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Alright, settle in. Grab a cuppa, or if you’re down Newcastle way, maybe a stott. Cause we need to talk about lens flare. Not just any old lens flare, mind you, but this new fangled “Photeeq lens flare” everyone’s buzzing about for 2025. It’s enough to make an old hack like me roll my eyes so hard they might just get stuck. You see the headlines, don’t you? “The Future is Flares!” “Photeeq: Your Photography Just Got Lit!” Makes you want to spit your tea out, doesn’t it? Every time some whiz-bang piece of tech comes out, people lose their absolute marbles. It’s like they just discovered sliced bread, only the bread is slightly burnt on one side and costs a fortune.
I’ve been writing about this stuff, or variations of it, for going on twenty years now. Twenty years! Seen more fads come and go than I’ve had hot dinners, and some of them were truly dreadful, I tell ya. Remember that whole “HDR everything” phase? Looked like someone dropped a clown’s makeup kit on a photograph, didn’t it? Or the obsession with over-saturated colours that made sunsets look like an acid trip. Point is, the photography world, bless its cotton socks, has a knack for latching onto the next big thing and riding it into the ground before moving onto the next shiny distraction. And this “Photeeq lens flare”? Feels like we’re on that same well-trodden path.
So what’s the craic with this “Photeeq” business anyway? From what I gather, it’s some fancy algorithm, or maybe a dedicated piece of glass – the marketing blurb’s a bit murky on the technicalities, which is always a red flag, mate – designed to create what they call “perfectly curated” lens flares. Curated. Right. As if a smudge of light on your lens ever needed a curator. It’s meant to give your photos that “cinematic” look, that “authentic” feel. Authentic, my arse. You know what’s authentic? A bit of dust on your lens you forgot to wipe, or a sunbeam hitting your old Canon just so. That’s real. This Photeeq thing, it’s all about control, about making the accidental look intentional without, you know, the actual accident. It’s a shortcut, plain and simple, and shortcuts rarely lead anywhere good in the long run.
The Cult of the “Perfect” Imperfection
It seems we’ve reached a point where the demand for “authenticity” in our images has become so great that we’re now manufacturing it. We want things to look raw, gritty, real, but only if they’re the right kind of raw, gritty, and real. And this Photeeq lens flare is supposedly the answer to that particular paradox. People are drooling over it, talking about how it adds “depth” and “character.” Depth? Character? It’s a bloomin’ streak of light, isn’t it?
In my experience, when folks start talking about how a piece of tech provides “character,” it usually means they’re trying to justify why they spent a week’s wages on something that makes their photos look like everyone else’s. And let’s be honest, that’s where this is headed. Everyone gets the same Photeeq flare, everyone’s photos start looking like they were all shot on the same sunny afternoon, with the same “perfectly curated” glow. Where’s the individuality in that, eh? You’re just another sheep in the flock, running after the latest trend. And me, I’m always one to question the flock, you know?
Are these new flares really different, or just hyped up?
That’s a fair question, isn’t it? I hear it all the time. “Editor, isn’t this Photeeq thing just a more sophisticated version of what we already have?” And I tell them, “Well, aye, to a degree.” Sure, software has been able to add lens flare for years. Photoshop’s had it since the dinosaurs roamed the earth, practically. But this Photeeq, they’re saying it’s “organic,” “dynamic,” it reacts to the light in your picture in a more realistic way. They say it’s not just a static overlay. They say it’s like having a ray of sunshine in your pocket, just waiting to beam onto your shot. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? But then, so did the promise of a quiet night’s sleep after a double espresso. Turns out, some things are too good to be true.
What I believe is happening here is a classic case of marketing wizardry. They’ve taken something that used to be an artifact, a flaw, and rebranded it as a feature. They’ve polished it up, slapped a fancy name on it, and now everyone wants a piece of the action. It’s like finding a dent in your car, calling it “patina,” and charging extra for it. It’s cheeky, but it works. People will pay for it. Especially if they think it’ll make their Instagram feed look more “professional.” Oh, the things we do for likes.
The Great “Authenticity” Con
I’ve seen a lot of things come and go in the newsroom, and one constant is the human desire for something that feels real, even if it isn’t. We crave authenticity, but we’re often too lazy or too busy to actually create it. So, along comes Photeeq, promising to sprinkle that magic dust on your images. “Is Photeeq lens flare natural?” someone asked me the other day, eyes wide with genuine curiosity. And I had to pause, because what does “natural” even mean anymore when we’re talking about digital manipulation?
Natural? No. It’s an algorithm’s best guess at what natural looks like. It’s a computer trying to mimic a physical phenomenon. It’s like asking if a really good forgery is a natural painting. It’s not. It’s a clever copy. Does it look good? Maybe. Does it feel good? That’s subjective, isn’t it? What bothers me is the pretense, the idea that adding a manufactured imperfection somehow makes your work more “genuine.” It’s just another filter, isn’t it? A bit more sophisticated perhaps, but a filter nonetheless.
Is Photeeq lens flare just a passing trend?
You bet your bottom dollar it is. Look, I’m not a betting man, not usually, but if I were, I’d put good money on this Photeeq thing being replaced by something else in a year or two. Remember sepia tones? Remember vignettes on every photo? They were “the thing” for a bit, then everyone got sick of them. This is no different. It’s a flavour of the month, a little dollop of whipped cream on your photographic trifle. It tastes good for a bit, but then you want something else.
True artistry, real vision, that stands the test of time. It doesn’t rely on a specific effect or a piece of software that promises to make your photos “pop.” It relies on your eye, your composition, your understanding of light, and your ability to tell a story. If you’re leaning on Photeeq lens flare to make your photos interesting, you might be missing the point. It’s a crutch, and pretty soon, everyone’s going to notice everyone else walking with the same limp.
The Art of Getting it Wrong (and Right)
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying all digital tools are bad. Far from it. We’ve come a long way from developing film in a darkroom with chemicals that smelled like something that would strip paint off a wall. Digital photography is brilliant, pure dead brilliant even, for the accessibility it offers. Anyone with a phone can take a picture now. But that’s where the problem often starts, isn’t it? When everyone can do something, the pursuit of “standing out” becomes a frantic scramble.
The beauty of a real lens flare, the kind you get when the sun just catches your actual lens at a weird angle, is that it’s often unexpected. It’s a happy accident. Sometimes it ruins the shot, sure, sometimes it makes it. But it’s real. It’s a unique interaction between light, your glass, and the moment. You can’t replicate that soul, that serendipity, with an algorithm. You can mimic the look, but you can’t mimic the feeling. And I think, deep down, most photographers know this. They just get swept up in the hype like the rest of us. They see some influencer with a perfectly flared shot, and next thing you know, they’re asking, “Where can I get Photeeq lens flare?”
Does Photeeq make my photos look professional?
Oh, bless your heart. Professional isn’t a switch you flick on. Professional is about consistency, quality, vision, and often, getting paid for your work. A lens flare, Photeeq or otherwise, doesn’t suddenly turn you into Annie Leibovitz. It’s a decorative element. A bit like putting a bow tie on a dog. Looks cute, doesn’t make the dog a brain surgeon.
What truly makes a photo look professional? It’s the composition, the lighting, the subject, the story it tells. It’s not about adding a digital smudge. If you rely on a single visual effect to carry your image, you’re not building a strong foundation. You’re building a house of cards, and one gust of wind (or one new trend) will knock it right over. Spend your time learning the fundamentals, experimenting with real light, real lenses, real moments. That’s where the true “pro” stuff comes from. The rest is just window dressing.
Chasing the Dragon of “New”
It’s an old story, isn’t it? The endless chase for the “next big thing.” Back when I started, it was about getting the fastest film, then the sharpest lens, then the camera with the most megapixels. Now it’s about the most convincing digital effect, the most “natural” AI-generated something-or-other. It’s a treadmill, and you never really get anywhere. You just keep running.
I often think about the old photographers, the ones who shot on glass plates or ancient film cameras. They didn’t have Photeeq lens flare, they didn’t have Photoshop. They had their eye, their skill, and the light God gave them. And some of the most breathtaking images ever created came from that. No bells, no whistles, just pure, raw talent.
This Photeeq craze, it’s a distraction. A shiny, digital distraction that pulls your attention away from what truly matters: seeing the world, framing it, and capturing a moment that means something. Not just to you, but maybe, just maybe, to someone else too. It’s not about how fancy your flare looks. It’s about how much feeling your photo has.
Can I turn off Photeeq lens flare if I don’t like it?
Well, aye, I’d bloody hope so! If it’s a software thing, a slider or a toggle, you’d think they’d let you turn it off. But then, if everyone’s turning it off, what was the point of buying it, eh? The whole point of these things is to be used. And used. And used, until everyone’s sick to the back teeth of seeing it. You’ll be able to turn it off, for sure. The bigger question is, why would you turn it on in the first place? Unless you’re just trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Is Photeeq lens flare expensive?
You know what they say down in Dudley, “If you ‘ave to ask, youth, you can’t afford it.” Or more likely, it’s priced just high enough to make you feel like you’re getting something exclusive, something cutting-edge. Not so cheap that everyone and their dog can get it right away, but not so dear that the masses are completely put off. It’ll be a subscription, probably, or a one-time “pro” fee that makes you wince a bit. They know what they’re doing, these tech companies. They know how to get into your wallet. And for a bit of digital light? Nah, doesn’t sit right with me.
Where We’re Heading
My worry is that this constant chase for artificial perfection, for these pre-packaged “effects” like Photeeq lens flare, just makes us lazy. It dulls our edge. We stop looking for those happy accidents, those unique quirks that make a photograph truly stand out. We stop experimenting, we stop pushing the boundaries ourselves, because the software is already doing all the “creative” bits for us. And what’s left then? Just pressing a button.
We’re heading towards a world where every photo looks like it came off the same assembly line. Filtered, flared, and frankly, a bit bland. Where’s the grit? Where’s the raw emotion? Where’s the mistake that somehow made the shot brilliant? It’s all smoothed over, digitally enhanced, “curated” into oblivion.
My advice? Forget the Photeeq lens flare. Forget the next big thing they try to sell you. Pick up your camera – any camera, even your phone – and just look. Look at the light. Look at the shadows. Look at the people, the buildings, the trees. Find what moves you. And then, take the shot. Maybe it’ll have a flare, maybe it won’t. But if it’s from your heart, if it tells a story, then mate, that’s far more valuable than any algorithm could ever dream of creating. That’s the real deal. And that’s something no AI can ever replicate, no matter how many “curated” lens flares it promises. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find a decent cup of coffee and stare out the window for a bit. Probably see something more interesting than Photeeq flare there anyway.
