Bizarre pictures from cheap digital camera!!

Gus Stangeland · Dec 26, 2003

I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything like this. This wincharger (wind-powered generator) was spinning in the wind when I took this picture. The propellor on this wincharger is 6 feet in diameter and STRAIGHT! Look what the camera did!!

Here's another picture, showing 2 winchargers. The one on the left was NOT spinning and thus looks normal.

But wait - it get's ever MORE BIZARRE! In these next pictures the camera "floats" a separate image of the propellor, along with the curved attached propellor!!

Here's another one.

and one more.

How can this possibly be?? I have NOT altered the photos - just downsized them. The camera was a Digitrex with 1600x1200 pixel resolution (1.9 megapixels). It had fixed focus, fixed aperture, auto exposure. Can anyone explain how in the world it came up with these pictures?

Phil Weinberger · Dec 26, 2003

Hmm... This is a strange and powerful new magic you have discovered! ;-)

Gus Stangeland said:
I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything
like this. This wincharger (wind-powered generator) was spinning in
the wind when I took this picture. The propellor on this wincharger
is 6 feet in diameter and STRAIGHT! Look what the camera did!!

Here's another picture, showing 2 winchargers. The one on the left
was NOT spinning and thus looks normal.

But wait - it get's ever MORE BIZARRE! In these next pictures the
camera "floats" a separate image of the propellor, along with the
curved attached propellor!!

Here's another one.

and one more.

How can this possibly be?? I have NOT altered the photos - just
downsized them. The camera was a Digitrex with 1600x1200 pixel
resolution (1.9 megapixels). It had fixed focus, fixed aperture,
auto exposure. Can anyone explain how in the world it came up with
these pictures?

--
~~Phil~~

Mauricio.br · Dec 26, 2003

Gus Stangeland said:
I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything
like this. This wincharger (wind-powered generator) was spinning in
the wind when I took this picture. The propellor on this wincharger
is 6 feet in diameter and STRAIGHT! Look what the camera did!!

Here's another picture, showing 2 winchargers. The one on the left
was NOT spinning and thus looks normal.

But wait - it get's ever MORE BIZARRE! In these next pictures the
camera "floats" a separate image of the propellor, along with the
curved attached propellor!!

Here's another one.

and one more.

How can this possibly be?? I have NOT altered the photos - just
downsized them. The camera was a Digitrex with 1600x1200 pixel
resolution (1.9 megapixels). It had fixed focus, fixed aperture,
auto exposure. Can anyone explain how in the world it came up with
these pictures?

David Gard · Dec 26, 2003

It probably results from the way the cameras mechanical iris or electronic shuttering is "opening" and the speed of rotation of the wind generator. IN the old days, slower focal plane shutters could distort moving objects... I have books filled with pics of trains that appear to be leaning forward, because the focal plane shutters opened fom bottom to top.
--
Dave Gard
http://www.pbase.com/gard

Jim Chaney · Dec 27, 2003

After I got my G3, I was shooting a ceiling fan outdoors to see what shutter speed would make it look still.

I kept getting weird results like your pictures shows, and was about to throw the camera off the third floor of the building I was in. The fans were on an outside patio thing in the building, and too high to reach to turn off. I dicided to try it on another fan and it was fine.

--
http://www.pbase.com/jchaney

Laura Brett · Dec 27, 2003

Wicked!
Not the desired effect, but they look great!
lol

Phil Weinberger said:
Gus Stangeland said:

I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything
like this. This wincharger (wind-powered generator) was spinning in
the wind when I took this picture. The propellor on this wincharger
is 6 feet in diameter and STRAIGHT! Look what the camera did!!

Here's another picture, showing 2 winchargers. The one on the left
was NOT spinning and thus looks normal.

But wait - it get's ever MORE BIZARRE! In these next pictures the
camera "floats" a separate image of the propellor, along with the
curved attached propellor!!

Here's another one.

and one more.

How can this possibly be?? I have NOT altered the photos - just
downsized them. The camera was a Digitrex with 1600x1200 pixel
resolution (1.9 megapixels). It had fixed focus, fixed aperture,
auto exposure. Can anyone explain how in the world it came up with
these pictures?

Click to expand...

--
~~Phil~~

Bruce Paterson73054 · Dec 27, 2003

Gus Stangeland said:
I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything
like this.

Great pictures. Wish my camera could do that

The effect must be due to the speed of rotation of the blades vs the shutter speed of the camera. Maybe some intellectual can explain exactly why?

Rgds

--
Bruce

kstoh · Dec 27, 2003

I have a scientific explanation for part of the phenomenon. When the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight line. This happens also when for example you try to take a picture of a golf swing.

As for the separate picture of the propellor, could it be a picture of another propeller?

Anyway, I think your pictures with the curved propellers, are cute.

Gus Stangeland said:
I've seen some strange pictures from cameras, but NEVER anything
like this. This wincharger (wind-powered generator) was spinning in
the wind when I took this picture. The propellor on this wincharger
is 6 feet in diameter and STRAIGHT! Look what the camera did!!

Here's another picture, showing 2 winchargers. The one on the left
was NOT spinning and thus looks normal.

But wait - it get's ever MORE BIZARRE! In these next pictures the
camera "floats" a separate image of the propellor, along with the
curved attached propellor!!

Here's another one.

and one more.

How can this possibly be?? I have NOT altered the photos - just
downsized them. The camera was a Digitrex with 1600x1200 pixel
resolution (1.9 megapixels). It had fixed focus, fixed aperture,
auto exposure. Can anyone explain how in the world it came up with
these pictures?

Dave191211 · Dec 27, 2003

kstoh said:
I have a scientific explanation for part of the phenomenon. When
the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may
appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are
moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to
capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight
line. This happens also when for example you try to take a picture
of a golf swing.

If that was the case I would think the blades would look more like an S than a C.
--
Canon G5
http://www.pbase.com/davedent

Forbes · Dec 27, 2003

S vs a C? Hard to say. Itobviously is what it is, and definitely has something to do with the shutter design and speed. Probably a faster shutter speed would minimize this. That is it clear, is interesting. It is related to the electronics of the CCD and the shutter and how/when the CCD captures the light. The effect definitely has an artistic potential.

Dave D. said:
kstoh said:

I have a scientific explanation for part of the phenomenon. When
the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may
appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are
moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to
capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight
line. This happens also when for example you try to take a picture
of a golf swing.

Click to expand...

If that was the case I would think the blades would look more like
an S than a C.
--
Canon G5
http://www.pbase.com/davedent

--
http://www.DForbesRowanPhotos.OrangeCountyandSurrounding.PhotoShare.co.nz
D. F. R.

Gus Stangeland · Dec 27, 2003

kstoh said:
...
As for the separate picture of the propellor, could it be a picture
of another propeller?

No, there were no other propellors around except the other unit which was on the left side (in the picture).

Besides floating out in space there by itself, what is amazing to me is that the HUB of the propellor is also displaced from the generator. The propellor is bolted to the shaft of the generator. So how can it disconnect like this? And if so, why aren't the shaft, the mechanical brake drum and the air brakes also out there in space?

Gus Stangeland · Dec 27, 2003

Dave191211 said:
kstoh said:

When
the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may
appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are
moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to
capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight
line.

Click to expand...

Dave D. said:
If that was the case I would think the blades would look more like
an S than a C.

Actually, in this example we have both a C and an S! I would agree with Dave that it should look like an S. The outer tips of the prop are moving at a much higher speed than the part of the prop next to the center (the hub). So you would think the it would spiral out from the center with the tips being bent in the opposite direction from the rotation. The rotation is clockwise as viewed from the front (as in this picture).

So I would think the upper half of the prop follows reason, but the lower half does not.

Also, note that all parts of the photo are sharp with no sign of motion blur. So this implies that the shutter time was very short - I would guess about 1/1000 sec. It's baffling to me!

mike savad · Dec 27, 2003

to me it looks like the bent one was bent, otherwise everything would be bent with it. as a wide angle could do that. or some sort of lens anomoly, but everything including color would be affected. if it was spinning it could do that, but not likely.

the floating one is unknown, and personally does look fake to me.

i have scene with my own camera, a combo of 4 pictures due to battery problems. but you could clearly see it was two, not a double exposure (which even small camera's have now).

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

mike savad · Dec 27, 2003

the next thing to try is night shots, day shots both with flash. or if you have a strobe light shoot it at night and see what your eye sees. the floating one is a weird one, unless some how there was an internal reflection that was caught at the same time. it's impossible to know without more experiements.

---Mike Savad

Gus Stangeland said:
Gus Stangeland said:

kstoh said:

When
the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may
appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are
moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to
capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight
line.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Dave D. said:

If that was the case I would think the blades would look more like
an S than a C.

Click to expand...

Actually, in this example we have both a C and an S! I would agree
with Dave that it should look like an S. The outer tips of the prop
are moving at a much higher speed than the part of the prop next to
the center (the hub). So you would think the it would spiral out
from the center with the tips being bent in the opposite direction
from the rotation. The rotation is clockwise as viewed from the
front (as in this picture).

So I would think the upper half of the prop follows reason, but the
lower half does not.
Also, note that all parts of the photo are sharp with no sign of
motion blur. So this implies that the shutter time was very short -
I would guess about 1/1000 sec. It's baffling to me!

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

mike savad · Dec 27, 2003

Gus Stangeland said:
kstoh said:

...
As for the separate picture of the propellor, could it be a picture
of another propeller?

Click to expand...

No, there were no other propellors around except the other unit
which was on the left side (in the picture).
Besides floating out in space there by itself, what is amazing to
me is that the HUB of the propellor is also displaced from the
generator. The propellor is bolted to the shaft of the generator.
So how can it disconnect like this? And if so, why aren't the
shaft, the mechanical brake drum and the air brakes also out there
in space?

i wonder if this is merely a weird perspective distortion. where the blades being quite flexible is bending backward. and the angle you were standing at made it look like it was curved in a weird shape. due to the overall shading i can't tell if one blade is further then the other.

does this camera take multiple exposures on each picture? some camera's do that. maybe this one is keeping all the layers, and this thing is moving a lot. though it's weird to have anything floating, reflection as i mentioned before, or otherwise, without having a shadow, glare, or the rest of the attachement point.

the one in the last picture appears that it's spinning from an axis point of the small end. the third one could be glare from something small flying in the air, as there is no shadow on it at all. the second one is the strangest as there is no connection point, but again the blur is at the center not the edge. where as the main subject has no blur at all. unless it is a CA of some kind, but it wouldn't explain why it just happened to lasso the motor part out.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

BillS74417 · Dec 27, 2003

These images appear that thery were formed by a linear scanning mechanism within the camera. For stationary objects, this would not be apparent, but when there is motion there seem to be some distortion.

A similar phenomina has been produced by Andrew Davidhazy of Rochester Institute of Technology. He has built 'digital cameras' from old hand scanners and various mechanical parts. He has produced many bizarre effects which you can see at this site.
http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/travel-exhibit.html

Construction of this camera is described here:
http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/text-demo-scanner-cam.html

Bill

kstoh · Dec 27, 2003

My guess is that as the blades of the windmill were shot at an oblique angle, one end of the blade was moving towards the camera while the other end was moving away from it. This may explain the "C" shape. Additionally, the blades could in fact been actually bent in a "C" shape, although the naked eye may not realise it, much the way the blades of a helicopter are bent in a "C' shape upwards when the chopper is lifting off the ground. It is probably a combination of many of these factors.

Well, if it it too difficult to explain this phenomenon by scientific means, maybe we should simply attribute it to magical powers of the unknown! This solves the problem.

Dave D. said:
kstoh said:

I have a scientific explanation for part of the phenomenon. When
the aperture speed is not fast enough, a moving straight object may
appear curved. This is because different parts of the object are
moving at different speeds, and the camera is not fast enough to
capture all parts of the object at the same time in a straight
line. This happens also when for example you try to take a picture
of a golf swing.

Click to expand...

If that was the case I would think the blades would look more like
an S than a C.
--
Canon G5
http://www.pbase.com/davedent

Alex Tellez · Dec 27, 2003

I question all these pics. They all look phoney to me. I could understand if it was a slow shutter speed, then we should see some motion blur (we do not). So therefore it seems it was a pretty fast shutter speed, so there should be no (or very little) distortion. And don't even get me started on the secondary 'floatiing' blades, I can do that in photoshop in 5 seconds. Either those blades were bent to begin, or someone is just pulling our leg.

mike savad said:
to me it looks like the bent one was bent, otherwise everything
would be bent with it. as a wide angle could do that. or some sort
of lens anomoly, but everything including color would be affected.
if it was spinning it could do that, but not likely.

the floating one is unknown, and personally does look fake to me.

i have scene with my own camera, a combo of 4 pictures due to
battery problems. but you could clearly see it was two, not a
double exposure (which even small camera's have now).

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

--
Alex Tellez

PeterHa · Dec 27, 2003

Bring out the holy water and a bibel!

Matthew Cromer · Dec 27, 2003

Looks like distortion caused by a focal-plane shutter.

The shutter is actually open for a long time on a focal-plane shutter, but only a narrow slit is open at any given time. This can result in weird distortions when the subject is moving rapidly.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/featured_art&page=1

Bizarre pictures from cheap digital camera!!

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