Solway Firth Spaceman

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(Cherchez la femme)
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== Cherchez la femme ==
 
== Cherchez la femme ==
 
[[File:Cumberland-spaceman2.jpg|thumb|left|Templeton's wife on the right. The upper part of her blue dress appears white]]
 
[[File:Cumberland-spaceman2.jpg|thumb|left|Templeton's wife on the right. The upper part of her blue dress appears white]]
The "mysterious spaceman" story might have rocked on forever as one of [[Charles Fort|Forteana's]] greatest hits were it not for a number of Reddit users who were apparently experts with [[Occam's Razor]].<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1by8qm/til_in_1964_a_man_photographing_his_daughter_in_a/c9bierv Reddit discussion] analyzing the photo</ref> They observed that another photograph taken that day shows Templeton's wife wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Closer examination of the original "spaceman" image reveals that the arm of the "mysterious figure" has a decidedly tapering, feminine curve to it. Exactly like the bare arm of a woman wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Her back to us, she is most likely wearing some kind of white cap over her "pageboy" hairstyle.  
+
The "mysterious spaceman" story might have rocked on forever as one of [[Charles Fort|Forteana's]] greatest hits were it not for a number of Reddit users who were apparently experts with [[Occam's Razor]].<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1by8qm/til_in_1964_a_man_photographing_his_daughter_in_a/c9bierv Reddit discussion] analyzing the photo</ref> They observed that another photograph taken that day shows Templeton's wife wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Closer examination of the original "spaceman" image reveals that the arm of the "mysterious figure" has a decidedly tapering, feminine curve to it. Exactly like the bare arm of a woman wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Her back to us, she is probably wearing some kind of white cap over her "pageboy" hairstyle.  
  
 
So the most likely explanation for the "spaceman" illusion is that Templeton's wife inadvertently photobombed<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=photobomb ''Photobomb''], UrbanDictionary.com</ref> a snapshot taken by her amateur photographer husband. Background overexposure, human suggestibility and [[pareidolia]] were responsible for the longstanding "mystery". And perhaps no small measure of opportunism on the part of Templeton himself.
 
So the most likely explanation for the "spaceman" illusion is that Templeton's wife inadvertently photobombed<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=photobomb ''Photobomb''], UrbanDictionary.com</ref> a snapshot taken by her amateur photographer husband. Background overexposure, human suggestibility and [[pareidolia]] were responsible for the longstanding "mystery". And perhaps no small measure of opportunism on the part of Templeton himself.

Revision as of 23:05, 9 July 2013

The woo is out there

UFOlogy

Icon ufology alt.svg
Aliens did it and ran away

The Solway Firth Spaceman (aka the Solway Spaceman and the Cumberland Spaceman) is a supposed "mystery" figure captured in a photograph taken by amateur photographer Jim Templeton in 1964 on a marsh near Solway Firth in Cumbria, England. It has been variously claimed in woo circles as photographic evidence of an extraterrestrial, a ghost, or a time traveler.

The story

Templeton's photo

On May 23, 1964, Cumbria resident Templeton took his wife and daughter on a picnic to scenic Burgh Marsh. While there, he snapped some family photos using his Zeiss Jena Contax "Pentacon F" SLR camera. Templeton claimed that when the photos were developed, the local developer remarked that one contained a very mysterious background figure that appeared to be wearing a space suit. Templeton swore he didn't see any such thing when the photograph was taken. He also swore he and his family were alone on the marsh that day. Gossip of the strange photo spread fast, and soon the photo was published in the local, and then the national British newspapers. The integrity of Firth's camera and original negatives were allegedly vetted by Kodak. The "mystery" photo rapidly gained the 1964 equivalent of viral status when world wide press picked it up, and a Ufology legend was born.[1]

Templeton claimed that shortly afterwards he was visited by two strangers wearing dark suits and driving a Jaguar who said they were Government officials. Supposedly, they took Templeton for a ride during which they alternately questioned and threatened him unless he admitted he'd hoaxed the photo. Templeton claims they ejected him from the car when he would not cooperate and made him walk back to town.

Templeton also claimed a "technician from the Blue Streak missile project in Woomera, Australia" contacted him and told him that a missile launch had to be aborted because similar-looking "spacemen" were seen wandering around the launchpad.[2]

Both the late Templeton and his wife and daughters never admitted to faking the image, and allegedly were convinced something mysterious had been captured on film that day.

Cherchez la femme

Templeton's wife on the right. The upper part of her blue dress appears white

The "mysterious spaceman" story might have rocked on forever as one of Forteana's greatest hits were it not for a number of Reddit users who were apparently experts with Occam's Razor.[3] They observed that another photograph taken that day shows Templeton's wife wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Closer examination of the original "spaceman" image reveals that the arm of the "mysterious figure" has a decidedly tapering, feminine curve to it. Exactly like the bare arm of a woman wearing a very light blue sleeveless dress. Her back to us, she is probably wearing some kind of white cap over her "pageboy" hairstyle.

So the most likely explanation for the "spaceman" illusion is that Templeton's wife inadvertently photobombed[4] a snapshot taken by her amateur photographer husband. Background overexposure, human suggestibility and pareidolia were responsible for the longstanding "mystery". And perhaps no small measure of opportunism on the part of Templeton himself.

Footnotes

  1. The “Real” Solway Firth Spaceman, cumberlandspaceman.co.uk
  2. The “Real” Solway Firth Spaceman, cumberlandspaceman.co.uk
  3. Reddit discussion analyzing the photo
  4. Photobomb, UrbanDictionary.com
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