The Starburst Effect

Try this technique the next time you're faced with the sun in the frame

Sunburst through the National WWII memorial in Washington, DC

If you’re an outdoor photographer, you have probably struggled with bluebird skies and a low sun. That’s a common challenge when you’re visiting somewhere and you don’t have time to be there at exactly the right time of day. Most of the time, we try to avoid getting the sun in the shot. Not only is it an exposure nightmare, but you can end up with a “hole in the sky” look or lots of annoying lens flare. But I’ve found a way to embrace it: The Starburst effect.

The Starburst effect is created by a point source of light entering your lens and getting diffracted by the aperture blades. It’s easy to do, once you know what to look for and how to set up your camera.

How to create the Starburst Effect