Can someone explain this effect please

[Squawk]

Hey guys.
Took a quick shot of the sunset over the houses today and ended up with an affect I haven't seen before on any of my shots. Hoping someone can explain. Working on the theory that a picture speaks a thousand words take a peak below. The first is the full image, the second is a 100% crop.

As you can see it looks like a spiders web in the silhouette, and its not like any lens flare I've had before. Does this effect have a name and can it be prevented?

Image taken with 400D and 18-55 kit lens.

 

[johnsy]

My first thought was thinking is your lens scratched and the angle of the sun is making it obvious?

 

[Squawk]

Hmms, lens was a bit dirty. Spot the noob, not checking the obvious. No chance to reshoot, damn sun has gone. :bonk:

Thanks

 

[Wigster]

Definitely either looks like you've taken it through a window, or your lens is dirty..

 

[mrtoad]

looks like branches of a bush to me

 

[TommyPhoto]

Blind spider's web? :bang:

Ignore me.

 

[Chaz Photos]

Can’t see your EXIF so not know what Fstop you had lens marks cant been seen unless you stop down to like f22 or more. Its some flare did you have a filter on?
A filter will show flare before a lens will one reason for not using them.

 

[Squawk]

No filter, aperture was around 5.6 at a guess, I can go check for sure but it definitely wasn't above 8. There was dirt on the lens, now cleaned off. I'll reshoot the image tommorrow through the day when flare won't be an issue and see whats there, light permitting I'll try to shoot the same image again.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Oli R C]

As mrcrow has suggested, are you sure it's not the branches of a bush situated between you and the house?? Certainly what it looks like to me...

 

[Scuba]

At a glance I'm with the tree/bush theory!