Advice on pics - surf 'objects'

[Ashley Such]

You know, I've always wondered what that "parachute/raft" like object is right by that dark object.

In case any of you are confused, I mean this (see attachment).

[Andrew M McKenna]

Interesting pattern, but probably not an object, rather a coincidentally parachute / ice cream cone shaped patch of surf bubbles.  The human brain seems to have a capacity / need to find patterns in photos that we assign meaning to when none is really there, like faces on the moon, cloud bunnies, things on the grassy knoll, aircraft in the lagoon, and objects in the surf. 

We've investigated several over the years utilizing photographic enhancement and analysis, and even going to locations identified in satellite and other photos like we did during Niku VI.  In most cases, it has turned out to be nothing.  Only in a few cases where the forensic imaging analysis indicated there was really something there, as in the case of the water tank at the 7 Site, have we actually found something.

Its tempting to make something out of it, but in most cases we're looking at random patterns that happen to look like something familiar to our brains.

Andrew

[Chris Johnson]

Interesting that the water catcher was a static feature on land (ok I know there was also the crusiform) but these are in the water and subject to movement such as the WOF.

But yes if you look hard enough you can see what you want.