Recent UFO Reports / Sightings

I am discovering that many UFO pictures submitted by witnesses are definitely not pictures of flying saucers.

Depending on the camera you use and the time of day you take a picture, there are too many variables to cause a blurry or out of focus picture. I realize that a spur of the moment sighting of a strange object in the sky doesn't give you too much time to think about camera angles, F-stops, dept of field or if you remembered to take the lens cover off your camera. We investigators have to be ready to jump into action and take that "once in a life time" shot of a flying saucer.

Touching briefly on the investigators responsibility, we have to stress to the witness, not to edit or touch-up a picture. This should be left to the investigator or photo professional.

I recently took three pictures of the moon with my wife's digital camera. The first pictures [below] is a night time picture of the moon with no flash.

The second picture [below] is of the moon with the flash. Now you can see the pollen in the air. Is was not visible to the naked eye but it is visible with a flash.

The third picture [below] is of the pollen in one of the many pictures I took that night with the flash activated. I cropped a couple pollen orbs and created something very unusual and "alien" like. Many orbs reported in pictures that the witness did not notice when they took the picture at night could be dust or pollen illuminated by the flash. This will lead people to believe they captured a flying disc or something paranormal.

Today's modern technology has tried to it easy for people to take pictures but, in doing so, it has taken away the fun of setting up a great shot with a single lens reflex camera.

You can easily set up an SLR camera (a camera where you look through a viewfinder to position your picture) to take shots of fast moving objects. ASA-400 film, capable of very fast shutter speeds film, certain filters, the correct F-stops, wide angle and telephoto lens... all of these factors can improve your chances photographing a UFO that is clear and recognizable.

You really cannot do this with a digital camera. Because of the speed of the object and often the darkness of night, the screen is useless. You would just have to point the digital camera in the general direction of the object and pray for a good shot.

A dirty lens or moisture can easily create blurry pictures and fluorescent orbs. But who really thinks to check their lens for debris before a UFO speeds away? These are the things a UFO investigator has to think about.

Tips for better and more reliable UFO pictures

Making sure your equipment is up to date and clean is the first step. UFO investigators have to inspect the camera the witness used for the picture. If the witnesses camera lens has noticable moisture on his digital or SLR lens this should nullify the credibility of the picture. Any kind of moisture on a lens will distort the picture.

You also might want to look into infra-red photography. It has been shown that infra-red will pick up many things the eye cannot see. The only problem is the cost -- who has 10,000 dollars to spend on a Infra-red camera! I am doing some research now about a cheaper alternative to obtain the same results. You can make your own infra-red lens filter and install it over your Digital, SLR and DSLR camera (digital single lens reflex) and basically obtain the same effect.

You would be surprised what U-Tube and e-bay have to offer in regards to photography. There' s virtually nothing you can't find on the internet. Google is a very good source for information too.

Digital cameras are great but they have their drawbacks. When I take a shot with a SLR camera (single lens reflex) the picture is taken immediately after I push the button. Why does it seem to take an eternity with a digital camera? I want to look through the lens ,not a screen, to take my picture. This is what you are actually doing with an SLR camera.

The #1 benefit of a digital camera is you can enlarge a good digital shot without much distortion. With millions of pixels to work with, it is a giant leap in photographic technology.

The convenience of carrying a small digital camera or phone camera has given the general public quick access to being able to take a picture of anything in the matter of seconds. But the overall quality of the shot is in question, especially if it a fast moving object in the sky. Most SLR cameras bought within the last 20 years have an "auto mode" and it alleviates trying to manually set up the shot. It will select the best shutter speed and f-stop almost instantly.

Under the right circumstances a digital camera takes a much better picture than a SLR camera but the problem is trying to take a picture of a fast moving object is another story. Be sure to always read the camera manual after you buy any style of camera. The manual will give you suggestions on how to take advantage of all the special features the camera has to offer.

What about DSLR (that's Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras?

DSLR cameras have a lager image sensor which means they can take an image with a very large number of pixels. They generally have a higher ISO also. The ISO (International Standards Organization) is a measure of the sensitivity to light of a camera. The higher the number, the more sensitive the camera will be. This means that you can use a faster shutter speed, allowing you to "freeze" the movement of a speeding UFO. It also eliminates the movement of the picture taker who is sometimes trembling with the excitement of what he is seeing.

DSLR cameras usually allow you to select the ISO setting that is best for the type of picture you are shooting, depending on whether it is moving fast or slow and how much light there is available.

Light coming in to a camera is controlled by the aperature, called the F-stop. The higher the F-stop the smaller the opening in the lens. In general, a higher F-stop will allow for objects to remain in focus in front and in back of the target. A small F-stop will usually focus only on the target and everything in front and in back will be blurred.

The "art" of a good photographer is knowing which combination of F-stop and ISO speed will result in the clearest image.

For things like air shows, race car driving and sports events, I prefer an ISO of 400. For UFOs in the daytime I'd suggest the same. Set your focus on infinity and use the F-stop to adjust the light. Things get a bit more tricky in the evening or late night.

Many DSLR cameras have an LCD or screen which can be used as the viewfinder. As I said before, I prefer to use the regular viewfinder, holding the camera up to my eye to take the picture.

DSLR cameras also have the ability to change lens, from a wide-angle to a telescopic lens. Thi allows you to use the camera for many different occasions. It also has the capability of using many different flashes. But remember the problems I already covered about using a flash at night. If you are taking a picture of a UFO in the night sky, a flash will not improve your image and may actually interfere with it if it illuminates close-by objects. In general, flashes are useful for objects that are from 1 to 20 feet from the camera.

The real bonus for DSLR cameras is that they are WYSIWYG, or What You See Is What You Get. Due to the reflex mirror you are looking through the lens that will take the picture. You know what you are taking a picture of and there are few unpleasant surprises.

I have learned that the manufacturers are planning to phase out the SLR cameras. It may be time for me to think about buying a DSLR. I know that I am going to do lots of research on my own and not trust a salesman. I will want to know what's on the horizon -- the cutting edge -- of technology before I invest my money in anything. I wonder what the future will bring us... perhaps 3-D panoramic technology?

I had better start saving up now!

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