We’ve all seen them. I’ve even seen entire TV shows based around them. I am talking about blurry, grainy or otherwise unintelligible “UFO” photos. Now I know most UFO photos are taken by amateurs who may not even notice the UFO in their shot until after the fact, but I have seen my fair share of pictures taken by “UFO hunters” that look like they were taken by a blind chimpanzee jacked up on crystal meth. Even though UFO sightings are unexpected events, there are a few things you can do that can be the difference between a blurry shot and once that is tack sharp.

(These are just some examples I found with Google to illustrate the differences between a blurry and a sharp UFO photo - the second shot is almost certainly a hoax)

1. Hold The Camera Properly - The way that you hold the camera has an enormous impact on the quality of the pictures you take. Your right hand should firmly hold the camera so your index finger floats softly above the shutter release with the other three fingers wrapped around the front of the camera and your thumb gripping the back. (While you should hold the camera firmly, you do not want to grip it so hard that you shake the camera.) Your left hand should support the weight of the camera by either being positioned under the body of the camera or under/around the lens depending on the type of camera you have. Once you have a good grip on your camera, tuck your elbows into your sides and bring the camera up to your face so you are looking through the view-finder. If your camera does not have a view finder, bring it as close to your face as possible. The closer to your body, the more stable you will be. The more stable your are, the better your shots will be.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: how to, photography, UFO

The phone rings. It’s you friend and he is babbling about a UFO hovering over his house, a bigfoot just ran across his back yard, a ghost is siting across the parlor having a drink with him or what ever, some weird crap is going down and chances are that if you are reading this site YOU WANT TO BE THERE NOW (I sure would)! So you don’t want to be running around getting your camera, worrying if your batteries are charged, etc. That’s why you should keep a “go-bag” handy of what ever you could possibly need to record an extraordinary event. Here are some basic items that any investigator should have ready to go at a moments notice:

1. Camera - How many UFO, cryptid, or ghost sightings have you heard of that didn’t have any photographic evidence? Tons. How many of those sightings are you apt to believe? Very few. Simple fact is a picture is worth a thousand words, and with the price of digital cameras dropping every day you can’t not afford to have one with you. I recommend a small but sturdy pocket shooter like the Olympus 770SW. It is waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof for falls up to 5 feet, crushproof up to 220 pounds, and can operate in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. With a camera that sturdy there is no reason to worry about taking out in the field and it’s quite affordable at about $300. Even if the 770SW is out of your price range, a disposable film camera always does the trick. Just make sure to store it according to the manufactures directions to make sure you get the best possible pictures.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: equipment, Investigation