Following the recent Sunset Workshop, I got a question about how to  deal with annoying sun spots (i.e, len's flare) that occasionally show up.  This is something I have to deal with all the time when I shoot 360 degree panoramas, which I do on a nearly daily basis for real estate virtual tours.

Adding a lens hood is often an effective and practical means to shield the objective lens from a flare inducing angle.  In my situation of shooting panoramas, there are still required shots that are within the family of angles that produce lens flare.  In these situations, I try to use my my hand like a larger lens shade to shield the lens.  This usually works pretty well.  If the sun is right on the edge of my shot, I'll sometimes use my finger to blot it out entirely and then use Photoshop to paint it away.  I'll also try to select a camera position where the sun is fully or partially obscured by an object like a tree branch, roofline or other available foreground structure.

So the short answer to prevent Len's flare is: Buy quality lenses. Use high quality coated filters or remove them altogether. Use a Len's Shade. Employ your hand or other shield to shade the lens. Change your angle of view relative to the sun. Block the sun with a foreground object. If you have a favorite technique that works for you, please share it me.