help debunk the "ghost" in this image

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/12/2011 10:01:57 PM · #1

I've looked around the web a bit, but can't find anything conclusive. help me explain the white swirl seen at the top of this photo, it's unedited (well only sized). this is the artist house in key west (home of robert the doll... the haunted doll of key west), taken last week, no flash.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

08/12/2011 10:03:30 PM · #2

It's a ghost. Just accept it and move on. ;P

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

08/12/2011 10:07:08 PM · #3

i took this picture a few seconds later, also no flash.

i know what we see as "orbs" are likely moisture on my lens.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

08/12/2011 10:07:58 PM · #4

ghost. definitely. ohh la la!!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/12/2011 10:08:59 PM · #5

call Rose...

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/12/2011 10:10:18 PM · #6

You were smoking when you took the photo!

yakatme

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/12/2011 10:10:49 PM · #7

Our ghost hunter was banned from this site several years ago, although she has appeared here every now and then since. It's bad luck to mention her name so I won't.

Anyway, I'm not superstitious and I don't think that camera's will catch something that we couldn't see in the first place. So that leaves something that you weren't aware of in the view of the lens or something wrong within the lens or camera.

I've only seen something like that when I am painting with light, but you were good enough to post your shutter speed so that's ruled out.

Were you using a flash?

edit to add Uh oh! Spork said her name!!!

Message edited by author 2011-08-12 22:12:08.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/12/2011 10:10:53 PM · #8

Originally posted by Spork99:

call Rose...

uh hum...we do not speak of 'she-who' here. We can however discuss the ghosts. lol

08/12/2011 10:11:13 PM · #9

i MIGHT have been...i dont really remember, would smoke give that appearance even without flash or a light source nearby?

08/12/2011 10:12:17 PM · #10

Originally posted by yakatme:

Were you using a flash?

edit to add Uh oh! Spork said her name!!!

no flash. i admit i take lots of pictures of "haunted" spots when i go to key west, but this is the first time i saw anything like this in the capture.

08/12/2011 10:36:21 PM · #11

What are the round objects? Was this shot through glass?

Google Glass Google Glass

08/12/2011 10:37:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by kenskid:

What are the round objects? Was this shot through glass?

im guessing moisture on the lens, i was standing on the sidewalk across the street from the house, no glass, no light source near me.

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/12/2011 10:44:07 PM · #13

I gather you took the picture. Did you see anything at the time?

No such thing as ghosts...

Definitely looks more like one of the Venusian Fog People, that secretly live among us.

Or it could be a noctilucent cloud. (night glowing cloud)

Message edited by author 2011-08-12 22:47:04.

08/12/2011 10:50:56 PM · #14

Bah... There was a flash... It may not have been yours, but there WAS a flash.. Look at the plate on the motorcycle on the left and the reflectors on the car. Smoke + Flash = a bunch of baffled DPC'ers. ;)

ETA: Hey, wait, what was the prize for winning this game? ;)

Message edited by author 2011-08-12 22:52:52.

08/12/2011 10:54:01 PM · #15

I did some extreme sharpening and edge work....even more strange !

08/12/2011 10:55:49 PM · #16

I think that reflector light may be from the Canon's autofocus assist light.

Originally posted by Cory:

08/12/2011 10:58:57 PM · #17

Originally posted by kenskid:

I think that reflector light may be from the Canon's autofocus assist light.

Originally posted by Cory:
Bah... There was a flash... It may not have been yours, but there WAS a flash.. Look at the plate on the motorcycle on the left and the reflectors on the car. Smoke + Flash = a bunch of baffled DPC'ers. ;)

ETA: Hey, wait, what was the prize for winning this game? ;)

Which is normally on when you take a photo?

08/12/2011 11:00:50 PM · #18

Originally posted by kenskid:

I did some extreme sharpening and edge work....even more strange !

Dust + Smoke + Flash, notice the fall off? Notice how the spots get brighter and bigger as they are closer? That's because those ones are very OOF and the flash hit them the hardest...

08/12/2011 11:01:47 PM · #19

Also, examine the overhead wire in the original image, the flash fall-off is very apparent there.

08/12/2011 11:02:07 PM · #20

Lightning! It was lightning - not flash!! :)

No, it couldn't have been... Why? Because the wire is lit from beneath.. and lighting would have no falloff..

ETA: So who was behind you with the flash on?

Message edited by author 2011-08-12 23:03:03.

08/12/2011 11:06:34 PM · #21

Do I see a shadow of the wire being cast on the house?

Originally posted by Cory:

08/12/2011 11:07:59 PM · #22

Originally posted by kenskid:

Do I see a shadow of the wire being cast on the house?

Originally posted by Cory:
Lightning! It was lightning - not flash!! :)

No, it couldn't have been... Why? Because the wire is lit from beneath.. and lighting would have no falloff..

ETA: So who was behind you with the flash on?

Yes, funny enough you do... And it would seem to put the photographer about six to eight feet to your left. :)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/12/2011 11:14:53 PM · #23

Small bugs, like sandflies, can cause the little dots when they are pretty close to the camera. I'm not sure about the smoke. If this was a second or third exposure within a few seconds, there may have been some moisture on the flash that was steaming off when you shot this one.
Have a look at the exif and see if the flash was on. It certainly appears that way in the photo. I notice also that the building on the left is closer and is brighter in the image.
It's a unique and very cool image, just as it is, because of the old victorian home, and the anomalies.