The Houston Photograph: Difference between revisions

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==Scepticism==
==Scepticism==
[[Image:Houston_basketball.JPG|frame|Notice the light by the players hand]]
[[Image:Houston_basketball.JPG|frame|250px|Notice the light by the players hand]]


George J. Lacy's report did not comment on whether the source of the light was natural (i.e. electric indoor lighting) or supernatural. While newspaper articles about the Coliseum around that time show that there were flood lights in the building (including photographs of a concert by the Beatles), George J. Lacy's report does not indicate anything about the source of the light.   
George J. Lacy's report did not comment on whether the source of the light was natural (i.e. electric indoor lighting) or supernatural. While newspaper articles about the Coliseum around that time show that there were flood lights in the building (including photographs of a concert by the Beatles), George J. Lacy's report does not indicate anything about the source of the light.   


Some observers note that if the pillar of fire was directly over William Branham's shoulder, it would have cast light on top of his head and the pulpit. Instead, the top of his head is not lit and the light appears to be from a source beyond William Branham.  The most likely explanation for this is that the light is actually one of the indoor floodlight banks that was used in the Sam Houston Coliseum.  These observers state that if the light was not from indoor lighting, it may have been the result of the flash from the camera reflecting off a metal pole or beam in the background. [[Image:Houston basketball light.jpg|left]]  
Some observers note that if the pillar of fire was directly over William Branham's shoulder, it would have cast light on top of his head and the pulpit. Instead, the top of his head is not lit and the light appears to be from a source beyond William Branham.  The most likely explanation for this is that the light is actually one of the indoor floodlight banks that was used in the Sam Houston Coliseum.  These observers state that if the light was not from indoor lighting, it may have been the result of the flash from the camera reflecting off a metal pole or beam in the background. [[Image:Houston basketball light.jpg|250px|left]]  


===A Better Explanation?===
===A Better Explanation?===
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The picture immediately above on the right was taken in the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1969. At right is Willie Somerset (#12) of ABA's Houston Mavericks basketball team.  Note the "pillar of fire" type light by the player's hand.  If we zoom into the light by the players hand (see photo on left), we see something that is not that dissimilar to that of the picture of the "pillar of fire" that was photographed over William Branham's head.
The picture immediately above on the right was taken in the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1969. At right is Willie Somerset (#12) of ABA's Houston Mavericks basketball team.  Note the "pillar of fire" type light by the player's hand.  If we zoom into the light by the players hand (see photo on left), we see something that is not that dissimilar to that of the picture of the "pillar of fire" that was photographed over William Branham's head.


And this also lines up with the argument that the light passed through the lens of the camera and showed up on the negative.  Because of the principle of "depth of field", a picture taken with a telephoto lens would tend to cause anything in the background to be out of focus.  [[File:WMB pillar edited by pencilsmudge.jpg|right|The picture on the right has been edited]]And given the poor dynamic range of film in the 1950's, a bright light source such as a rack of flood lights, would look "blown out" or overexposed in the photograph, just as the "pillar of fire" appears to be completely white.
And this also lines up with the argument that the light passed through the lens of the camera and showed up on the negative.  Because of the principle of "depth of field", a picture taken with a telephoto lens would tend to cause anything in the background to be out of focus.  [[File:WMB pillar edited by pencilsmudge.jpg|250px|right|The picture on the right has been edited]]And given the poor dynamic range of film in the 1950's, a bright light source such as a rack of flood lights, would look "blown out" or overexposed in the photograph, just as the "pillar of fire" appears to be completely white.


===The Light Struck the Lens===
===The Light Struck the Lens===
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==The Role of the FBI==
==The Role of the FBI==


[[File:George J Lacy.jpg|right|George and Lucile Lacy]]
[[File:George J Lacy.jpg|right|250px|George and Lucile Lacy]]
William Branham stated many times that the FBI was somehow involved in authenticating the Houston photograph:
William Branham stated many times that the FBI was somehow involved in authenticating the Houston photograph:


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==Report by George J. Lacy==
==Report by George J. Lacy==
[[Image:George_Lacy_Doc2.jpg|center|Report by George J. Lacy]]
[[Image:George_Lacy_Doc2.jpg|center|250px|Report by George J. Lacy]]
After conferring with William Branham, Gordon Lindsay arranged for the negative to be turned over to George Lacy to examine the negative.  
After conferring with William Branham, Gordon Lindsay arranged for the negative to be turned over to George Lacy to examine the negative.