Topic: Our 1st Weird Chicago Tour

[Ghost1]

The reflection appears to be of the person in the left hand frame - it's blurry, the hair and jacket just about line up.

Adam is totally right, I never really looked at them before I was looking else where.  When you look, it's the back of her coat with his face.  Now that I'm looking at it I see it very clear.

[MusicianMommy]

OMG, you're totally right.     It didn't even line up that way for me until now... *smacks forehead*

[adamselzer]

I stil think the Florentine shadow is probably someone behind the frame lit by another flash, but it sure freaked the security guards that I showed it to out !

[MusicianMommy]

Hahaha, nice one Adam... way to make their jobs just THAT much more difficult.   

[Rachael]

I stil think the Florentine shadow is probably someone behind the frame lit by another flash, but it sure freaked the security guards that I showed it to out !

What is this frame you speak of?  I don't get what you're saying, but I don't know the place very well.
The only thing I can think of that could have done this would be a prank by the guards.  If there was a spotlight at the other end of the room the light could be diffused with something and a cutout would be put in front of it to project to the wall.  That's what it looks like, a cutout!  But, since there are other pictures of the same area with no shadow, and no one could have come in from the back and put it up there momentarily (that I'm aware of, at least), and a photo taken from that far away of any shadow would never produce such a crisp outline, or such densely black color, I am going to end this very long sentence by challenging Adam to a duel!  I think this is the real deal Sir!   

[Fiestyredd9]

I can say that there was nothing on the table back there that would've made such an outline either. I spent a bit back there using the kleenex <napkins> off the table against that wall

[adamselzer]

Well, I DON"T think this one was a prank, or the shadow of anything that just happens to look like a person. But I think someone else may have been taking a shot from somewhere behind where John was (hence the flash on the chairs) and that someone was in THAT frame (but out of John's) to cast the shadow. The shadow DOES appear to be in a coat, which is probably more in line with those of us in the room than with most people who would be haunting it. But those are just disclaimers that I have to throw in; this is a damned good shot.  The only real way to debunk would be if someone from further back in the room had a shot that showed both the shadow AND a person for it to be the shadow OF.

[adamselzer]

Thanks to the kind permission of John, the shadow shot is now on The Weird Chicago Blog! http://www.weirdchicagoblog.com

[Rachael]

Thanks Adam, I wasn't sure what you meant, I get it now
I take back the duel!!

[Rachael]

Also, are you sure we were about to leave when this was taken?  Wouldn't we all have been at the end of the room with the shadow then?  If everyone was behind John at this point then we must have standing at the far end by the video screen, right?  Not sure if that matters, just pointing it out in case it does

[adamselzer]

Here's a diagram explaining the "Second photographer" theory. Grassy knoll not included. John's shot was taken from approximately 1/3rd of the way back from the west wall, where the shadow is.  If there WAS a second photographer taking a shot at the exact same time, that second photographer SHOULD have a shot to match up.  I'm not trying to play spoilsport or anything, but these are the sort of things we need to get out of the way with this sort of thing.

[Ghost1]

The only problem with the theory of a person behind me taken a picture with someone in front of them is.  There would have been a very long shadow across the floor, chairs and tables to the wall where you see the shadow.  This shadow runs below the table level which means it couldn't have been from across the room.

Plus a shadow from that far back would have been huge on the wall.

[adamselzer]

Posted on: Today at 08:21:00 PM Posted by: Ghost1

Plus a shadow from that far back would have been huge on the wall.


Probably depends on exactly where the person was in relation to the photographer. One of these nights I'll see if the effect can be reproduced!

[Jeepgirlgina]

The reflection appears to be of the person in the left hand frame - it's blurry, the hair and jacket just about line up.

I agree with you on that one Adam.  That is just the reflection

[Jeepgirlgina]

OK John that is one of our best pictures.  Love you grassy knoll diagram Adam, great theory.  But it does look like the shadow is above the table.  I am going to have to side with John.  By the way Adam my hubby and I had a great time.  Thank you for such an entertaining night.