What Causes This Reflection?

[jamesrdroy]

I took this picture by candle light. What has me stumped is this inverted reflection of the candle flame on the left of the frame. What's causing this? I took this pic using a UV filter with a flat surface, but later took it off and repeated the shots, getting the same effect every time.

The specifications are:
Camera: Nikon D5000
lens:VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 34mm
Focus Mode: Manual
VR: On
Aperture: F/5
Shutter Speed: 1/10s
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering: Spot
ISO: Auto (ISO 2200)
Flash: Did not fire

I am stumped. Any help please?

[kristenh]

i bet it's lens flare, not a reflection. i get the same shooting into the sun when there is crud on the lens. try cleaning and reshooting and see if it goes away.

[Murtasma]

That's lens flare from inside the lens since you took the filter off and it still happened.

[jamesrdroy]

Thank you both for the suggestions. I will re-clean ( I do have a cleaning fetish and always clean my lenses before and after even a single pic.) and reshoot tonight. I hope it vanishes.
I'll post my results as soon as it is done.

[jdepould]

Are you using a [cheap] UV filter?

[jamesrdroy]

@ jdepould

I am using a marumi filter with exposure of 1.0.
Its a normal flat glass filter. However, I repeated several shots without the filter and the reflection/flare was still there. What I have observed is that if I move the camera perpendicular to the flame, the reflection gets closer and closer to the flame and finally merges with it when exactly perpendicular to it.. This reflection is there continuously when the lens is at an angle to the flame.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by jamesrdroy

@ jdepould

I am using a marumi filter with exposure of 1.0.
Its a normal flat glass filter. However, I repeated several shots without the filter and the reflection/flare was still there. What I have observed is that if I move the camera perpendicular to the flame, the reflection gets closer and closer to the flame and finally merges with it when exactly perpendicular to it.. This reflection is there continuously when the lens is at an angle to the flame.

Yeah, then it's internal reflection. The light is bouncing around the elements of the lens in ways it shouldn't.