Topic: Unexpected shots

[jharr]

This might be a sparse thread since mostly we plan and know what we are shooting when we push the button, but in this case I didn't until I got the print back.

This was probably in '89 or '90. A group of us youngsters (college friends) had gone camping at Ozette Lake in W. Washington. I think I had along a disposable p/s, but I honestly don't remember the camera. Anyway, we were sitting on the beach on the ocean side of the narrow piece of land that separates the lake from the Pacific. I thought I was just taking a quick snap of a nice sunset, but when I got the prints back BAM!! Partial Eclipse!! How's that for an unexpected treat? 

[Fluminian]

Interesting shot, James. I'm inclined to believe that the eclipse originated from something from our world,
an airplane maybe, or a weather balloon, but there's nothing to be seen in front of the sun...

[mikec]

The answer is here.

If I've read the table correctly, there was a partial eclipse visible from the beach near the lake on July 21, 1990 which ended at 20:04 hours.

Perhaps we can get Becky to check the math.

[jharr]

Thanks Mike. I tried to figure out the NASA site, but couldn't. I am astronomically challenged. I also thought Beck might see it and chime in, but it looks like you found it.

[Fluminian]

The answer is here.

If I've read the table correctly, there was a partial eclipse visible from the beach near the lake on July 21, 1990 which ended at 20:04 hours.

Perhaps we can get Becky to check the math.

Thanks for the correction, Mike. It was a natural phenomenon after all.   

[mikec]

I'm no astronomy whiz either.  There was only one other possibility I could see in that time frame, and it took place at mid-day.

It's really a very interesting example for photo forensics analysis.  I've gotten a little taste of that recently in a journalism course I am taking.  The big photo agencies like AP, UPI and AFP all employ teams of analysts these days, mostly to avoid getting burned by photoshoppers.

[Francois]

It definitely looks like an eclipse. A plane would be incredibly small when compared to the size of the sun unless taken with a massive telephoto. Clouds would appear a different color and be backlit, which means clearly visible. Flying saucers are just plain lunacy. Weather balloons are even smaller than planes. Record breaking blimps were not in fashion in those days... and they would probably be silver mylar... so no blimp there.

A huge chunk of rock passing between the earth and the sun... now there's an idea

[mcduff]

wow mikec, that is a great site! what good sleuthing!!! You have likely dated that shot as well as if it had EXIF haha