ABSTRACT
There are many different kinds of lens flares and as many ways to control their size, shape, number, and intensity. Although in most cases prime lenses are preferred over zooms, the latter might be a better choice if more numerous flares are needed, and one could even pick a lens for a particular shot because of the number of blades in its iris, to create a flare of a certain shape. When every detail of the look of lens flares is deliberate, they can communicate narrative meaning beyond aesthetic considerations, and can even be a central element of a visual strategy, supporting the story’s core idea or theme. Lens flares play a key role and are a recurring visual theme in director Iain Softley’s K-PAX , the story of Prot a man who claims to have extraterrestrial origins and the capability of intergalactic travel using only beams of light, and the psychiatrist in charge of treating him, Dr. Powell.
