The Parallel Project – Starburst

On January 24, 2011January 24, 2011 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography, The Parallel Project

There are special filters that you can buy to create those “star-burst” effects from very bright points of light, but you can also do this by using a small aperture, the aperture rings in the lens will help to produce this same star-burst effect without you going out and buying those filters. Of course, the filters do give some very neat effects 🙂

I had intended this experiment for a night scene, but as I was in the park accompanying Nikhil, I thought I’d try it out using the sun as my source of bright light. (I even took shots with a larger aperture to make sure it was working as it should)

The Tree in the Park. 1/30s, f/16, ISO 400, 18mm

20 thoughts on “The Parallel Project – Starburst”

Nikhil Ramkarran

Superb! This is an excellent shot that perfectly captures what I wanted to do (but was unable to). I’m glad now that you had the time to come with me.

January 24, 2011 at 3:55 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Nik, I had to wait a while as you were very engrossed in the scene and was in this shot most of the time 🙂
  
  January 24, 2011 at 3:57 pm Reply
philsue

love it

January 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thank Phil (& Sue)
  The National Park is scenic, if you can manage to avoid some of those buildings, or the traffic from the other side 🙂
  
  January 24, 2011 at 4:08 pm Reply
FS Photography

I have to confess to sticking with the aperture adjustments for my starbursts these days, but it’s certainly a useful filter if the lights not as good as it needs to be for small apertures.. Great picture too with the light streaming through the trees…

January 24, 2011 at 4:14 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Brian. I’m not saying the filters aren’t useful at all, if I had them I’d probably experiment with them tons 🙂 And I know what you mean about their usefulness with varying apertures. Always good to hear from you.
  
  January 24, 2011 at 4:19 pm Reply
David

nice shot Mikey. Glad Nik was able to get out the shot and allow to take this. I would like to see some of the others you took with the larger aperture.

January 24, 2011 at 4:34 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks David! it’ll just be the same scene without the nice rays coming from the sun 🙂
  
  January 24, 2011 at 4:36 pm Reply
photosbymartina

Nicely done, I always like the sunbursts in the photos. Without a filter, it feels more real. The tree is lovely too, I like your perspective.

January 24, 2011 at 4:41 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Martina, the whole idea was Nikhil’s, I was along for the walk 🙂 He usually has good idea’s for photographic scenes 🙂
  And this gave me the chance to experiment with this technique in the day-time, at night it would have been easier 🙂
  
  January 24, 2011 at 4:44 pm Reply
cecil beharry

Hi Michael
I would end up repeating what the other comments on this photo read. With my limited skill, I am trying to figure out if it’s a sunrise or a sunset. I love the blue sky behind the trees, plus with the star burst, the shadows and the white peeking thru. I attend art auctions every now and then. So I see what sells. You have a big winner here.
Cecil

January 24, 2011 at 5:37 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Cecil, it was in the afternoon, so closer to sunset, although not quite that late :-). I am flattered that you think it would sell :-). Thanks a lot!!!
  
  January 24, 2011 at 6:10 pm Reply
David Williams

I really like composition and, love the lens flare. 😀

January 25, 2011 at 2:08 am Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks David, I considered using the hood, but I thought that if I am going for the drama of the star-burst, I should see what lens flare would result also. I was pleased with what I got 🙂
  
  January 25, 2011 at 7:26 am Reply
Journey Photographic

I love starbursts! This is nicely done. I’ve never used the filters, are they good?

(My favourite of my own starburst pictures is http://journeyphotographic.com/2010/12/03/busker-and-crowd-convent-garden/ , since I think it suits the rest of the subject well.)

January 25, 2011 at 7:25 am Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks JP, I haven’t used the filters myself, but as far as I’ve been told (and researched) when used in the right circumstances, they give beautiful starbursts, and there are varying filters for different effects on the starbursts, but because the filter is actually engraved with lines to create the effect this can sometimes result in some image distortion in other areas as well (usually not noticeable unless viewed large)
  
  January 25, 2011 at 7:35 am Reply
sasi (my3rdi.org)

Very nice composition. Lovely wide angle shot with infinite DOF. Sun flare is awesome too.

January 25, 2011 at 2:46 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Sasi, it was the widest on the lens 🙂 using the wide aperture gave the nice infinite DoF and also gave the star-burst effect! nice 🙂
  
  January 25, 2011 at 3:14 pm Reply
EternalForms

very nice, michael. i love the perspective you chose. nice exposure – even with the sunburst you managed to have some well saturated blues and greens…

January 26, 2011 at 4:28 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Joseph, it was such a nice sunny afternoon, I think the light even under the trees was good 🙂
  
  January 26, 2011 at 4:35 pm Reply