Have you or someone you know seen a UFO? You fumble for your camera and only get a grainy inconclusive shot that you can license to the discovery channel for a few hundred bucks and you were hoping for a multi-million dollar offer from The National Enquirer? Capturing a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) or UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) traveling at speeds of 2,000–3,000 knots is no easy task, but with careful preparation and the right equipment, it’s possible to improve your chances. Let’s dive into this subject and go through everything you need to capture a photo so clear and indisputable that an unmarked vehicle pulls up to your home and two people dressed in black business attire confiscate it and make you sign a 100 page NDA with a branch of the federal government that doesn’t officially exist.
The first step is to ensure your equipment is ready. A camera with a fast shutter speed is essential; set it to 1/2000th of a second or faster to freeze motion effectively. According to the guy on C-SPAN, those things can go over 2000 knots, which converts roughly into a bazillion miles per hour. Now, pair it with a telephoto or zoom lens with a focal length of at least 200mm to capture distant objects clearly. Sure the golden orbs could show up in your backyard, but it seems more likely that they will be just far enough away to make your phone’s camera useless. Since faster shutter speeds can reduce light intake, adjust your ISO settings accordingly, but be mindful of potential noise in low-light conditions. This goes for all you sasquatch and yeti hunters as well. High noise images can be doubted by anyone with a microphone and a multi-billion dollar media empire as an employer. Cameras or lenses with built-in stabilization are also useful for reducing blur caused by hand movements, especially when shooting on the fly.
Once your equipment is in place, selecting the right settings can make all the difference. Setting your camera to continuous shooting mode, or burst mode, allows you to take multiple rapid shots, increasing the likelihood of capturing a sharp image of the beings that share our planet. For distant objects, pre-setting the lens focus to infinity can minimize delays caused by autofocus hunting. Additionally, shooting in RAW format retains the maximum amount of detail, which is invaluable for post-processing. Be careful not to post process too much.
Preparation goes beyond the camera itself—being ready at a moment’s notice is crucial. Always keep your gear accessible, including fully charged batteries and spare memory cards. A tripod or gimbal can provide extra stability, especially when stationary, but be sure to keep the head loose so you can quickly adjust to sudden movements. If you find yourself without your primary camera, your smartphone can serve as a backup, but remember the likelihood of capturing the photo that gets you a visit to an undisclosed location under the cover of dark and debriefed by two people named “5” and “6” goes down dramatically. Enable its highest resolution settings and use burst mode to capture as much detail as possible.
Practicing how to track fast-moving objects is also a key part of success. Start by photographing airplanes, birds, or other fast-moving subjects to hone your skills. Mastering the panning technique, where you move your camera smoothly in sync with the object, will greatly increase your chances of capturing a sharp, clear image. Over time, this practice will make you better equipped to handle the unpredictable movements of UFOs or UAPs.
Your environment plays a significant role as well. Choose locations with wide, open skies that are free from light pollution and physical obstructions like trees or buildings. Regularly scanning the horizon in such areas will help you detect fast-moving objects early, giving you a critical advantage. Check out locations where these types of sightings are frequent and plan to spend some time in at least one of those places.
When you manage to capture an image, try to include recognizable landmarks such as buildings or trees in your frame to provide a sense of scale and perspective. If time permits, consider switching to video mode to record continuous motion; many modern cameras can shoot in 4K or higher, ensuring excellent detail. This would be an opportunity to think about using multiple cameras. One always “rolling” and one for you to capture any UFO action.
After the sighting, it’s important to document your observations thoroughly. Record details such as the time, location, direction of movement, weather conditions, and any unusual features you noticed. Use photo editing software to enhance the clarity of your images, but be careful to preserve the integrity of the original files. These steps will help maintain the authenticity of your evidence. Also be sure to copy the photos or videos into multiple locations. Cloud options are very good, but also think about physical copies or USB drives stowed in various secure locations
Finally, remember to stay calm during a sighting. UFO and UAP encounters can be startling, but it’s essential to focus on the task at hand rather than overthinking the phenomenon. By practicing these techniques and staying prepared, you’ll be better equipped to capture clear and compelling images of UFOs or UAPs, even when they’re moving at extreme speeds. Happy First Contact!