Question about a couple sunset pictures...

[rx_morph]

I took a few sunset pictures today but unfortunately they aren't very good. It seems like trees were in my way everywhere I went this evening. Anyway, I noticed that in two of the shots (the first one below particularly) there seemed to be 4 purple-ish circles around the sun. Oddly though they are placed evenly apart from one another - one on top, to the right, bottom and to the left...of course some are more visible than others. At first I thought it might be some dust on the lens or something but obviously that seems unlikely considering they're evenly placed. Does this just look like some time of lens flare? I would greatly appreciate your analysis. Thanks.

4 visible here:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q88/rx_morpheus/SN850738.jpg

Image Attributes
Format JPEG interchanged
Compression Baseline JPEG
Dimensions 3264x2448 (8.0 MP)
Bit Depth 24
EXIF Metadata
Manufacturer SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Model Samsung S85
Orientation of image Normal
Software used 1.2800
Y and C positioning Co-Sited
Exposure time 1/209
F number 8
Exposure program Normal
ISO speed ratings 50
Image compression ratio 3
Exposure bias 0
Maximum lens aperture 2.971
Metering mode Multi spot
Light source Cloudy
Flash Flash off
Lens focal length 31.5
Color space information sRGB
Valid image width 3264
Valid image height 2448
Exposure mode Auto
White balance Auto WB
Digital zoom 1
Focal length in 35 mm film 190
Scene capture type Standard
Sharpness Normal

3 visible here (bottom, to the left and vaguely to the top):
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q88/rx_morpheus/SN850753.jpg

Image Attributes
Format JPEG interchanged
Compression Baseline JPEG
Dimensions 3264x2448 (8.0 MP)
Bit Depth 24
EXIF Metadata
Manufacturer SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Model Samsung S85
Orientation of image Normal
Software used 1.2800
Y and C positioning Co-Sited
Exposure time 1/272
F number 8
Exposure program Normal
ISO speed ratings 50
Image compression ratio 3
Exposure bias 0
Maximum lens aperture 2.971
Metering mode Multi spot
Light source Daylight
Flash Flash off
Lens focal length 31.5
Color space information sRGB
Valid image width 3264
Valid image height 2448
Exposure mode Auto
White balance Auto WB
Digital zoom 1
Focal length in 35 mm film 190
Scene capture type Standard
Sharpness Normal

[D Thompson]

lens flare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_flare
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/lens-flare.htm

[rx_morph]

Ah, yeah...that's what I was leaning towards. It just seemed odd in the first picture. I can't recall ever seeing lens flare so evenly proportioned like that, lol. Thanks.

[cwat212]

i got 9 on the first and my wife counted 8.....

[rx_morph]

i got 9 on the first and my wife counted 8.....

Hmm, well it might have done that because I was zoomed to the end of my telescopic zoom and I didn't have the camera in 'Sunset mode'.

[TheWengler]

Hmm, well it might have done that because I was zoomed to the end of my telescopic zoom and I didn't have the camera in 'Sunset mode'.

I think flare is caused by the sunlight hitting the front element of your lens. I don't think the mode your camera is in has anything to do with it.

[rx_morph]

I think flare is caused by the sunlight hitting the front element of your lens. I don't think the mode your camera is in has anything to do with it.

Alright. It might have been the way I was holding the camera because I did take others at the same time that are kind of similar to the first shot and I didn't notice much if any lens flare in those. I'll have to get some more sunset shots and clean the lens. Then I'll see how they look. I haven't had many opportunities to get them since I've had the camera. It's been raining and cloudy most of each day.:(