JH02

A Black Object

From J.H. of Georgia

26 June 2007

Clifford E. Carnicom's DVD "Aerosol Crimes"

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Our friend J.H. lives with her husband and children in north-central Georgia, USA. She is a professional livestock breeder, and a good amateur photographer. She has been invited to take part in a photography contest by The National Library of Photography.

JH and her husband were in their back yard (back garden), taking down a damaged play tent their children used. It had been victim to a powerful thunderstorm the night before. JH noticed an unusual object in the sky, and watched it for a while. When it didn't seem to be anything she could positively identify, she took 7 pictures of it, and sent copies to me for an opinion on what it might be. Here is what our friend JH had to say in her own words. (It has been edited for privacy - JC)

OK HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED June 26th,

Hubby was taking the tent down in the back yard - a storm came through the night before and destroyed our sons' play tent - a big 8 man tent ...lol.

I was picking up stuff in the front yard - when I see this black kite looking thing. What was so weird is there was literally no wind. NONE. It was sweltering, and very humid, because the night before a thunderstorm ripped through the area and now everything was hot, humid, and still.

This kite thing hung in the air - then rotated sideways where it looked like two diamond shaped kites with a bar, or piece in the middle, separating the two - which made me think it was a glider of some sort, or a black kite. Usually kites are brightly colored. This was just flat black!? I watched it for about 8 minutes - called my husband over to look at it - He said it was a kite and walked off. I was not so convinced, so I watched it and took pictures of it. I was interested in the sunset unfolding before me - and was hoping for some good pictures. The sunset turned out to be a dud - but these were surprising. What do you think Jeff ??

JH

I can't really say what this thing is, only what it is not. The object is not a bird, insect, balloon, airplane, helicopter, atmospheric phenomenon, or lens flare.

It would have been better had the object been caught on video, rather than as digital still frames, but we have to work with what we get.

Let's take alook at the original photos, and a few enhancements, to decidet for ourselves, shall we?

THE ACTUAL PHOTOS

The first two animated GIFs presented on this page are composed of the original seven 640x480 photos taken by JH on 26 June 2007. These are not enhanced in any way. Numbers have been added to the frames to help you follow the motions of this object.

The YELLOW CIRCLES show where the black object is located. The YELLOW ARROW indicates an arrow-head shaped cloud formation which can be used as a reference point.

In frames 1 through 4, the object moves in a relatively vertical fashion, taking a turn to the left in frames 5 to 7. This behavior is not indicative of a kite. It's highly unlikely, bordering on impossible, for a bird or insect to fly this way as well. Our witness, JH, emphasized that there was NO WIND that afternoon.

Without strong wind currents, as well as potent up AND down drafts, to push it about, a balloon appears out of the question. Likewise, an airplane simply cannot perform such maneuvers as these. The Gee forces would be too great for any normal airframe. A helicopter can move this way, but both JH and her husband would surely have heard the noise of its engine. So the identity of this object remains a mystery.

ENHANCEMENTS - 500% ZOOM

Here we have all seven frames in 500% zoom, normal lighting.

Note that the object maintains an sphere, or orb-like appearance throughout at this magnification. There are no signs of wings, engines, or rotors which would be evident on planes and helicopters.

This time, the frames are color reversed for a negative aspect.

Last of this series, the frames are embossed for a 3D effect against a neutral grey background. The sphere shape of the anomaly is even stronger when seen raised above the plane of the background.

ENHANCEMENTS - 1000% ZOOM

Now, we have zoomed in 1000%, as much magnification as we dare with a photo of this resolution. To go further would only result in pixilation, and serve no purpose.

We can see what could be some sort of field, or glow, about the object. This is most pronounced at top and bottom.

Colors have now been reversed. Note especially frame four. The object seems to display a protrusion, or second "orb", toward the lower right quadrant. What could cause this is unknown. Certainly a kite could not do it. Neither could a bird, or insect. Balloons and conventional aircraft are not the answer either.

Finally, we offer the same magnified frames embossed for a 3D effect against a neutral grey background. This time, the frames have also been brightened 15%, to add more light.

What do YOU think JH got pictures of that humid summer day in Georgia?

These anomaly pictures have been presented in original form. Also, they have been enlarged 500%, and with colors reversed as well as embossed. The same procedure has been done at 1000% enlargement, for a better look at the object itself. The object JH photographed that day, 26 June 2007, is sufficiently strange for me to have to classify it as an unknown.

Certain qualities of this case are reminiscient of an incident captured on video by my friend and colleague, Andy Ellis, on an August day in Leeds, Yorkshire, England back in 2003. That incident can be found HERE.

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At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.