. What is the value of shutter speed, aperture, ISO set. D90 camera, lens 24-70 f2.8.
A small addition about the star filter. These filters have notches from edge to edge, so the rays will cross the entire image! It turns out a completely different effect than with a clamped diaphragm. Such filters must be used carefully in the photo with a small number of light sources
My task now is “on the contrary,” when shooting interiors, it is necessary to avoid the stars, if someone tells me how, I will be very grateful, it is inappropriate to talk about an open aperture ..
Nikkor 80-200 2.8 draws beautiful stars from F4 at all values. Tokina 28-80 too. But there is no modern dark zoom
Rays go both sides of the diaphragm angle.
Therefore, with an even number of them, two times less than with an odd one)