Glare in photography is an unwanted bright spot or reflection caused by stray light rays scattering or bouncing directly into the camera’s sensor. This phenomenon occurs when light interacts negatively with the lens elements or the subject matter. It is a persistent technical challenge faced by photographers. This article covers specific techniques for correcting existing glare in post-processing and strategies for preventing it during initial capture.
Identifying Different Types of Glare
Understanding the specific appearance of glare is the first step toward effective removal, as different types require distinct corrective approaches. One common form is Lens Flare, which is produced when non-image-forming light scatters within the lens barrel and across the internal glass elements. This often manifests as distinct geometric shapes, circles, or streaks of light within the final photograph.
Another frequent issue is Specular Glare, which is characterized by intense, localized bright spots resulting from light bouncing directly off a highly polished or shiny surface, such as glass, water, or reflective metal. These reflections are often pinpointed and contain no texture information. Specular glare is the type most commonly seen as bright spots on subjects wearing glasses.
The third type, known as Veiling Glare, is less defined and causes an overall reduction in the image’s contrast and saturation. This scattering of light across the entire frame makes the photograph appear hazy, washed out, and lacking in overall depth.
Step-by-Step Software Removal Methods
Correcting Specular Glare
The most precise way to address localized specular glare, such as a bright reflection on glasses or water, involves using content-aware retouching tools. The Healing Brush Tool or the Clone Stamp Tool are highly effective for this task in desktop editing software. The technique requires sampling a clean, adjacent area of texture that closely matches the area needing correction.
When using the Clone Stamp, set the tool’s opacity to a lower value, perhaps between 40% and 60%. This allows for multiple, gentle applications. This method ensures the replacement texture blends seamlessly with the surrounding pixels rather than creating a noticeable patch or smudge. This careful layering preserves the natural texture and prevents the correction from looking artificial.
Mitigating Veiling Glare
Addressing veiling glare, which diminishes overall image quality, requires adjustments focused on restoring depth and clarity. Many modern editing applications feature a dedicated “Dehaze” slider, specifically engineered to counteract the effects of atmospheric or scattered light by increasing local contrast.
If a dedicated Dehaze slider is not available, similar results can be achieved by manually manipulating the contrast and black point sliders. Increasing the overall contrast and selectively lowering the black point intensifies the darkest areas of the image. This process restores saturation and mitigates the washed-out appearance caused by the light scattering across the sensor, effectively bringing back lost detail.
Handling Lens Flare
Removing wide or prominent lens flares presents a greater challenge and often risks making the photograph look manipulated. For large, distinct flare shapes that overlap a relatively uniform background, the Patch Tool can be used. Select the entire flare area and replace it with a texture sampled from a clean part of the image. This works best in areas without fine detail or complex edges.
If the lens flare is positioned near the edge of the frame or is particularly intrusive, strategic cropping is a simple solution. By slightly adjusting the frame, the offending light artifact can sometimes be completely removed without negatively impacting the composition of the main subject. This is often the cleanest solution when the flare is peripheral.
Mobile Editing Solutions
For photographers relying on mobile applications for immediate fixes, many offer simplified “Spot Removal” tools. These tools mimic the function of the desktop healing brush, allowing users to tap directly on a bright reflection. The application automatically samples and blends the surrounding area. Furthermore, basic contrast and shadow adjustments within mobile editors are sufficient for a quick correction of minor veiling effects.
Techniques for Glare Prevention
The most effective strategy for managing glare involves preventing stray light from reaching the lens elements in the first place, often through the use of specific accessories. A lens hood is a flared or cylindrical attachment designed to physically block non-image-forming light rays from outside the frame from hitting the front element of the lens. This is particularly useful for mitigating veiling glare and certain types of lens flare.
For eliminating specular glare from non-metallic surfaces like water, glass, or varnished wood, a polarizing filter is the most powerful tool. This filter works by selectively absorbing light waves based on their orientation. Rotating the filter allows the photographer to control the exact degree of reflection removal.
Adjusting the camera’s angle relative to the primary light source is a free and immediate prevention method. By slightly shifting the camera position so the light source is shielded behind the subject or an object in the foreground, the chance of light scattering within the lens significantly decreases. Shading the lens with a hand or a hat, especially when shooting toward a bright sun, can also provide a temporary physical block.
When shooting indoors, glare can often be traced back to controllable reflections from overhead lighting or windows. Repositioning highly reflective objects, such as framed pictures or polished furniture, or temporarily turning off direct lights can eliminate unwanted specular glare before the image is even captured.