This image was found by ‘Calypso’, Cipher Mysteries Forum
Adelaide Railway Station, November 30th, 1948
1.
.webp)
According to ‘Calypso’ and the Adelaide News article, the image above was taken on the arrival of the Melbourne to Adelaide train on November 30th, 1948. This is the train on which it is said the Somerton Man was a passenger. Here's the link:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129889434
In this next image, it is actually the same image; you should be able to make out an unusual outline mark as indicated by the small arrows:
2.
Mkd2.webp)
I was able to grab a copy of the image from Trove, and I examined the image a little closer. The strange markings turned out to be where the image of the family group in the foreground had been superimposed onto the main photograph; the edit tools on my iPad allowed me to 'pull' that superimposed image and separate it from the larger photograph. The result I as you see below:
3.
You should now be able to see the outline markings around each of the family members. The background appears white here, but it is actually transparent, and you can see where the older lady towards the center has had her hair cropped away.
Please note that the removal of the superimposed image did not leave a blank space, which suggests that this superimposed element of the photograph could have been a duplicate. I assume that it was done to get a sharper image of the small group.
Please note that the removal of the superimposed image did not leave a blank space, which suggests that this superimposed element of the photograph could have been a duplicate. I assume that it was done to get a sharper image of the small group.
I decided to further enhance the original photograph, as there was another aspect of it that caught my attention, and it related to a 'pattern' of sorts. In this next image, you will see I have circled three faces from the crowd:
4.
Please feel free to disagree, but reading left to right, the first small circle, 1, surrounds a face of someone, male or female, who appears to be looking directly towards the tall man 2., whose head appears in the larger circle. In addition, there is another face, circled to the right, 3.,this one is of a man who also appears to be looking towards the tall man
Mkd2.webp)
On looking closely at the faces in the crowd, apart from those in the foreground family group and a young man just to the left and a little further back, all the other faces, except the two 'watchers' circled, are looking elsewhere, i.e., not in the direction of the tall man or the camera. The question I ask is this: could these two circled 'watchers' be keeping an eye on Tall Man? Is he under surveillance? Or is this just how it looks?
The photographer's process seems to have been to take the full image first and then a close-up of the family group, which he then superimposed onto the full image.
In closing this post off, again, full credit for finding the original photograph goes to ‘Calypso’ on the Cipher Mysteries
The photographer's process seems to have been to take the full image first and then a close-up of the family group, which he then superimposed onto the full image.
In closing this post off, again, full credit for finding the original photograph goes to ‘Calypso’ on the Cipher Mysteries
https://ciphermysteries.com/tamam-shud-somerton-man#comment-543181
For the final image, I used Cutout Pro to do the enhancements.
For the final image, I used Cutout Pro to do the enhancements.
https://www.cutout.pro/photo-enhancer-sharpener-upscaler/upload
A final thought, what this photograph appears to show is that in those times, press photographers and no doubt police p[photographers were adept at modifying photographs. The cautionary tale is to carefully examine any photographs in detail, for example, those of the Somerton Man about which I posted on February 27th. 2013, in which the question asked was about a 'reconstructed' Police photograph:
Calypso, Apologies for posting about this aspect of the image you found. I had no way of contacting you about it, perhaps if you used a single name it would make it easier. Nonetheless it’s an excellent find.
ADELAIDE RAILWAY STATION 1940s MAIN CONCOURSE
The photograph above is of the main concourse of the Adelaide Railway Station, it was taken from the North Terrace steps looking towards the end of the concourse. To the left, you can see how bright the adjacent platform area is, even the concourse itself is well lit via the windows, and I believe there are some high-level skylights scattered along its length, but it has been some years since I was at the station itself.
SOMERTON MAN VIDEO
The 60 Minutes episode with Charles Wooley. It's a good overview with an excellent segment, particularly when Charles interviewed ex-Detective Sergeant Gerry Feltus, the SA Police officer who once had the Somerton Man Cold Case on his desk. I have been fortunate to have had several discussions with Gerry. He is a man of integrity and is highly regarded within the community and within SAPOL. The segment with Gerry is at the 3-minute 35-second mark in the video. He gives an excellent description of the environment during the mid to late 1940s.I am in total agreement with Gerry on the strong likelihood that this is an Espionage case and more to the point, the evidence now exists to substantiate that as fact.
PLEASE NOTE:
This 60-Minutes programme first aired in 2013. Sadly, in the meantime, there has been a massive amount of misinformation pumped into the Somerton Man space. A prime example is the unsubstantiated claim that the man was a 'Carl Webb'. The claim may have been made, but has not been proven with an inquest underway, which will hopefully at least provide some additional information.
Don't read anything into it, they're just looking at the camera out of curiosity
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting comment. In the post I asked the question, ' Is it just how it looks' referring to the two 'watchers'. In your case you have arrived at a conclusion. In my case I left the matter open and that was deliberate. The reason I did that is because I have reason to believe that it was 'possible' that he was in fact being watched and those thoughts came about as a result of the 15 years that I have been involved investigating and researching the Somerton Man case. Not only that I have had the privilege of having a number of discussions with several people associated with the case including Gerry Feltus and the late Mr. Paul Lawson.
ReplyDeleteIn the video now included in this post, you will see and hear Gerry's thoughts on the case and he too believed that at the time, 'spies were everywhere' to use his words. That information plus the many intelligence files I have read, convinced me that the Somerton Man case was and is an espionage case.
With regard to the Adelaide Railway Station photograph in this post and given my understanding of the case, I think it would not be surprising if there was a surveillance team in action at the Adelaide Railway station on a fairly regular basis.
When it all boils down, there are two options, one the people circled in the photograph were indeed watching the man, alternatively, they were interested in the cameraman and photographs being taken. At the least then, it is a 50/50 chance that he was being watched, would you agree with that? If not and you would like to discuss your reasoning, please go ahead and I will certainly publish your thoughts here and would welcome the discussion.
'Calypso', it seems that my attributing the Railway station photograph to David Morgan, is according to your comment, incorrect. Not a problem, I gather the link back to the CM site is to the correct location. Part of the problem is that there are so many 'monikers' in use on that forum and often times many of them are in reality just one person, its an easy mistake to make. However, consider it now rectified whoever you are. Have a great day.
ReplyDeletePress fired off one camera flash first, some turned around and next shot they got their faces
ReplyDeleteThey are just looking to see who's doing the news scoop.
There's lots of them looking at the camera.
There's nothing in it
Thanks for your comment. Let's walk through this step by step but first take note that the area to the right of the image is open sky above the train carriages, that part of the platform is open and therefore quite well lit at that time of day, good enough for a photograph? Yes, I think so and I don't think a flash was used s you can see that the background of the image is evenly lit along its length, a flash would show diminished lighting into the distance, in other words there is sufficient daylight for a decent photograph to be taken. But there is another point to consider and it is described in your response above.
ReplyDeleteYour belief is that the photographer first took a flash photograph which would have captured everyone in the background image, in other words they didn't turn around to face the camera until the next flash. Do you see the problem?
The main background of the image that we see was from the first photograph in which only two people, as indicated, are looking in the direction of the man prior to a second photograph being taken. The second photograph as explained in the post was of the small family group only. So, it would seem that in your description you are agreeing that the first photo was taken and at that time the two people were already looking towards Tall Man. It's good to talk it through and thanks for your comment.
I have added another image to the above post which shows how well lit the concourse and platform area was lit in the 1940s
ReplyDeletePress photography. Flash was used and gives higher contrast in the foreground clothes and faces
ReplyDeleteSecond one is long shutter speed to let more light into the camera
It was dingy in that station. I know it well.
Don't read anything into it.
Thanks for your comment. Truly it's not a matter of reading too much into the issue, for me it's about digging way until we get to information that can be substantiated or at least supported to a greater extent. It is an interesting issue though. On reading through your comment, and please correct me if I am wrong, you believe that two photographs were taken. One was the family group and that was taken with a flash of some sort, the second was taken with slower shutter speed and it was focused on the crowd stretching back to what appears to be the end of the platform in the distance.
ReplyDeleteHere's my take on that:
1.When I examined the press photograph the family group was certainly sharper than the background image and it showed that image had been superimposed on the full larger photograph. Importantly the sharp image fitted precisely over the less sharp image of the family group. It was this image that you believe was taken with a flash.
2. The second image was of the full set piece, the crowded platform, the train carriages and including the family group. This was not taken with a flash.
The challenge I have with this scenario is that the background photograph while not quite in focus, does not look that 'blurry'. What I mean is that with a delayed exposure, taking an image of all of those people I would have thought that a good part of the image would have been blurred as people moved in the process and that does not appear to be the case. The two 'watchers' for example are in reasonable focus to the extent that you can see some of their facial details. The 'Tall Man' is quite clear but not quite in focus and not blurred which may just mean that he was standing quite still.
Another question is whether this photo was glass plate or film. Glass plate was certainly widely used in those times, but the time to remove the exposed plate and replace it with a fresh plate would probably mean that it was a film camera being used.
I am sure that there were photographic techniques for achieving the end result that we see in the press photograph. I am unconvinced that the two 'watchers' were distracted by the flash if only because no one else in the shot turned to look, just those two, almost strategically placed, people. It's a question mark, and therefore in my book at this stage it remains a possibility tending towards a probability.
What are your thoughts?
A quick note, I have a few light edits to make in the post related to links etc. Nothing that changes the context though. Snowed under at the moment.
ReplyDeleteLots of comments re the 60 minutes programme, so to clarify for everyone, the programme was from 2013. almost 12 years to the day.
ReplyDeletePress photography.
ReplyDeleteFlash was used and gives higher contrast in the foreground clothes and faces
There's only one photo printed in the newspaper of those flash photos taken of the group
Unless you have seen others, please post them and I can check them for you
Second photo you posted of the inside of the station with nobody there
is long shutter speed to let more light into the camera
It was dingy in that station. I know it well.
Try by all means if you can see it leading somewhere
See if you can ID the man you think they are looking at
There might be another photo of him somewhere
Let me see what you have
Good luck
We seem to be at the point where we can see that it is possible, but by no means certain, that the ‘Tall Man’ was being watched. The problem with the photo being that all we have is a scanned newspaper image which lacks fine detail and is of very low quality. However if, like the Advertiser, the original photos were kept and scanned, that would give us a far better quality image to work with.
ReplyDeleteSo, Calypso, this is how I would have approached it, but seeing as it was you that found the article in the first place, perhaps you will want to get working on it. All the best!
Thanks for your input. As you can see, the original link to the photo came from another site. They hadn’t followed through as far as I could ascertain and so I thought I would kick it along a little to show what could be done. The discussion that we had is a good example of how working together without background noise and, sadly, grandstanding from others, progress can be made. Together we’ve shown that the press used a super imposition process for this photograph, did they use it on others? If they used it then it would be reasonable to assume that the Police were able to use a similar process. The next question is, how exactly did the Police ‘reconstruct’ the photograph of the Somerton Man? And all of this before we start examining in detail the Italian immigrants at Adelaide Railway station on 30th November 1946. FYI, digital/forensic examination of photographs from the SM case is a subject that is covered quite extensively in the forthcoming book.
ReplyDeleteIn the photo, there looks to be a man with a hat standing next to the guy with the number 1 alongside. He is looking towards the tall man or the camera. The tall man is looking towards the train carriage or maybe he’s talking to someone shorter in front of him. As you say it would be ideal to get a scan of the original photograph to look at.
ReplyDeleteHow about contacting some of the Italian clubs in Adelaide?
ReplyDeleteSo the tall man is the man on the beach
ReplyDeleteIs that what you are saying
It's not a cut and paste
ReplyDeleteNobody is that good with scissors for outline detail
Just the camera flash creating contrasts
Average height of Italian men is 5'9"
ReplyDeleteand the man circled is taller, about Somerton man height
Do you think you have found your man ?
Short answer is No. I am not saying that. I am saying that here we have a photograph of a man amongst a crowd of people on the platform at Adelaide Railway station at the same date and time of the arrival of a train from Melbourne on which it is suggested the Somerton Man arrived in Adelaide. Importantly, it appears that two people and possibly a third person are watching him but that is yet to be substantiated. It’s worth looking in to.
ReplyDeleteYou are saying Somerton man was Italian
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to a wiki site that describes and gives examples of 'superimposed' photographs, some were really very good even in WW1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photograph_manipulation
ReplyDeleteNo, not saying that the Somerton Man was Italian. There were many people on the train from many different places no doubt. It so happens that the photograph was taken of a platform filled with people, some of who were Italian immigrants.
ReplyDeleteWow, this deep dive into the Somerton Man photo is fascinating! It's incredible how modern tech lets us uncover these hidden details in old images. The idea that he might have been watched is so intriguing. Makes you look at every old photo differently. By the way, seeing this analysis almost makes me wish there was a video to LivePhoto tutorial for this kind of historical image. It would be cool to bring a still moment like this to life, even just a little. Great find and analysis! livephoto.video
ReplyDeleteI don't normally allow comments that are lead generators, I will give this one a pass because it seems to me that unless you have a very smart bot that picks up the relevant wording, you actually viewed the Post on the Adelaide Railway Station arrivals. I also looked at your site and the product looks good but it would be better if you told people the cost. Please don't post with links.
Delete