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Alcatraz prison cell photo -- strange black spot?

  • i went to alcatraz recently and took a lot of photos, as is my wont. some with flash, some without, some black and white, some color. i have taken thousands of photos with my current digital camera and have never had unexplained 'spots' on any of my photos. however. i took the following photo with the flash on. i took it twice, in fact, because i viewed it after shooting, and was irritated by the black spot and thought i did something wrong and should just shoot it again. but both photos have the spot. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dishevelled/2942457624/ there was NO ONE in the vicinity of the cell when i took this photo (i generally dislike other tourists in my pictures and wait until they clear away from whatever i'm shooting). there was nothing to cast a shadow on the cell. i don't think it was a camera malfunction. what do YOU think?

  • Answer:

    Given that the light is coming from behind and to the right of the picture [shadow of cell bars is slightly left of the bars] I'm with Manidont on this. The black spot is the shadow of your elbow as you hold the camera up to take the picture. Yes, Alcatraz is haunted but you didn't capture a ghost. Edit: The natural light source is above and behind you probably light coming in from windows above and behind you on the cell block. This makes it even more likely that the shadow is from your arms raised to hold the camera to your face which would be emphasised by the angle of the natural light. If you feel it is a camera malfunction then try the photo boards perhaps more technically inclined folks can give you an answer you are comfortable with.

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shadow of your elbow

Machine Commander

Well, the light source is obviously behind you. It could be that there is an item or obstacle behind you but in front of light source to create the shadow, and that would e why it was there when you again took the picture.

Shannon K

Due to the light source, and the position you would be in to take the shot, I'm jumping on the "it's your elbow" bandwagon.

tonalc2

Some people say that when an unexplained light spot happens like that its a spirit... it happens a lot in pictures taken at weddings and morbidly funerals... but thats just what ive heard

Funk Y

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