What IS this?
Jan 17, 2022 17:51:56 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
About a year and a half ago, I was photographing a fire department helicopter on an incident near where I live, and when viewing the photos on the computer, I noticed a strange object or artifact in the frame, to the right of the helicopter. It's not dust on the lens or sensor. Looks like it is something that is "out there". There were no other aircraft in the air at that time, other than this helicopter.
Jan 17, 2022 17:53:55 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
Here is a crop of the original photo, to see what object/artifact more clearly.
Jan 17, 2022 17:59:06 #
You did check the back of the lens for dust also, correct?
Jan 17, 2022 18:00:21 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
Longshadow wrote:
You did check the back of the lens for dust also, correct?
Of course. But, even if I hadn't, then this "artifact" would show in all of the other images taken with that lens on that same day. This is the ONLY image in which this thing appears. Not in the images immediately before or after. Other than a few sensor spots, there is nothing else like this on any of the other images I shot that day.
Jan 17, 2022 18:03:42 #
It looks like a saucer shaped object or rod trailing from the chopper. Put a straightedge below it and follow it back to the left wheel base on the craft. I cannot find any wire or connector there, however.
You might consider calling the FD and ask them.
You might consider calling the FD and ask them.
Jan 17, 2022 18:06:15 #
kb6kgx wrote:
About a year and a half ago, I was photographing a fire department helicopter on an incident near where I live, and when viewing the photos on the computer, I noticed a strange object or artifact in the frame, to the right of the helicopter. It's not dust on the lens or sensor. Looks like it is something that is "out there". There were no other aircraft in the air at that time, other than this helicopter.
Something fell off the chopper or was thrown out?
Jan 17, 2022 18:06:33 #
kb6kgx wrote:
Of course. But, even if I hadn't, then this "artifact" would show in all of the other images taken with that lens on that same day. This is the ONLY image in which this thing appears. Not in the images immediately before or after. Other than a few sensor spots, there is nothing else like this on any of the other images I shot that day.
Lens internal reflection?????
Jan 17, 2022 18:07:19 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
Longshadow wrote:
Lens internal reflection?????
Lens internal reflection?????
Don't know. Nothing like any "internal reflection" or lens flair I've ever seen.
Jan 17, 2022 18:15:20 #
Jan 17, 2022 18:18:37 #
Seem easy to me. Anything you can't identify in the air is by definition a Unidentified Flying Object. 
Jan 17, 2022 18:29:32 #
The object looks blurry along its length. That means it's traveling at a speed different than the chopper, which is doesn't show motion blur (other than the blades). So either something got dropped out of the chopper or there's something trying to intercept it.
I assume there is only one photo in the sequence so you can't look for it in another shot?
Shutter is 1/160 second. Could it be something going the other way? Nearby insect or bird?
I assume there is only one photo in the sequence so you can't look for it in another shot?
Shutter is 1/160 second. Could it be something going the other way? Nearby insect or bird?
Jan 17, 2022 18:29:43 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
Curmudgeon wrote:
Seem easy to me. Anything you can't identify in the air is by definition a Unidentified Flying Object.
Not being funny, here, at all, but… that was my first thought. This "thing" looks like what many over the last 70 years have described when they saw something that they couldn't identify. The usual description was "cigar-shaped". Again, if it was dust or an artifact on the lens, it would be in every other image. It's only in THIS one. No, it did NOT fall off or was thrown out from the helicopter.
Jan 17, 2022 18:30:45 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
DirtFarmer wrote:
The object looks blurry along its length. That means it's traveling at a speed different than the chopper, which is doesn't show motion blur (other than the blades). So either something got dropped out of the chopper or there's something trying to intercept it.
Nothing was dropped or thrown out.
Jan 17, 2022 18:31:03 #
kb6kgx wrote:
About a year and a half ago, I was photographing a fire department helicopter on an incident near where I live, and when viewing the photos on the computer, I noticed a strange object or artifact in the frame, to the right of the helicopter. It's not dust on the lens or sensor. Looks like it is something that is "out there". There were no other aircraft in the air at that time, other than this helicopter.
UFO.
Jan 17, 2022 18:32:25 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
[quote=DirtFarmerI assume there is only one photo in the sequence so you can't look for it in another shot?[/quote]
I thought I had taken several in sequence but apparently not. I tend not to use continuous shutter. In this case, though, I wish I had. But, again, in no other image, of the roughly 30-40 others I shot at this incident, does this "object" show in the frame.
I thought I had taken several in sequence but apparently not. I tend not to use continuous shutter. In this case, though, I wish I had. But, again, in no other image, of the roughly 30-40 others I shot at this incident, does this "object" show in the frame.
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