Camera Hack #7: Anamorphic Lens Flare Hack
This is one of my favorite camera hacks of all time. Anamorphic lens flares are a coveted staple cinematic video footage, and with a little fishing line, you can quickly add them to your own photos or videos. Yup, I said fishing line, also known as monofilament wire, which is pretty darn cheap at your local tackle shop or Amazon (link above).
This one can be a little tricky — the key here is to remember that your flares will be perpendicular to the angle of your line. So if your line is horizontally placed in front of your lens, your flare will be vertical, and vise-versa. It takes some practice and a rubber band to hold the line will make life a lot simpler.
I also find that this hack works best at focal lengths of 50mm and longer. The anamorphic hack example below was taken on my nifty fifty aka. Nikon 50mm f/1.4. If you want to go full J.J. Abrams (never go full J.J. Abrams), you can even aim a small light into your lens to really max out those Star Trek vibes.