Nessie and Footage
Posted by: Nick Redfern on November 6th, 2012
Glasgow Boy asks the question at his Loch Ness Mystery blog: “Can there be convincing Nessie footage?”
That may seem a strange question, but as GB notes of monster-hunter Alastair Boyd:
“He had a sighting in 1979 of a large hump breaking the surface of Urquhart Bay. So striking was the sight that he could only but gaze at the spectacle before he snapped to it and scrambled unsuccessfully to get his camera as the creature submerged out of sight. Monster surfacings are all too brief and Alastair defied anyone to calmly go through their rehearsed camera routines when the Great Beast of Loch Ness deigns to show itself to you.”
Which, of course, brings up an important point: if faced with a cryptid in our very midst, how many of us would quickly pull out a camera, and how many might stand and stare in dumb shock?
Read on, as GB’s post is a very thought-provoking one…
About Nick Redfern
Punk music fan, Tennents Super and Carlsberg Special Brew beer fan, horror film fan, chocolate fan, like to wear black clothes, like to stay up late. Work as a writer.
I think I’d state in dumb shock, trying to figure out what on earth I am looking at and then by the time I had the presence of mind to grab the camera or mobile phone….the cryptid creature would likely be gone.
Regarding: “if faced with a cryptid in our very midst, how many of us would quickly pull out a camera, and how many might stand and stare in dumb shock?”
Consider, if you will, the following incident which happened to a close friend a few years ago:
While following another car during a snow storm (at a safe distance) he witnessed a large snow-covered branch break-off from an overhanging tree and fall into the path of the leading car. So engrossed was he by the tableau unfolding in front of him that my friend neglected to hit his brakes and wound-up plowing-into the rear of the lead car!
Here’s another scenario that may hit a little closer to home: I assume almost every adult reading this has witnessed an automobile accident at some time in his/her life. However, how many of you – even if you had a camera rolling or a cell phone in your hands at the time, had the presence of mind to snap a picture/record a video of the incident, in-progress?
Cryptid sightings, especially those occurring in or on a body of water, can happen just that fast; there for just a few seconds and then gone!
I hate to admit it but I’d probably have to count myself among the “stand and stare in dumb shock” crowd…
I have said this more than once:
Expect no clear (never mind compelling) cryptid photos or videos until the scientific mainstream gets interested, or until a group actively involved in a long-term stakeout – with cameras at the ready and rolling – brings something in.
Hand-held devices of the kind everybody carries around are as useful as chopsticks in this regard, and we should expect the same results from them.