What was originally considered a mistake is now a desirable aesthetic: Light Leaks. But where do they come from? And how can we use it to add more character to our photos and videos?
What are Light Leaks?
The origin of the "phenomenon light leak" dates back to the time of analog film. In both photography and videography those light leaks were captured by accident when light literally "leaked" into the camera body through openings other than the lens.
This was the case, if there were small gaps between the lens and the camera body or, if the camera body was opened. In either way the film was exposed to extra / additional light, causing white, yellow or red / orange light leaks in the frame later on.
What is the difference between Light Leaks and Film Burns?
Especially if we are looking for these "vintage effects" today, we come across various terms like: light leaks, film burns, lens flares and many more. But what's the difference?
The short answer is: There is no difference between light leaks and film burns. Both therms describe the explained phenomenon of light that unintentionally exposes the film or sensor.
What is the difference between Light Leaks and Lens Flares?
However, there is a difference between light leaks and lens flares. In the case of light leaks the light shines through openings other than the lens - lens flares, on the other hand, are caused by the refraction of light at or whithin the lens.
Especially older and lower quality lenses lead to such light refraction. Due to the further development of modern lenses, this "artifact" has been virtually eliminated. So if you want to create this effect on purpose you should definetely experiment with vintage lenses.
What about Burn Holes?
You may also have heard of the word "burn holes". Even if it sounds very similar to "film burns", this is another phenomenon.
While the other artifacts were created in camera, burn holes were only created when the films were shown (with a projector).
This happened when the film stood in front of the strong, hot projector-light-source for too long. Back in the days the film-emulsion was also much more flammable than today. That's the reason why movie theathers used to burn down frequently back then.
How can I add Light Leaks to my video or photograph?
Almost everyone loves the imperfections of the analog era. That's why we often try to imitate this vintage aesthetic in our creative projects. It's quite difficult to create these effects with today's cameras. Some characteristics cannot be reproduced digitally at all.
The easiest way is to choose truly authentic, analogue effects that have been digitized as overlays and can be added later in post production (e.g. in Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro or even CapCut, InShot, Splite, ...).
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So if you're looking for high quality overlay packs at a good price, take a look around and get creative with your vintage editing effects - have fun!