Was culling my photos and ran across Pelican in flight

[Basil]

This was shot a couple years ago in San Diego. Shot with Canon 7D Mark II (crop sensor) with a Canon EF70-200 F4 lens at about 113mm and F4.5, ISO 100, shutter at 1/1250th sec.

 

[DrEntropy]

Keep 'em comin'!

 

[GregW]

Shot in IR, This is the full frame. 105 F1.8 @F8 ISO 160 1/1500. Manual focus.

 

[GregW]

Same bird, same specs, different process. Shot one second later.

 

[DrEntropy]

Greg, in that first shot, what is the upper left red shifted sphere-like thingie? The Moon?!? An internal lens reflection?

Whatever, it's spooky.

 

[Basil]

Greg, in that first shot, what is the upper left red shifted sphere-like thingie? The Moon?!? An internal lens reflection?

Whatever, it's spooky.

I'm interested too but if I was going to guess, seeing how the backs of the wings are lit, I'g guess it's lens flair. Greg what say you?

 

[GregW]

I also think it is lens flare. When I zoom in there are odd things. Like I double exposed the sky with a Petri dish. The color shift usually happens with my 35mm lens. This is the first time for the 105.

 

[DrEntropy]

Wow. Some strange stuff there. If it were film rather than a digital IR image, I'd blame those "crater-like" shapes on processing failures. As it is, I guess I'll call it the sensor's pixel confusion.

Whatever it is, it's strange!

 

[GregW]

I'd guess salt crystals or just ocean spray on the lens filter. I was just a few feet away from the surf.

 

[Basil]

I'd guess salt crystals or just ocean spray on the lens filter. I was just a few feet away from the surf.

That sounds plausible

 

[DrEntropy]

I'd guess salt crystals or just ocean spray on the lens filter. I was just a few feet away from the surf.

With a focal length of 105mm, focused out to what I'd guess to be fifty or sixty feet looking at the first shot, would IR sensitivity show such a defined set of edges from something on the lens filter?

I really have little experience with IR imaging characteristics, only a couple rolls of IR film ever run through a camera. ISTR a dismal failure on my part to get any useful images.

 

[GregW]

Another thought came to mind. IR doesn't always reflect from black like the visible light we perceive. It can make dark objects appear quite light. The black coating inside lenses can bounce the IR wavelength where visible light would not. I can get hot spots in the middle of frame with my 35mm lens. This happens even when I know there isn't lens flare.

 

[GregW]

To illustrate, in this photo the orange of the hat and lace of the dress is black.

 

[DrEntropy]

The black coating inside lenses can bounce the IR wavelength where visible light would not. I can get hot spots in the middle of frame with my 35mm lens. This happens even when I know there isn't lens flare.

You've likely explained it!