Black sun effect in photographs from Croix-Valmer

Summary

During a walk in Croix-Valmer on January 21, 2007, a witness took several photos and upon reviewing them discovered black spots around the sun that had not been noticed at the time. Years later, prompted by a television broadcast, the images were sent to GEIPAN. Analysis identified a photographic artefact known as the "black sun" effect: an optical phenomenon in which certain CMOS sensors capture very bright areas as black instead of white. Classification A, phenomenon fully explained.