Green Ray From the Sun - Any Clue What Caused This?

hupjack · Nov 21, 2009

Both Photos were taken with my iPhone 3Gs, so I suppose ya'all might say that was the problem right there.. but I'm curious what caused this green line..

Taken in San Diego walking along the beach... Huge green spike emanating down from sun.. Is this similar to the "green flash" I've head so much about at sunset?

something to do with the electromagnetic spectrum?
something to do with charged coupled devices in my iPhone?

just a spec of something b/n the sun and my camera lens?

Kofman13 · Nov 21, 2009

camera broken buy new

Rekd · Nov 21, 2009

It's one of those strings you find on cellophane that you pull to open the package?

icassell · Nov 21, 2009

You're lucky that the alien green laser beam missed you ...

Provo · Nov 21, 2009

icassell said:
You're lucky that the alien green laser beam missed you ...

I was thinking the same thing UFO or Dr Evil "Las-Urr" LOL

Cell phones suck for pictures color's are never right, they have this severe pixelation at time among other odd effects the only thing
they are good at is for taking a quick snapshop of something "license plate, quick self portrait or group pic" not HQ at all

usayit · Nov 21, 2009

It happens on some sensors when there is a strong light source at the edge.

hupjack · Nov 21, 2009

I did consider the possibility that an alien might have landed, and that I may also have had something implanted in me.. but I quickly dismissed such things

the last comment about the sensor when there's a strong light source seems the closest to a serious response.. I'd say the sun is a pretty strong light source!

I really was curious about the phenomenon and if anybody has seen this.. I assure you there was no cellophane string..

note the green is MUCH more pronounced in one shot than in the other, though it emanates from the same place in the sun..

Maybe I should be posting to a physics / astronomy / sci fi group instead of photo pros..

come on guys.. I challenge you to get technical!

usayit · Nov 21, 2009

The Leica M8's early release was particularly susceptible to this... (believe me I know).

Green Stripe Again! - Leica User Forum

Remember the M8's green stripe? - Leica User Forum

hupjack · Nov 21, 2009

looks like I'm not the only one to have experienced this by a long shot!
And it happens on cameras that are a we bit pricier than my iPhone.

usayit, do you have any public links to any similar shots with this green line?

I tried to check out the images at l-camera, but since I don't have a login over there, no dice!

Certainly Sounds like a plausible description.. scientific enough for me

It is a flaw in at the edge of the sensor when you have a bright point light at the short side of the sensor. It is caused by that light getting under the black border that rims the sensor.
I think it has something to do with the offset microlenses and that the black border is not actually on the microlenses allowing light to get between the border & microlneses and shine into the sensor that is supposed to be dark/black.

Just move the point light either completely into the frame or well out of it.

PatrickHMS · Nov 21, 2009

The phone is running low on film....lol

usayit · Nov 22, 2009

hupjack said:
usayit, do you have any public links to any similar shots with this green line?

I tried to check out the images at l-camera, but since I don't have a login over there, no dice!

There not that many as most are posted on the forums themselves... I haven't seen the problem since mine was "corrected". I trashed the few frames I had.

Examples that are not mine:

Bright over exposure on the right bottom:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff221/sepiareverb/greenlinewith.jpg

Frame the photographer took moments later that doesn't exhibit the effect:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff221/sepiareverb/greenlinewithout.jpg

rocdoc · Nov 22, 2009

Jules Verne wrote a book about this...

PatrickHMS · Nov 22, 2009

rocdoc said:
Jules Verne wrote a book about this...

Amboy Dukes recorded a song about it...

hupjack · Nov 22, 2009

cool.. thanks usayit for entertaining my desire for a green line example not of my own making

much appreciated!

Moonb007 · Nov 23, 2009

Its the sensor that is miss fired with the light...or you have some corrupt data on your memory card...I am going to put my money with the sensor though sense its an iphone.