Skunk Ape Photographer’s Offer To a Cryptomundo Reader
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on October 27th, 2006
Judy Caseley, the professional wildlife photographer who photographed a purported skunk ape in Everglades National park, has offered to take a Cryptomundo reader to the location where the photograph was taken for an overnight campout.
Fredfacker,
Since you were the first to respond, I will take you to Cape Sable to camp for the night. You must however, take the venture on your own. If you decide you can’t or don’t want to do it, Skunk hunter is next on the list as he says he lives near here. The person has to find their own way to me as I will not be providing airline tickets. All that I am looking for is someone coming off the island after a night of camping and telling me that they believe there is a possibility of a skunk ape out there. In no way am I expecting anyone to see it, and nothing will be staged…Promise!
Guns are not allowed in Everglades National Park. I am not going to search you but just letting you know.
The reason I would like the person to go on this venture themselves is that I feel that if a person is alone, they are more keen to any sounds that may occur throughout the night. I have camped many times by myself on these islands and believe that it is not as rough as many are making it sound. The biggest nuisance I experienced were raccoons that I could not even scare away and one even greeted me in the morning with its face in mine (through the screen of the tent.) Another time, scorpions were all over my tent in the morning. The scorpions were very small and nothing to be afraid off. Once a gator jumped out at me when I was getting off my boat but they are more afraid of us. (If they have not been fed by humans) and you do not have to worry about gators being fed where Cape Sable is located.
I would suggest you not swim as I was swimming down there once and that evening my mom saw a report showing bull sharks and they were mating down there at Cape Sable. Once I saw a crocodile in the water down there. But besides that, it is a very beautiful and peaceful place.
Many of you do not understand why I would hold on to a picture for five years. There are times in people’ s lives that are just not a good time to bring a picture out such as this as you can see just by reading the comments what it does to ones reputation. If I even try to explain myself, someone seems to want to pull it apart. Like when I wrote I was a published photographer. The reason I mentioned this is that a photographer that is known will tend to bring in a bit more for their photos. I am very well known in the Everglades for my photography and I guess I was just defending why I would be selling a limited edition beautifully framed print for 175.00, It is not unusual.
When I took the picture of the skunk ape, I had just been recognized as a “golden apple” teacher of distinction. I taught in Everglades City. Here the people either really believe in the skunk ape or really don’t believe. I taught elementary children and did not want to put out something that may be something a parent was telling their child was not real. As a result of what some parents would tell their children, some of my students did not believe in it. As a teacher I would not contradict a parent on something like this. To me it was like a parent believing the boogey man wasn’t real. Like I said, if you don’t see it, it would be hard to believe as I would of had a hard time before this. I would very much appreciate it if any one of you do not pull apart anything I have said about teaching as I am very proud of my teaching experiences and love the children here.
And Craig, thanks so much for pointing out the fact that I am a photographer and that is what they do is sell pictures. I got paid a lot more for the published pictures. I made up to $1000.00 for an 8×10.
If the newspaper article was read carefully, I do have other photos of the skunk ape in motion. If I can figure out how to post one here, I will do that. When I put the picture in the museum that is published here, I took the clearest picture I had as I was looking more at the quality of the photograph when exhibiting it, it really isn’t blurry in the photo until it is blown up. The zoomed in pictures are blurry. All the photographers out there who keep saying they would have done this and that, how many times have you shot a picture that wasn’t perfect. I know myself I have to take a lot of pictures before I may get one that is publishable. I heard once and do not know if it is true but heard that National Geographic Photographers take about 2000 pictures for every one photo published. So I think that you should be a bit easier on the quality, etc. as I feel very fortunate to have taken such a picture under pressure. It is the clearest one I have seen.
Some people keep asking why I would submit photos to websites, newspapers, etc. Like I mentioned before, it was a last minute decision to exhibit with other photos at a museum exhibit I was doing. The Naples Daily News went to the museum after hearing about the picture. News travels fast in a small place.
I did get a call last evening to have my negative looked at professionally. I believe that is just what I may do.
Judy Caseley
The photograph was originally published on Cryptomundo here: New Skunk Ape Photo
Judy Caseley’s thoughts regarding comments on here photo is here: Skunk Ape Photographer Speaks out
I did make the offer to Ms. Caseley that I would post the additional photographs that she took here on Cryptomundo if she chose to share them with our readers. If she chooses to do so, rest assured that you will see them here.
Update: The photographs have been removed from Cryptomundo at the request of the copyright holder, Judy Caseley. The photographs can still be seen on the Naples Daily News website.
- Similar Phenomena:
Just let me know, I am ready, willing and able.
I will wait to hear from you as to what I will need to bring, ie: tent, bed roll, etc.
As a former photographer I can attest to what this lady is saying about the photographic end of this debate. It also seems to me that if she is known and has local respect as a teacher/photographer, why in the heck would she lie about this? A person’s reputation in the community is worth more than all the money a fake would bring.
Keep an open mind.
Good luck spending the night in the glades.
I would let a local or a fairly experienced person take this task, as the glades can be “interesting” for someone not familiar with the local floral and fauna. And dress warm, it has been getting pretty cold there from what I have heard.
Good luck to whomever goes on this trip.
BRING BEAR Spray! I was out camping in the Pacific NW, and heard a funky sound at night and what sounded like an upright-bare-footed walk. SO I liberally sprayed bear spray around the camp site. I think it was just a wandering hiker, but man oh man. DO NOT SNEEK UP ON ME!
Get BEAR SPRAY in my honest opinion
Good luck, Fred! I know I for one am definitely eager to hear if you encounter anything.
Fredfacker, have you accepted the go ahead? Best of luck to you, or if you pass the baton to Skunkape_hunter, best to you as well!
Can’t wait to see the next post in regards to this matter. Should be an exciting adventure!
Have a nice weekend everyone, watch out for goblins.
I live in SW florida, Naples to be exact, 50 degrees at night really isn’t cold! (Originally from Michigan) The worst thing about the everglades is the mosquitos - you’ll rarely see scorpions, crocodiles, or coral snakes but its best to watch where you step! I’ve spent a lot of time out in the ‘glades - you’ll love it if you’re an outdoor type! Best of luck!
Greeetings Craig and Readers,
I called Judy last night after putting in my post on the original story. Judy has agreed to find the negative this weekend and submit it for verification.
I’m passing her contact data along to our Marlon Davis who has agreed to examine her negative with his equipment and software. As most of you know Marlon has done some really amazing stuff with the Patterson Film and he brought out the eyeshine for Daryl Colyer’s East Texas expedition.
In examining the low res photo I think Marlon will be able to pull sufficient detail out of the neg to determine if it’s a hoaxer in a suit or a genuine specimen.
There’s one item of real interest though for me personally. The general shape of the thing bears an uncanny resemblence to one of Cliff Crook’s (CC)supposedly hoaxed photos.
If Marlon finds what I think he will we may have to reexamine that photo regardless of what we think about CC.
In the meantime Judy’s latest post has given some more interesting information and I think at this time that the photo is genuine and Marlon’s work will bear this out.
However, as Loren has pointed out even a hi res close-up won’t get the species officially recognized but it might convince enough key people in the scientific community to begin formal research. My best,
Larry Lesh
Man o man I wish I could go. But I live in Massachusetts and it is bit far to travel. I would do it if I could afford it. Does anyone want to sponsor me?
At the very least it will be an adventure. Good Skunking, who ever goes.
What’s happened here? Did this lady just blow everybody away with charm and cloud their minds to the original (attempted) deception?
She forwards a photo of a guy in a suit that’s so ridiculous it might as well be a chicken suit, and the members reacted appropriately, albeit with undue restraint, IMHO.
This offer of the Free Glades Camporee has NOTHING to do with the silly photograph, yet is intended to connect the two things. The essential question remains: “Is that is, or is that ain’t a guy in a cheapo gorilla suit?” Everything else is just smoke and mirrors!
Excuse me, I think I forgot to use the term “fan dance”. Here it is. ; ]
So the lady took a pix of a guy in a monkey suit. Heck, I see weird things standing by the road all the time. Go to any SEC football game and you’ll see hog-faced men, dog-faced boys, gator headed bi-peds, orange & white aliens and lots of babes.
Seriously, go to YOUTUBE and see the 20 or so Bigfoot video posts. Some are a hoot. Maybe, skunkapes really look like men in cheap gorilla constumes. Just because this lady has a goofy pix isn’t proof of anything. I just would not use it as State’s exhibit #1 in my presentation of Skunkape proof. Nor would I expect it to win a Pulitzer.
Good luck Fredfacker, but I would take some of those amazing cuties you have on your myspace site for company.
Good luck to the happy camper.
I agree with Sky King. Mrs. Caseley may very well be a very nice lady, but this is the internet, and I learned long ago to take things with a grain of salt.
New animals are discovered and rediscovered from time to time.
The Dr. Francois de loys photo from the 20’s and the Patterson film are the only accounts I’ve heard of near believable in the bigfoot catogory. De Loys photo is some kind of unknown spider monkey, and there still arguing over the Patterson film. I mean no disrespect but, a hoaxster in the hunt for real new species may be fun and profitable to some, but damaging to the cause. Not pointing a finger at you Mrs. Caseley. Just saying, don’t know you. You may or may not be involved in a hoax or it may be real. I hope I’m proven wrong.
Get some good pics Fred.
Shihan is right, the worse thing is the mosquitos and I have to say we have had hardly any this year. I think it had to do with Hurricane Wilma. With the breeze coming from the Gulf on Cape Sable, I really don’t think mosquitos will be a problem at all at this time of year. I live in one of the worse places for mosquitos with the mangrove islands surrounding the island I live on, and this year I almost forgot I live in the Everglades, a few no see ums that have been irritating at dusk and dawn. The scenerios I gave of the scorpions are the worse and that happened at Graveyard Creek, not Cape Sable. In fact, I was one of a couple of teachers chosen to develop a program for sixth graders for Big Cypress National Preserve whereas the students would go swamp walking to track the panther. A park ranger and myself would be crazy now that I think back and go out in the early morning when it was still dark, without even a flashlight and walk waist deep through water to hide the panther collar which the student would later track with the equipment and not once did I see a moccassin or rattlesnake in the water doing this. Neither have we seen these snakes taking the swamp walks with students and if the Science Department approved this program through Collier County I think it is relatively safe. I have seen a few rattlesnacks on high mound islands and mocassins but never where you would expect to see them really. The gator was also at a different island when it jumped out at me when I exited my boat. So Fredfracker or Skunk hunter are not in for a real survival show. If I can do it on my own and camp out there on these mangrove islands, even without a tent at times, one of the guys can handle it on what is primarily a beach.
Why do I find myself saying “Keep your hands off of me, you damn dirty ape!” when I see that picture?
It does look fake, but her letter does make her sound more credible. And it doesn’t sound like she has very much of a reason to stage a hoax. Maybe she got taken in?
I believe that we should hold all judgment about what is going on in the Everglades until we see what is going on with the negative. Being a photographer, I know how many shots are “waste” shots. For every good or even simi-good shots, I waste anywhere between 20 or 30 that I just review, delete and move on. But you never know when one of the “waste” shots is one that will be a winner until you review what you took.
Now I’m not saying that her photo is genuine or not, for it does look fake. But how do we not know what this skunk ape really looks like? They may very well look like something out of a Heston movie. It’s not like these things are on every corner in every town, or that you can go and see one in the zoo.
Lets hope that something comes out of this new trip into the Everglades and most of all, that it will be a safe one.
I haven’t commented on this too much yet. I think at worst though Judy was hoaxed. It doesn’t look real, but Judy seems credible. I believe they do make gorilla suits that have internal cooling so one does not die of heat exhaustion.
Hogwash.
Good luck to any and all that will camp out in the Everglades wilderness in search of Skunkape. Undoubtedly it is going to be a memorable experience no matter what happens.
Personally I would take a large bag of powdered cayenne pepper. Cayenne is known to keep even elephants at bay as the strongly dislike the odour. All it would take is a handful of it spread in the air and it would halt any animal or person on the charge! The pepper would also be good to eat in case of an infection.
By the way, no one has mentioned the curved, light-coloured object that is apparently hanging out of the skunkape mouth. What is that thing? A root or grass tuber of some kind? If the being is wearing a fake suit what would the purpose of that object be?
John, I’m trying to see the object you are speaking of but can’t make out anything that looks like it is hanging out of the “creature’s” mouth.
Just want you to know that I appreciate the support because believe me, if it is a hoax, I would be so embarrassed. I just can’t see how anyone could have gotten to these areas and no one knew I would be there. The photo isn’t a really blurry photo at all so I think the negative can be analyzed. It is just blurry when magnified too much. On my 8×10 it is pretty clear. Craig asked me to post more pictures and I wasn’t going to send them to this site, perhaps just one of them but I have rethought that and will post more on this site beginning of week. This site will be the first to have them and I have been given a pretty good offer through a major credible television show but I think now that I read the input more, the people here are open to a big foot or skunk ape living in the wilds. I never even knew this site existed until my photo was put in the newspaper. At first I felt horrified at the input I was getting here but I may have been the same way if I saw the picture. Remember though that if I wasn’t being truthful, I would have said I took the picture digitally so I wouldn’t have to produce a negative and that would have been credible in this day and age when so many people have gone digital. I have digital cameras but choose to still use 35 mm cameras with negatives. Now I know one benefit of not changing from my old ways:) I really hope I don’t let you down as I believe what I have is real. Judy
Oh by the way, I think it will be you skunkape hunter to go on the trip because you will do it alone. Craig will be emailing you my email so we can talk about the particulars. Judy
Here’s to you Judy. You have taken the the brunt of the hoaxter screamers. Time and a negative check will tell who’s the hoaxer. Tell the skunkape hunter to takes some apples for the real skunkape. Chances are better to meet one with food then with guns.
I’m with you, Mrs Caseley. There are times to put aside the negativity and wait for the truth to show. Your openess is refreshing, and I challenge those naysayers to show a little patience.
The truth will shine, no matter how much mud gets thrown on it. So, unless you have direct proof that this is a fraud, let the investigators do their job. We could all benefit from a little sunshine on this dark subject.
Interesting how the photographer invites and then discourages by threatening with scorpions, alligators and even (LOL) sharks. Also the photographer states she just wants you to see if it would be an environment where a Bigfoot might live. This of course would prove nothing since your imagination could run wild anywhere there are woods or swamp lands convincing that anything could live in many areas of the country, but that the question is does a skunk ape or cryptid live there? That is the mystery.
psychosis-
Interesting how the photographer invites and then discourages by threatening with scorpions, alligators and even (LOL) sharks.
Uhhh - maybe because those things actually live there? From what I can tell she was attempting to illustrate how remote and inhospitable the area is to support her reasoning that it would be unlikely for someone to wait out there in a gorilla suit.
“john5 Says:
By the way, no one has mentioned the curved, light-coloured object that is apparently hanging out of the skunkape mouth. What is that thing? A root or grass tuber of some kind?”
John5, I think what you’re referring to is SUPPOSED to represent Ol’ Skunky’s upper front set of chompers. Maybe it Martha Raye inside that grilla soot.
This has GOT to be the biggest hoot I’ve seen on Cryptomundo, hands down! Whichever one of you two that end up going down to Le Chateau Skunkee, WHATEVER YOU DO, don’t play poker with Judy! She seems to be able to make grown men take leave of their senses!
cor 2879, the challenging resolution of this picture on this 15″ monitor may be lacking but there appears to be a light coloured object, a downward curved semi-circle just below the tan coloured patch of the upper lip. It appears to be something held in the mouth or somehow external to the face. I do not think it could be a part of the mouth or teeth but could possibly be the skin of the lower lip.
Maybe I just need to drink more carrot juice!!!
Good luck to whoever is going. I hope you’re a good photographer, but just remember to stay calm and take the shot if you do have an encounter. By the way, if they don’t allow guns how about a machete? They’re darn good weapons in an emergency.
Great suggestion by sasdave to bring some fruit! After being a keeper for awhile at Metro Toronto Zoo I can sure testify that primates love their fruit and skunkape is likely no different.
The earlier suggestion of cayenne is more like having a security blanket on a hike into unknown territory. I had a pouch of it while hiking through the Okanagan Mountain Park, near Kelowna B.C., when a rare Grizzly had been seen in the area. Pepper or not I found the best security on that or any hike & campout is to have a peaceful state of mind. Extending that thought into your surrounding environment is both very strengthening and calming.
The animals are keenly aware of that state of mind and respond to you accordingly, whether carrying on with their daily routine or coming up to make friends or fleeing/attacking if you are not of a peaceful mind. Talking out loud to animals you meet and honestly letting them know your intentions will also provide you with pleasant surprises. Asserting your right to be where you are in the wilderness also helps to protect you from those animals that may want to push you around even in your state of peace. Some may call it ‘tough love’.
Hopefully you brave skunkape seekers have no encounters of the ‘tough love’ kind but how would it be to share some grapes with one!
Peace
I have contacted Judy to make the arrangements. As of yet, I have not heard back from her. I am also not aware if Fred has passed on the offer yet either. So that may be an obstacle.
Skunkape Hunter, I have left you an email to make arrangements. I never heard from Fred again. Thanks to “Mik, Sasdave, and Shovethenos” for your support and comments and “Sky King” you are way too funny. I wish I had the whatever you might call it…talent to do what you mention, but believe me, I have just been honest here. In fact, I love the sense of humor so many of you readers have.
“Psychosis,” I just would like to mention to you as I think you may have perhaps missed some of what I wrote in. I clearly said that the scorpions and gator were not an experience I had at Cape Sable but were the very worst of experiences I encountered while camping out. In fact, I made it clear that snakes were not something to worry about. Most of these things are more afraid of us. As far as the sharks, I use to go swimming anywhere in the Ten Thousand Islands and I really do not believe now that I would swim at Cape Sable again. I may get my feet wet, but my neighbor goes fishing specifically for sharks and he catches many near the shores of some of the beaches out there. But I have been very good friends with the oldtimers here and they would swim in these waters all the time and never was there an incident of someone getting eaten by a shark out here, that they told me or I heard about. I may have heard of something near Marco which is quite a distance from here. In fact, these old timers would swim with gators all the time growing up and I still have friends here that do. Bull sharks are just nothing to mess with and I do not know if they have a particular mating season as my mom lived up North when she saw it on the News and she has passed away recently so I can’t ask her when it was. She had a great memory for news. Actually, the only news I got I received from her everyday as I do not watch tv. She would even have to tell me if a hurricane was heading in this direction.
Just wanted to point out to you, “Psychosis,” that I have not tried to scare anyone and have just tried to let people know that it isn’t as bad as some people think it is. I see you are very open minded to the possibility of the skunk ape and too many people are not open minded to this as I was not at one time. It’s great to be open minded before you ever even experience something like this as you are. I admire that now.
I am not claiming whatsoever that this will prove anything. “Psychosis” is also right on this, if you are out there alone, your imagination can run wild with sounds etc. and that was what I was hoping for. Taking a non believer and coming off Cape Sable and hearing that person say there is a possibility of a skunk ape out there. But “Skunk Ape Hunter” is an experienced outdoorsman and I am not really getting anyone that would be frightened by sounds, etc. so if he comes off the island believing of a possibility, it is much more credible.
I am with most of you who do not advocate the gun thing. I do not believe that the skunk ape would hurt anyone unless threatened, just like any other animal. It seemed more curious when I saw it as it would look at me, walk and stop and look at me and walk again. On Cape Sable it just stood there making those sounds, and I quickly left. If it wanted me for lunch, it would have headed in my direction. And if there is a skunk ape out there, although someone may get a lot of publicity for shooting the thing, I believe in protecting endangered species as I have done a lot of work with my teaching etc. to advocate this.
Looking forward to hearing from “Skunk Ape Hunter” and oh, what an appropriate name!
Judy
Mrs Caseley:
I live in Florida and have gone on a couple Skunk Ape trips. I would love to particapate in this little trip, but somebody else beat me to it. I do not agree with putting one person on there by themselves. I have never met you or know anything about you, but what is to stop you from putting somebody in a ape costume out there right after you drop off this gentlemen. Maybe you and Mr Coleman should organize a trip without the large BFRO cost to participate and see what happens. One person seeing it is not going to help your case. I know I am coming up rude with the ape costume, but I am trying to help your cause if in fact there is something out there.
Ok I have heard from Judy, seems like a nice lady. We are ‘negotiating’ the logistics.
Congrats Skunkape_hunter , I look forward to hearing about your trip ( oh and take plenty of bug spray for those spiders ).
I left another message for “Skunk Ape Hunter.” He also seems very nice. “Rooboo,” I can assure you that I will not be putting someone out there in a costume. In fact, I am almost hoping the skunk ape stays in hiding as that will be what I am accused of doing if he does venture out. If you look on a map where Cape Sable is located, (we are leaving from where I live in Chokoloskee) there is no way that someone could get there without me seeing a boat. If they came from Flamingo or through the other side, it would be a long treacherous trip on foot and I think you will agree by looking at the map, there is no way someone would go to that extent for a hoax. It would be easier to walk out on the Tamiami Trail and let some passer-byers see it and not only have more witnesses, that would be more credible than hoping it will come out of hiding this particular camping night. I do believe he may hear it or find some evidence. I have some pretty good evidence that the skunk ape lives here and that is why he has not been easily seen by many people. I do not know if there is more than one skunk ape or swamp ape, whatever you might want to call it, but I truly believe somewhere in this area it lives most of the time.
What is a BFRO cost. I feel if anyone from Cryptomundo should go, it should be Craig as he was the one that posted the article and he has been very open minded to my sighting and I believe he thinks it may be the real thing. No offense Loren, but I am offended by your response to me not bringing my picture out for five years. I didn’t know you were part of the staff when those comments were left and feel that you should have emailed me to see if I have proof that it was about five years ago as I know I can show proof.
I hope you will open your mind more to my sighting and the possibility of it being real and we can work together on this. And I hope you don’t take these comments to heart as I see you are a very professional man in what you do. I know I am probably better off not even telling you that you offended me as now you may try to disprove it is a real skunk ape, but I say it how I see it, and how something makes me feel. The negative will hopefully bring it all out whether this is a hoax or the real thing and I am betting it is the real thing or I would never have put my reputation on the line. Who knows, if you don’t think “Skunk Hunter” should be out there alone, I could camp on the other end of the beach or stay anchored out in my boat (maybe safer:) and we could have two way radios, it is a really long beach.
It would be no different then me camping out any other night and someone else is camping on the same island. I do have to get permits from the Everglades National Park for “Skunk Hunter” to camp so it will be relatively safe I think to camp on the other end. Like I always said, the human race can be scarier than what ever else is out there.
I think that is what I will do if it is ok with “Skunk Hunter”, stay anchored out there somewhere close by, so I can go rescue him if I have to.
Only kidding about the rescue part!
Judy
Oh, by the way “Skunk Ape Hunter,” I have plenty of photographic equipment that you can use. Don’t worry about a camera or lenses. I will set you up with all of that.
Judy
Once again, I can’t help to notice this, Caseley’s trying to remove focus from what this is all about.
At first she was all “You’re all claiming that I manipulated the photos”, and now it’s “all of you are claiming skunk ape isn’t real, come out here n I’ll prove it!” What all the fuzz originally was about, was the fact that she had someone dress up in that stupid, stupid monkey suit to make a few $/15 minutes of fame, let’s not forget that!
That being said, the best of luck of any of you guys going out there, easy on the trigger. It might be Mr. Caseley in his monkey suit, trying to help Judy’s credibility!
For all of you that are concerned about this changing focus, I have some info for you. I have asked that I be allowed upon arrival, to see the photos that she has, original, blown up, whatever. She has agreed. I as many of you are aware that sometimes when a photo is copied, then recopied, it will lose a good bit of detail, or even appear totally different than the original. So lets wait and see what she has to show me. I feel that since I have come down on hoax, or hoaxed, she is being very honest and open, to agree to show me the photos.
Note to Ms. Caseley:
You seem sincere, and your willingness to stand by your work is commendable. I just can’t get past those forearms and hands. They are smooth and featureless, looking for all the world like rubber gloves. I wondered if the creature might just have stuck its hands in muddy water to grab at a fish or something, but looking at my dog when he’s just plunged into muddy water (for no reason at all), the fur is still clearly fur.
Regards,
Matt Bille
If the skunkape had shorter and/or fine hair on its forearm wet mud would be enough to smooth the hair down, especially if the arm had been drawn out of the mud quickly. Such as when one is startled out of a good days digging in the mud by a human being with a camera!
Looking at the immediate environment of this photo I would not expect to find a lot of fish. A marshy atmosphere makes me think of wet mud, crayfish, frogs, rhizomes and tubers.The object in the skunkape’s right hand could be some kind of digging tool.
For all of you that are not aware, please note. The Everglades is a RIVER. NOT a swamp. It is the widest river in the world.
Also her claims about Bull sharks is not out of line, as they have/like to give birth, and mate, in fresh water. The type that is in the Mangroves in South Florida. Please try to keep an open mind, as I am at this point. I slammed the pix pretty hard, but when she agreed with no strings to allow me to examine them, I decided to go with an open mind.
I honestly believe that I am the best person for this job. I live here, I know what to look for. I know about the other creatures that live here. Many of the things that apply to a more northerly locale do not apply here. Just as many of the things that apply here do not apply up north. Oh yeah, and to the guy that said 50 degrees is not cold, Go back to Ohio, or where ever LOL
(sarcasm)
Ms. Caseley:
The BFRO charges $400.00 a person to go on their Bigfoot Expeditions. The like to go to Ocala National Forest. I told Mr Moneymaker that he was looking in the wrong spot. The area he picked was heavy occupied by hunters and wild pigs.
I hope everything goes well with Skunkape hunter. I can not wait to see what happens. All I am saying is that it would not be a bad idea to get an expedition with more than one person. You could set up OPs (military talk for observation points) in different spots in the area. That would ensure the probability of somebody seeing or hearing something. I realize that this might be expensive, but it is something to think about. I on the other hand would love to go on a expedition with Loren Coleman.
Really need to see this better pic.
All we have here is faith and a very fuzzy photo.
Good point on the Everglades being a large, slow river and not a swamp Skunkape Hunter. I believe I callously referred to the ape digging in swamp mud. Sorry for that! The area it is standing in is likely either a bog or a fen depending on whether the water present is acid or alkaline. These land areas are highly saturated with water and can give an impression that they are solid enough to walk upon.
Well some are and some are not! Those that are not can be similar to the idea of quicksand but actually a quickmud! I have dug around such areas looking for wildlife, artifacts, etc. and lost footwear as a result. Although I have not been to the Everglades I suspect there would be a lot of highly saturated soils making up the islands throughout this vast river. It would not be a surprise to find that skunkape has found a way to harvest them! Keep an eye out for the quickmud on the venture Skunkape Hunter. Although you are likely way ahead of the suggestion! I am sending out a good prayer for your successful venture.
In cases like this, it is best to keep an open mind. Nothing has been conclusively proven or disproven. The photograph is what it is, a photograph which is open to interpretation by the person viewing the photograph.
As a long time professional photographer, I have done many types of photography–weddings, people, modeling, nature, professional sports, celebrities, macrophotography and just some fun shots for myself.
The areas of photography that I am well seasoned in, are second nature to me. However, in Judy Caseley’s defense, if an area of photography is new to you or you are not adept with years of experience, being caught offguard by the unexpected will not capture the best shot. Sure, hindsight is 20/20 and it is very easy to criticize the photographer who took the photograph. But honestly, without judging the photo as to it’s authenticity, it is a good photograph. It is well focused, the exposure is good, the rule of thirds was followed, and the lens being used tells me that the photographer was not intending to get a close up of anything at the time this photograph was taken. There are some intrinsics things that a professional photographer can see by just looking at the photograph.
First, it appears to me that Judy was caught offguard and did not anticipate anything unexpected while taking this photograph. Secondly, it appears as if she is a seasoned photographer because in the rush to get the camera and take the photograph, she instinctually followed the rule of thirds. Many amateurs and some professionals can not do that when taking their time. Thirdly, the lens being used tells me that she was probably doing some scenics. Try switching lenses in a hurry! It seems to me that she either had that option of switching the lenses but by doing that, she may have foregone any shot of the subject. So that was smart thinking if that were the case.
As for the photograph looking staged or like a man in a monkeysuit, I would say that the jury is still out on that. The problem with using film is that when you enlarge a photo to an 8×10 or larger, it becomes a tad blurry and it becomes more blurry as you enlarge it further in the printing process. There is a lot of contrast in this photograph too! So as you enlarge it, highlighted areas will give the photo a “fake look”. It will almost look like an impressionistic painting. If you pardon the pun, that is the nature of the beast, photographically speaking.
I have been to the remotest regions of the Amazon Jungle in Brazilian Amazonia and have photographed animals there seen no where else in the world. Trust me, they are documented by scientists as being real creatures and not cryptids. However, when sharing my photographs with friends, they even asked how I photoshopped the creatures. They had not seen or heard of 6 foot river otters, or tapers, or freshwater dolphin. They thought these were mythical creatures. They exist. So even if you get a convincing photograph of an animal that is rarely seen or known of by the general population, that will even fall to scrutiny. Perhaps the Skunk Ape is not real. Perhaps it is real. But to scrutinize the photographer as faking a photograph at this point in time is not prudent. What about that woodpecker thought to be extinct that was recently rediscovered by scientists. The footage was as grainy and blurry as any I have ever seen, but it is not extinct. Also, even professional photographers not in a controlled lighting environment, will take a large amount of photographs to get a perfect one or one that they are happy with the results. There are photographs and there are pictures. There is a difference.
I have debunked several photographs at other websites. I have explained using photographic analysis that some things thought to be one thing are actually something else as explained by laws of optical physics. And in some cases, there is no explanation for what we see in a photograph. There is just not enough evidence to say convincingly one way or another. Oh, we might be able to say that the negative was not tampered with. But there might not be enough evidence to say if it is real or a hoax.
This is probably going to be the case with this photograph. So rather than be accusatory of the photographer who submitted the photograph, I would like to thank her for doing so.
I understand why she was not in a rush to get the photograph out immediately to the general public. I understand her reasoning for keeping it for the amount of time she did. Ms. Caseley knew that she would open herself up to scrutiny by posting the photograph and still did. And if it was a hoax on her part or she was hoaxed by someone when taking the photograph, by posting it, she was brave enough to put her reputation on the line by sharing it with the good people here. Instead of slinging arrows at the photographer, I feel she should be applauded for even taking the chance and opening herself up to criticism. Those that negatively criticize the photographer’s intentions or the photograph itself, may one day have egg on their face. Only time will tell.
So thanks for sharing the photograph with the readers here! I enjoyed it immensely.
I am going to check my email to see if I heard back from “Skunk Ape Hunter.” Thanks for being openminded “Skunk Ape Hunter.” I am going on a hunt for my negatives after I have my coffee here. I got a bit sidetracked this weekend. Wish me luck but I can assure you I have them. Like I said, when Hurricane Wilma came through everything got packed up and we are still getting the island of Chokoloskee back in shape from that storm. We got hit the hardest and I stayed here through that. There were what I think were hurricane hunters here with there equipment and they clocked the winds at one time at 160.
Back to the negatives.
I am willing to take “Skunk Ape Hunter” to my place and scan the negatives in front of him so he can see the pictures in as much clarity as they go. I do have Adobe PhotoShop (I am a photographer) and will even use this program to lighten, darken, burn, anything he wants to show any detail. I am not stupid to have done anything to the picture as far as manipulation and I will prove this to “Skunk Ape Hunter.” I also agree that the arm looks really weird. I think I have figured it out on why it is like that with a couple of the other photos I printed out back when I took the picture. I believe it has something to do with the angle and I think both arms may have that. If it is not a glove, I believe it is like skin like we have on our arm. I don’t think this is too far fetched as it is suppose to be something between human and ape I think. But who am I to say. I don’t know if a skunk ape is suppose to have fur on every part of its body. Does any one know that?
When I find the negatives today, I will hopefully have others to compare with as I can’t remember how many photos were taken. Believe me, I am not going to get into any ape costume, I have better things to do.
Judy
Hope the negatives haven’t been lost or destroyed in Wilma, it shouldn’t be to hard for a pro to get a copy on here.
I’m not being mean. I want these creatures to be real. Thats why I’m here. Thought this site was about discerning fact from fiction ?
I don’t know, guys, but my “Spidey sense” is tingling. When Mrs. Caseley states that she’ll have to find the negatives because they are all packed away, it makes me believe she is giving herself an excuse if she doesn’t find them.
Also, can someone direct me to the original account of the story? I want to know what this creature did when it spotted her. Does she have pics of this thing running away, turning around, dropping to the ground, something?
Also, this creature has a nice waist line. What’s its secret?
As someone who’s rooting for sasquatch and his kin to Be Out There, and see tons of evidence that it’s so, including some I witnessed personally, I have to say this:
I have not seen a single alleged sas shot that screams “fake” louder than this one did the instant I first looked at it.
And still does.
I’m not commenting on anything but my reaction to the photo. Not the creedibility of the photographer or anything else.
This shot just HOLLERED “fake.”
Judy,
I may be wrong but the posts that referenced your skills as a photographer had nothing to do with number of pictures or anything other than a zoom lens. That’s the question! Why no zoom lens? Go ahead and take 2000 shots if need be but as a pro, again, why no zoom?
Also, you say that you promise there will be nothing staged. However, if you did perpetrate a hoax, then what’s a promise from you worth?
I can say however as a previous 15 year resident of South Florida that whomever goes into the glades to camp should prepare for anything and take along appropriate gear. My biggest problem whilst camping in the glades: Insects!
As I’ve said previously, I don’t know if the Skunk Ape exists or not (I hope it does) but I just don’t see it here.
Sorry to be so hard on you as no offense is intended.
Anyone looking at this thread would be advised to go look at my replies to these photos when posted on 25th Oct 06.
I posted two replies one of which as links to zoomed sections of these photos.
I personally can see a vehicle/boat in the background behind Monkey Suit Man. And a person is visible in a window to the right of Monkey Suit Man. Others state they can see nothing of what I claim.
I am still waiting for someone to tell me which plant, animal, tree or rock has windows in it!
Now, don’t take my word for it, go look for yourself, or have you got a blinkerd view?
mememe,
I have to be honest, I looked, I can not see what you are talking about. I am not saying it is not there, I am saying I can not see it.
She claims to have a clearer photo than what was dragged off the web. So maybe we just give her the benefit of the doubt for the time being?
I have talked to this woman, and she is not backing away with no answers. She is making an attempt to get a clearer view. She is also willing to send out the negatives to be examined.
I know this is a turnaround for me, I bashed it when I saw it too. If that is the best pic she has, then I will stand by my earlier posts. However for the time being I am willing to wait and see what she can come up with.
Kudos to you, Skunkape Hunter. Heck, if I were down that way I’d take her up on it too. What, you would need an excuse to camp out at Cape Sable?
Maybe, heh heh, it’s that we’ve seen so many bad hoaxes that the real thing looks like a REALLY bad hoax. I don’t know. It’s just that the ape image has the instant — and lasting — feel of having been pasted into that scene. I’ve never seen a shot of a real animal that has the “phony” feel this one does. If ever I’ve seen a shot that screams “Photoshop,” it’s this one.
If I could be proven wrong, I’d love it. Prove me wrong. Somebody. Please.
just a reminder. There are two encounters here. It spoke a language in the first encounter.
Guess I’m a bit late on this, that’s what I get for going out of town and away from a computer.
I’ve spent plenty of time out in the glades and I must admit to being somewhat hazy on the reason for the trip, the feeling of isolation? Anyone interested could also take a look at Google Earth and see. There’s a lot of open space out there.
Take some insect spray w/deet and a hammock with a mosquito net. Add a clean change of clothes in a watertight bag, a fishing pole, two small LED flashlights a couple granola bars and a gallon jug of drinking water. That’s the way to enjoy a night out in the everglades. If the moon is out chances are you won’t need the flashlights.
Craig, send my email info to this Judy Caseley. I live in Naples, Florida, real close to her. If she’s serious about her offer. I understood the pic she posted was taken along loop road, Big Cypress? What’s this about Cape Sable? I am sorry but that loop road pic is a guy in a gorilla suit!
Let me get this straight, Naples Daily News originally said she took that pic with her sister while on Loop Road in Big Cypress Preserve. Now she is changing her story to claim the pic was taken at Cape Sable? You best read your story again, as I have the paper right here. It says you claim a sighting at Cape Sable while you were there along sunsoaking. It does not say you took that pic at that location. It does say the pic was taken off Loop Road. I am sorry, but Loop Road is much too close to that campground owner and his handy gorilla suit. There has never been any concrete evidence of any skunk ape in Big Cypress.
As Craig well knows, I along with 2 other mp’s saw a critter at Ft. Lewis Washington in 1984, and that pic is a monkey suit.
an over night campout on cape sable,alone is going to prove nothing..even if skunkape hunter sees the skunker,it will be one person’s word with no back up witness(too common throughout the years)and none of this changes the bogus pic posted in the newspaper..i have fished and boated all through everglades park,and spent nights out there..big deal!! proves nothing..no offense to ms.casely,as she may be innocent of a hoax involvement,but there’s plenty newbies on this site and very few dinosaurs like craig and myself,that have been there and done all that:)
ps just for personal info..that campground owner from tamiami trail,in ochopee??? tried the same think a few years back,to try and draw in tourist dollars..no offense maam..but you are trying to sell the pic..and you do run an eco tour,therefore you do stand to gain monetarily,from snowbird dollars,for those hoping you’ll take them to see skunkapes sunning on the beach
again no offense
Judy had posted a comment asking people to post their personal information here and she would send them a photo.
We do not allow posting of personal information, be it a physical address or an email address here on the site.
Thanks, Craig.
I have a post up there that’s responding to hers. Maybe it’s no longer germane. (Maybe it’s gone by the time you read this.)
But a Cryptomundo Cape Sable Expedition? Whoever goes, post a report! (If it’s next week…hey, I’ll be in FL Saturday thru Tuesday! :-D)
You folks are something else. I asked you to ease up some and wait to see what the lady could come up with. Now since some of you have to be mean, that is all it is, she is considering pulling back, and just forgeting the whole deal.
I will admit to being very ‘nasty’ about some topics on this board. I think you all know which cases I mean. However, when someone, poster, or admin, has asked that we wait for more info. I have respected that. All I asked was that everyone do the same for this lady, who by the way is a human being with feelings. AT this point I believe that she was hoaxed, she knows I feel this way, but was willing to show me what she has to back up her claims. Is that not what everyone wants ?
The questions about why Cape Sable are good ones. I understand why, but was going to wait till I had all the info to explain it. She has a theory, which seems to be sound, prima facie.
We had a great chance to look deeper into this claim, but by not holding back with the flaming, it may have been taken away.
Photo solved. If you use your magnifier in your computer under programs and go over the face of this pic, you will notice that the mouth of a monkey has been superimposed over the mouth of a bad made gorilla suit. Notice how you can see where the mouth has been superimposed? Notice the pixel blur in that area including the color and the uncentered placement of the superimposed mouth? I know there is a negative but the negative will not show the superimposed mouth, leading me to safely predict that the negative is gone. Remember I said this.
Happy Halloween, funny prank.
Skepticism and politeness are not mutually exclusive. After posting Ms. Caseley’s photo here on Cryptomundo, she came to the site to answer the skeptics. After I posted her comments in a new post, I asked the following:
I would like the readers of Cryptomundo to remain polite and courteous in their comments. I also want to point out that we are looking at the photos from the newspaper’s website. These are not hi-res scans of the original photograph, but lo-res, compressed images here.
Quite a few of the comments were anything but. I deleted quite a few that were rude.
Judy sent two more of her photos to share with the readers of Cryptomundo. After all of the comments leading up to this morning, she has decided not to share the additional photos. I will respect that decision.
I do not know what the future holds for her offer to take skunk_hunter to the location of her sighting and photographs.
It is one thing to ask questions. It is quite different to hurl accusations. Comments will remain disabled for this topic.