Eye of the Bigfoot?

Stories of encounters with Bigfoot, or Sasquatches as they are referred to in the Pacific Northwestern U.S. are often compelling tales of man-meets-enigma. Evidence of the creature's passing are most often the unusually large footprints they leave behind, which are strikingly similar to that of a human. Less frequently, hastily snapped pictures are taken as the Bigfoot departs though dense thickets of woods.

Recently, such an encounter was related by Steve Dismore, a resident of the state of Ohio, who lives in an area said to frequented by Bigfoot. Steve has had several encounters with the creatures while actively seeking them in the wilderness area known as the Land Between the Lakes. (The archived recordings of Steve's accounts can be found on bigfootlive.com)

In addition to Steve's very interesting accounts and observations, photos that he has taken have been posted online. The images accompanying this article are enlarged details (used with permission) that have been enhanced by the use of color, contrast, and luminance filters. The filtering process intensifies subtle differences in the light-spectrum signatures that are reflected off surfaces of objects in the photo.

The setting of the photo is the far bank of a large creek, which, according to Steve, a bigfoot had crossed over moments before. There was a footprint in the marsh on the opposite bank that was so fresh that water was still seeping into the impression. Steve saw the bigfoot as it worked its way up the steeper, fooded bank, and snapped the picture that is the subject of the analysis.

The purpose of the study was not to expressly attempt to offer definitive proof of the bigfoot in the photo, but rather to subject the photo to objective analysis in order to find useful data for further studies. Many photos of bigfoot and sasquatches are frustratingly obscured. Most sasquatches have a coat of dark hair, almost black, but most often with a deep reddish tint. The dark cast of the hair blends in with the dense shadows on vegetation to a degree that is nearly indistinguishable from a distance to the human eye.

But taking into account Steve's previous experience and the detail in his account, the photo is worth an in-depth analysis. One common characteristic in the best documented bigfoot photos and film frames is that, using techniques to boost the color saturation of pictorial elements, the coat of hair can be observed as a luminous red against the green of the leafy vegetation. This is due to the fact that film and digital mediums record wavelengths of light outside of the spectrum visible to humans. Using digital photo enhancing software, the color signatures of these borderline-visible wavelengths can be brought into sharp contrast and shown in vividly colored shades.

The most significant finding, among others, was that in the area indicated by Steve as the spot in the photo where the bigfoot was located, there is a not only the characteristic saturated-red area indicative of hair, but also what is likely a spot of intense reflected or re-radiated light that is shifted toward the ultra-violet spectrum. This color or light source occurs only in one small area within the entire photo. ( Refer to image #2)

When the area with the ultra-violet shift was enlarged and enhanced further, a surprising detail was revealed. There is a structure that is very similar to that of an eye. The area surrounding also shows a reflective surface surrounding it, with contours somewhat like that of facial features. Although in the enlarged detail, the image is composed of the large rectangular pixels of a digital image, there is clearly an unusual aspect in that select area, versus the entire context of the rest of the photo. (Refer to image #3)

A plausible explanation for the source of color or light is that the reflective retina of an eye is returning light from an automatic flash of the camera or ambient light from the sun and sky. A physical substance with florescent properties such as the retinal lining of an animal with night-vision can reflect or re-radiate light. Reflected UV spectrum light is transformed by florescence into the more visible wavelengths of the spectrum. The surface sheen on the facial skin of a primate would also tend to reflect light, as is seen on what is possibly the brow, which appears more pinkish in the saturated-color version of the enlarged detail. (Refer to image #4)

Although the photo in question does not offer notably conclusive evidence, the results from this analysis lends credence to Steve Dismore's account of his encounter. The technique of color saturation enhancement can perhaps be used to gather more precise pictorial data, and possibly help determine the creature's presence and location in photos and video footage from the past, present and future.

Steve Dismore's accounts and the original photos can be found at bigfootlive.com. Listen to archived show # 113 and check for the pictures listed for that show's number.

Resources:

bigfoot live online radio: http://www.gstreaming.com/BFLive-Frontpage.html

Orignal digital photo: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l256/billmarlette/BF%20Live%20Pictures7/Steve-10.jpg

Searching for Bigfoot website: http://www.searchingforbigfoot.com/