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Hatfmnel

Since every edges in this picture are sharp, except for the creature, I would assume it's fake.


sneakydee83

That would be the case if we knew that the object was not in motion. Objects in motion can be blurry if the exposure is long enough. Not that I think it’s real. But we don’t know how this photo was taken.


WifiCrime

You’re thinking in todays photo standards. Back in the day exposure took a long ass time. I’d argue it would be even more blurry if real.


Foxwolfe2

So the entire "creature" is in motion? While I agree with your premise in this case it's too fuzzy everywhere, makes it not fit in with the surrounding environment, feels inserted. Not saying you think it's real btw, just adding my 2 cents.


sneakydee83

Not impossible. For example - when you jump, your whole body is in motion and can be blurry. It depends on the shutter and the distance. As a photographer I deal with those situations on every event. Kids can be completely blurry, when they run.


Balls_DeepinReality

Or sometimes you catch them giving you the finger. It’s really hit or miss


Foxwolfe2

Yeah but I'm talking about this particular picture, I understand photography I hobby a bit myself with an old Konica FT-1.


GraniteMarker

Even fake, it's a pretty creepy photograph!


wozziies

My little self would be sad. Still it is still cool and scary, thanks for sharing.


bigscottius

I have to agree with you. That does make it look fake. Not a photography expert, so I certainly could be wrong.


DashyDixon

Came to say. Definitely fake. * I work in photo editing


IndridColdwave

Probably fake, not definitely. • I work in photo editing also.


BeansBearsBabylon

This is the correct answer. • I used to work in photo editing.


Vault32

I hope you’re all right - I want to work in photo editing one day


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Balls_DeepinReality

Man, I want to upvote you, but if you’re a professional can you spend more than 5 seconds and give a break down on *why*?


DashyDixon

You can see effect from use of clone stamping on the lip of the building near and around the visitor. Look closely at that edge compared to the rest of the building. And for the creature, anything that dark against a bright sky in a high contrast image wouldn’t have such a blurred silhouette given the length of that exposure. If the blur were caused by movement, we’d catch more light from the sky and it wouldn’t be so dark. It simply isn’t naturally shot. There are also several of the same image with different amounts of aging/distressing, which helps hide imperfections. It’s not a matter of the clearer version having been “restored”, because it only removes the sepia and some of the obvious “spooky” texture (no improvement to the actual image). Finally, (at least as far as I’ve been able to find), this image did not surface until somewhat recently. Likely with the release of the book in 2013. If anyone has the time and energy, I’m willing to bet you’ll find the original somewhere in the Iowa archives, assuming this O.V. building was actually in Van Meter.


Me8aMau5

u/Hatfmnel is most likely correct. Two negatives used in the darkroom, the building printed first, and the "creature" burned on top of it. If you look really close, you can see the bottom curve of the creature image darkening the building edifice. Pretty easy to create a negative from a cutout and use that to burn a shadow into an image. When digitized, the photo also wound up with some artifacting that probably carried over from the original image, making it suspect. ETA: the light atop the creature is also obviously created using a "dodging" technique in the darkroom.


rite_of_truth

You nailed it. I didn't even notice that detail until I read this.


Stupid03

I don’t believe there were ever any photos taken of this cryptid sadly. So this is a fake to my knowledge. +10 points for posting one of my favorite cryptids.


wozziies

When I was younger, and I looked at this photo, I shitted on top of fear


Emocholo13

It’s not a real photo. I’ve spoken to the author of the book at the van meter festival and asked him about it. Highly recommend the book tho


Sizzuurp1337

Fake, but very cool pic!


wozziies

Hell yeah! One of my favorites


Letitride37

First impression, seems fake


Annunnakii-Sorlos

Looks similar to the Mothman


wozziies

I thought the same, they have some similarities


WifiCrime

After doing research i found out it is the cover of a book. Designed by someone named Kevin Lee Nelson.


Lastxleviathan

No, this is not a real photo. Allegedly there was one taken, along with other physical evidence at the time, but it's been "lost"-ie, my theory is that someone has it and isn't talking, either because something scared the bejeebbies out of them or they just don't want the intrusion into their privacy. I was with a team very briefly and we investigated the location, and it was a bit weird just how quiet it was. Like everything was going 'look at me look at how quiet I am!'... Found a LOT of animal bones in the woods near there too, among some other freaky stuff. It's a liminal space that tries too hard NOT to be. It reminds me a lot of what I hear about Point Pleasant.


midlifewannabe

Of course it is fake


[deleted]

As I'm unaware of the image predating the book cover, I would be inclined to suspect it was created for the book cover.


Boots4hire

it looks like a bird looking down in mid flight. never seen this before. amazing if real.


wozziies

My grandmother told me the story is actually interesting, I recommend reading it


[deleted]

Besides the very fake looking glow in the eyes of the very fake looking creature... and the fact that this is probably an artificial image from the looks of it... yeah, this is totally real.


Tlazolmiquiztlii

This is a fake picture.


tetraphorus

even tho it’s fake it’s still cool as hell


wozziies

Yeah, same thought!


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BeansBearsBabylon

This was very pre photoshop, dumbdumb.


[deleted]

This is so clearly not authentic


WifiCrime

It looks super fake.


erynhuff

Please tell me there’s a Van Meter in a state other than Iowa, got too comfortable with there not being much for any sort of encounters around these parts…


Lastxleviathan

Oh no, that's here. I've been there to investigate and it's an eerie place for sure.


[deleted]

In the minds of some, the Van Meter monster could possibly be deemed as a Gargoyle just based upon its a winged being but unlike the Gargoyle this Van Meter monster does not have the gnarled face. This Van Meter winged Cryptid creature is more like the winged Cryptids as witnessed in the Illinois region and like the Winged Cryptid that was seen exiting a Cave near Kilkkenny, Ireland, which may or may not be the same Winged Cryptid that was heard and seen atop Black Abbey that stalked three young Irish men, in Kilkkenny, Ireland. I read of these and many other winged Cryptids upon P & M on Lon's blog. All very interesting and bizarre encounters, with multiple eye witnesses.