Thursday’s Special: Flare
An unwanted element in photography brought on, among other things, by shooting directly at sun without using a lens hood, or a creative element that adds to the composition of a photo?
Whatever your views on flare in photography, I hope you’ll join me in this challenge and maybe think about alternative approaches to the theme.
Some of the following definitions of flare might help you with that.
Excerpt from Free Dictionary
Flare, noun
- A brief wavering blaze of light.
- A device that produces a bright light for signaling,illumination,or identification.
- An outbreak, as of emotion or activity.
- An expanding or opening outward.
- An unwanted reflection within an optical system or the resultant fogging of the image.
- A solar flare.
- Football A short pass to a back running toward the sideline.
- Baseball A fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield.
- Medicine – An area of redness on the skin surrounding the primary site of infection or irritation.

(click to zoom in to absorb all this radiant sunshine)
The tune is my latest musical discovery – a band from Romania named “Flare” with the song titled Recover. Enjoy!

Here are the entries for this challenge. Please, click on the titles bellow:
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Wonderful flare and competing lines in opposite directions. My “no whale in sight” photo is the closest I’ve got to functional flare. Flare of activity? You should see my living room as I try to declutter the study!!! But no photos. That would be taking “confessional” one step too far.
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I understand Meg 😉
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Your photo is the beginning of a beautiful sunset Paula.
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Thank you very much, Colline. So it was 🙂
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What a wonderful photograph. It’s like the rays are being playful so as to make sure they are in the photo. Fitting song too (as always) 🙂
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | A Day In The Life
Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | A Day In The Life
I happen to like flare in a photograph- I think it gives it something special! https://dailymusing57.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/thursdays-special-flare/
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Well, I find yours brilliant, and I enjoy seeing you in pictures 🙂
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I personally love this effect Paula. The explosion of beauty in my mind.
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Thank you very much, Sue. I am very glad to have your opinion on this. Best regards from Zagreb.
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I like sun flare when it’s a subtle addition to the mood. Like yours here. :).
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Thank you so much Lisa. I was surprised to see three different flare effects in this photo. It’s lovely to have your opinion.
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Pingback: Geriatri'x' Fotogallery
At first glance I thought it is a road but it is dam – nice!
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/6357/
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Yes, it’s a dam and it is the place where I usually go Nordic walking. I am pleased that you like it. Thank you for offering me such tantalising photo for this challenge. I love your entry!
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Yes, it’s a pretty one, Paula 🙂 🙂 Nice soundtrack too!
I possibly have some photos that would fit the bill because it’s an effect I quite like, but you know me- more luck than judgement. I’m waiting for Debbie to post Looking Up so I can add my link to hers. Hope you have success with the leg. Hugs darlin’. 🙂
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This looks spectacular …
What a genial photo!
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Much appreciated, Anna!
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special : Flare | Memories are made of this
G’day Paula, love all that radiant heat and thanks for giving the definitions to give me some ideas. I’ve come up with 4 of them… https://memoriesaremadeofthisblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/thursdays-special-flare/
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Hi Pommepal, I am really grateful that you went to so much trouble and find a suitable and beautiful shot for several interpretations. I especially like the last one which I chose to display here. Happy Thursday!
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Thanks for the link Paula it was an interesting word to choose.
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My pleasure Pauline 🙂
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Brill’ love the colours..
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I appreciate it Gerry. Thank you 🙂
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That’s a cool challenge and photo Paula! I love flare! I’ll have to check my archives for this, so I can’t post anything immediately.
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I look forward to your post Max.
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A great challenge Paula and your flare is great flare. I picked out my photos before I left home (away for a few days) and didn’t choose any flare of the type you describe, although I have plenty of them at home. Cheers Irene
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Thank you, Irene. I hope you are having a good time.
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I will today. I gave my paper yesterday so can sit back and enjoy.Thanks
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🙂 Very pleased to hear that.
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
I posted my “flare”….
(It’s placed downtown ,in a Milan Square)
Compliments again for your entry!
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Good thing that you informed me, cause the link is not working. There should be a slash between com and the year, not minus.
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OMG , I went wrong once more!
My neurons refuse to collaborate , it seems….
A big hug,
A.
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Don’t beat yourself up over this. Baci
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I like the music too!
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I’m glad you gave it a listen. Thank you 🙂
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I do like this Paula. I like the vanishing lines of the road are reflected in the same pattern in the sun rays. The other flare doesn’t detract from the image at all. In fact, I quite like the red and green spots on the left.
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Makes me happy to hear that you do, Debbie.
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Flare can work as a creative element, but it is not an open invitation to be sloppy with your shooting technique.
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I agree with you Robert.
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Robert has a good point. I was struggling a bit – first waited for your post after midnight, than waited for some other participants’ views; still didn’t move much from the most obvious meaning. I like your flare. It seems as a perfect spot to wait for opportunities like that- nice sunsets or sunrises… Is it close to river Sava? (I don’t really know Zagreb, but that might change in the future -)
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/08/thursdays-special-flare.html
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Yes, this is the dam on Sava. Thank you, Klara.
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Great shot to go with your music, Paula. 🙂
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🙂 xx
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Pingback: Flowers on a Table | Cardinal Guzman
Here’s my flower porn flare for you Paula:
https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/flowers-on-a-table/
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Pingback: Moon competing with street lights | Tish Farrell
http://tishfarrell.com/2015/08/20/moon-competing-with-street-lights/ This late night offering is perhaps a bit daft 😀
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It’s fabulous, and very suited for my bedtime. Many thanks, Tish. I got two entries from you in one day. No one beats that. Sleep well 🙂
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Happy dreams 🙂
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Nice composition…
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Oh, thank you Lor 🙂
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | WordsVisual
Pingback: Getting Soaked At Niagara Falls | Jaspa's Journal
The Whirlpool Jetboat and Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls both provide a Flare, or rather ‘Flair’, of Adventure, Paula!
https://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/2015/08/21/getting-soaked-at-niagara-falls/
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Lovely golden light – where is this place?
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I’m glad you asked. It’s in Zagreb, my hometown. Thank you, Mark 🙂
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There is plenty of flair in your beautiful flare image, Paula! many other great contributions too!
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Very kind of you, Tiny. Thank you very much.
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Glorious! Not an unwanted element by any means 🙂
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | Middleton Road
Excellent.
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Pingback: Photo Editing: Flair for Flare | Beyond the Brush
OK – got my post done, Paula – it’s here https://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/photo-editing-flair-for-flare/
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Pingback: Sun Shower/2 | Beyond the Brush Photography
Paula – here’s a capture au naturel – https://beyondthebrushphotography.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/sun-shower2/
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Pingback: Flare | Empire of Lights
Found flare, finally; http://empireoflights.com/2015/08/23/flare/ – This is a tough one, Paula, but I enjoy it because the focus is on light.
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Flare | The New 3 Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect
Lovely challenge http://3rsofretirement.com/2015/08/24/thursdays-special-flare/
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I appreciate your stunning contribution, Marie and am happy that you could join.
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Thanks. I’m glad I found your blog.
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O what a nice one, photographed 2 lately…uhm..well..this one then: http://villasappho.nl/zaterdag-22-augustus-2015/ I was at a former camp of the Second World War.
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Thank you, Liesbeth, and thank you for joining in.
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I find this very soothing, in spite of the flare.
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