What is going on in this photo? Winter Milky Way, Byron Bay

[dylan_odonnell (Dylan)]

I took this photo at a roadside lookout near Byron Bay. I'm trying to work out what the cool lens flare effect is from the town lights. 30s / f2.8 / 11mm / ISO 1600 .. any ideas?

The very same settings on the photo immediately before this one does not show the effect, and the only difference was that the tree isn't illuminated in that one. But how does the passing car's headlights illuminating the tree cause that flare effect on other lights in the distance? If it is the lens why are they bent inwards and not outwards like you'd expect at a wide angle?

Let me know if you have any ideas, I'd love to know how to replicate that lens flare on demand but doesn't seem like a simple set of circumstances.

d

[iceman (Mike)]

Fog/dew on the lens, and the bright lights causing the lens flare/reflection effect.

Looks cool

[Octane (Humayun)]

Yep, what Mike said.

I took one a few years ago of a conjunction along with a crescent Moon.

The Moon liked a comet due to the fog on the lens.

H

[gregbradley]

That would've been my guess as well. It does look good. I suppose if you had the lens in front of the AC in your car before you took it outside it may fog up. The right amount of fog though may be tricky to achieve.

Greg.

[Ric]

Certainly is a cool looking shot Dylan.

[Marios (Marios)]

Love the shot..

Thought it could be internal reflection between lens and filter if you had one on.?