Photography help needed... What'd I do wrong?

[Sarah in Midlands]

I took the attached photo at Willesden New Cemetery on Thursday.

I have somehow managed to get a shaft of light across the left of the photo but I'm not sure what I did wrong.  The same effect is on other pictures of the grave but not on other photos taken the same day, so not lens, maybe angle?

If anyone can help so I don't end up making the same mistake again I would be most grateful!  For reference no trees or other 'structures' in the area.

S.

[ndb]

Hi - looks like you were pointing towards the sun, this usually produces something similar.  You'd be best waiting for the sun to be behind you (you'd probably get more detail on the grave also).  It makes a great 'spooky' picture though.  Andy.

[gollygee]

Hi Sarah,

Judging from the direction of the shadows you have 'flare' from the sun. This can often be a problem late in the year as the sun is quite low in the sky even in the middle of the day.

A solution is to use a lens hood, which basically is a tube mounted on the front of the lens, which shields the lens from unwanted light. I have a lens hood from my local photographic shop which is made of rubber and collapses down when the camera is put in its case.

[Sarah in Midlands]

Thanks guys! 

S

[kmo]

Have a look in any photo editting software you have. If you can change the brighness and contrast of the image, that will  alter it a lot.

[dennford]

Looks like the start of another Mr Bean episode, but honestly either use a lens hood, photograph with the sun behind you or make sure that your camera is in the shade ( a building tree or something substancial enough to shade the lens).
                                                 Denn

[Sarah in Midlands]

Thank you everyone - looks like I might need to invest in a 'hood'.

Managed to freak out some of the family with it though!

Sarah