Which accessory helps reduce lens flare and ghosting during location shoots?

• A. Lens Hood
• B. UV Filter
• C. Polarizer
• D. Neutral Density Filter

Answer: (A)

Stray light that enters the lens from outside the frame causes lens flare and ghosting, especially on location shoots with strong or off-axis sun. A lens hood blocks those stray light rays by extending around the front of the lens, acting like a shield. By keeping stray light out, it reduces internal reflections inside the lens, preserving contrast and detail without changing exposure or color. That’s why the lens hood is the best accessory for minimizing flare in outdoor settings.

UV filters add extra glass in front of the lens, which can create its own reflections and aren’t necessary with modern digital sensors. A polarizer changes the scene by reducing reflections and increasing contrast, but its effects are angle-dependent and it doesn’t reliably prevent internal flare from stray light. A neutral density filter lowers the amount of light entering the lens, useful for exposure control, but it doesn’t address flare or ghosting at all.