Has anyone yet come up with an explanation of this bright object in Frame #43? It does not look to me like a defect in the film as the bright object seems to be surrounded with a darker boarder.
Tim,
Does the same 'object' appear in a different photo of same area? That would be one way to help determine whether it is a flaw or a real object, I believe.
I see a suggestion of shadowing (darker border you mentioned), but I can't tell if it's true shadowing off of a real object, or just some effect of flaw / film or glare and a halo effect, etc. Seems like a real object could be bright enough to blind us as to details (glare) and possibly create a dark halo effect too - but over my head technically to say, I'm sure.
In any case, looking at the same area in a different photo might tell you the most about whether real or flaw.
Jeff, we have additionally examined frames #18 and #44, but do not see the same bright object. Could be obscured by vegetation in either case, due to angle of view. (I trust we are using the same frame numbering system).
I lean towards defect now.
My thought is simply from what I've learned by following Glickman and others 'in the know' on this site and elsewhere that a real object would tend to make a repeat appearance in other frames shot of the same area, but perhaps more shadowed, or brighter, or shaped differently because of change of aspect, etc. If it does not appear in repeat, and the 'feature' lacks clear 'interaction' with it's surrounding environment or clear suggestion of discernable 'features' within the whole of the 'object' then it is likely merely a flaw.
It has been intriguing to be able to study these pictures in such detail, although I have to confess others did far more heavy lifting than moi. I quickly realized my poor skills and eyes probably could not sift many needles out of such a haystack. I also confess coming to a personal belief that anything that would be truly noticable from the altitude these were taken would likely be something the NZ crowd may well have noticed and looked into further themselves, long ago.
The odds of finding personal effects, short of an open parachute, etc. seem remote to me. The odds of the NZ crew overlooking aircraft wreckage after such a survey seem equally as remote to me. Just MHO, of course, other's MMV, no doubt. And as I said, my skills are not so notable anyway. But I am grateful for having had the opportunity to see these unique photos.