What's causing these weird images?

[julesdownunder]

Hi all,

I'm new to this site, and basically came on here hoping members might be able to explain what causes the really weird image presentation in certain photos I am taking, some of which I have attached (hopefully come thru ok in this post, if not I guess will be in my members area).

I experiment with photographing diffracting light (as it diffracts off air molecules in surroundings) and also capturing lens flare. I shoot into the periphery of light radiating from the sun between 42 and 90 degrees. In the process I capture beautiful rainbow diffraction patterns, amzing colourful orbs and other shapes, and often this wild purple pink flare which comes out of nowhere looking almost like plasma bursts. When I blow the images up, the areas of purple pink flare have this really weird pixel presentation - best viewed in the attached 'closeup'.

I am using a digital Ricoh Caplio RR530. It JPEG format only, so I can't capture RAW to rule out if its a demosaicing issue within the firmware of the camera for light captured under these particular conditions. Perhaps the algorithm (whatever they call it) in the firmwear don't know what to make if this light, and so the surrounding sample just throws this result to 'fill'... but wow what a detailed 'fill'! At first I wondered if I had captured some sort of digital transmission on the airwaves with my camera's sensor plate - maybe a satellite or externally regenerated optical fibre transmission. Would this be possible?

Any ideas as to the physics behind this would be welcome.

Would also really like an opinion if this light may non-visible wavelengths in the realms of either infrared or ultraviolet. With a compact digital I can't add any lenses to experiment with specifically capturing these wavelengths. Has anyone tried shooting diffracting light or experimented with lens flare using UV or IR lenses?

[Wild Wassa]

Mate I'd like to sit down for how ever long and answer your qustions ... but I'm not able to at the moment. I've made this post into a 'favourite'. In about a week I'll call back, and see what others have written.

Here are some topics to Google that will explain a good deal.

1. Aberrations in objectives ... particularly Chromatic Aberration.
2. Aberrations in pixelations.
3.Moire Patterns and/or 'correcting Moire effects', these are the majority of your problems, as you will see.
4. Aberrations and distrortions caused by extremes in lateral brightness contrast and/or optical illusions caused by extreme of brightness contrast.

I did a quick Google of the above and much stuff showed up. Make sure you google 'Moire effect' and Moire Patterns.

Warren.

[julesdownunder]

Thanks Warren!
I'll do some googling while I wait to hear back from you.

[Photo-John]

I wouldn't get too complicated with the explanations. Personally, I'd chalk it up to some sort of sensor overload and let it go at that. But you obviously enjoy the more scientific, technical side of things so I more sophisticated answer is in order. I'd look at the sensor behavior in overexposure, though. A satellite transmission seems like science fiction to me. For a test, see if you can get your hands on a digital SLR and test back to back and to see if the larger DSLR pixels capture a clean image in the RAW format. My bet is that they will.

[Kajuah]

I'm also showing interest, but I failed grade 11 physics twice in a row and never went back but theoretical physics is a big interest for me ! I'd love to read what causes this.. math was never a strong point for me so I couldn't give much of a scientific input