Written By: Ken Hulsey Though the legend of the Loch Ness Monster dates back to the middle ages the creature was really not known outside of Scotland until 1933 when a report of a sighting made international headlines.
On this date in 1933 the Inverness Courier ran a story about George Spicer and his wife who had been taking a leisurely drive around the Loch when the spotted something strange on the water. According to Spicer (it was) "the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life." The IC story was the first time that Nessie had been called a monster hence the title Loch Ness Monster was born.
The wire services quickly picked up on the story and soon the Loch Ness Monster was making headlines around the globe. The popularity of the piece prompted others who had reportedly seen the creature to come forward and before long the Inverness Courier was overwhelmed with stories and alleged sightings.
Within a year the first photo of Nessie taken by Hugh Gray (on December 6th 1933) and the famous Surgeon's Photograph (taken the following April), which has been now proven fake, were published spawning even more interest in the legendary beast.
The Hugh Gray Photograph
He quickly snapped it and, over the years, Nessie hunters have never been able to provide an explanation – although sceptics say it could be a distorted picture of a dog with a stick in its mouth.
I don't see a dog with a stick, but then again it is hard to see exactly what the object in the photo is.
Regardless this is the first recorded picture of the monster.
Since that time there has been numerous photos taken of reported monsters in Loch Ness, some are still a mystery, some are obvious hoaxes.
The best photographic evidence of the monster actually came in 1972 when the Academy of Applied Science placed a submerged camera in the Loch that captured a series of photos that showed what looks like a flipper that is consistent with several known species of aquatic dinosaurs.
Regardless this is the first recorded picture of the monster.
Since that time there has been numerous photos taken of reported monsters in Loch Ness, some are still a mystery, some are obvious hoaxes.
The best photographic evidence of the monster actually came in 1972 when the Academy of Applied Science placed a submerged camera in the Loch that captured a series of photos that showed what looks like a flipper that is consistent with several known species of aquatic dinosaurs.
A Monster Of A Fake
As luck would have it Gray's photograph would be overshadowed by the infamous "Surgeon's Photo" that was snapped by Christian Spurling a year later.
That photograph, was revealed to be a hoax decades later. A prank to fool the London newspaper Daily Mail by a notorious hoaxer named Marmaduke Wetherell, who constructed a model monster and convinced the reputable Spurling to photograph it in the Loch then sell it to the publication.
That photograph, was revealed to be a hoax decades later. A prank to fool the London newspaper Daily Mail by a notorious hoaxer named Marmaduke Wetherell, who constructed a model monster and convinced the reputable Spurling to photograph it in the Loch then sell it to the publication.
Nessie The Movie Star
The clip above first appeared in the first episode of a 1936 Scottish documentary/news series called Things That Happen. This is reportedly the first ever appearance of the monster on film.
The Most Compelling Photograph
The picture shows a two-metre long silver creature swimming away from the lens with its head bobbing away and a tail flapping a metre away, preparing to swim further on.
The apparent creature was spotted coming up for air close to the banks of the loch on Saturday afternoon midway between the villages of Dores and Inverfarigaig.
The apparent creature was spotted coming up for air close to the banks of the loch on Saturday afternoon midway between the villages of Dores and Inverfarigaig.
Bremmer noted, “I’m normally a bit of a sceptic when it comes to Nessie and I think it’s just something for the tourists but I’m starting to think there is something out there.
The image he took closely resembles some of the clearest and most notable examples of the creature.
Gary Campbell, president of the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club reports that over the past few years sightings of the legendary creature have fallen dramatically. A fact that has lead him, and many of his counterparts, to believe that the animal may now be extinct, or going extinct.
"Ten years ago we had a lot of good sightings, but in the last two or three years, they have tailed off," Campbell explains.
The only dependable sighting of the creature came on June 6th, when a local resident, who knows what belongs in the loch and what doesn't, near the Clansman Hotel spotted something large swimming off shore.
"What we regard as a dependable sighting is very much down to the person who sees it," Mr Campbell explained. "This was a local chap who knows the things that Nessie isn't, boat wakes, debris on the loch or seals in the summer. A local person will know what these things look like."
At that time, there hadn't been a reported sighting for over a year, something that was starting to become a major concern for "Nessie" researchers.
"That's why were so relieved to have heard about this sighting," Mr Campbell continued. "In June, when it was reported, nobody had seen anything for a year. If it hadn't been for that one, we would have been really, really worried."
“When I saw it on my screen I said ‘what the hell is that?’
Ian’s picture fits in perfectly with the widely believed description of Nessie being a long serpent creature which stretches as far back as 1933.The image he took closely resembles some of the clearest and most notable examples of the creature.
- excerpts from an article from The Scotsman
Sightings Becoming Fewer And Fewer
"Ten years ago we had a lot of good sightings, but in the last two or three years, they have tailed off," Campbell explains.
The only dependable sighting of the creature came on June 6th, when a local resident, who knows what belongs in the loch and what doesn't, near the Clansman Hotel spotted something large swimming off shore.
"What we regard as a dependable sighting is very much down to the person who sees it," Mr Campbell explained. "This was a local chap who knows the things that Nessie isn't, boat wakes, debris on the loch or seals in the summer. A local person will know what these things look like."
At that time, there hadn't been a reported sighting for over a year, something that was starting to become a major concern for "Nessie" researchers.
"That's why were so relieved to have heard about this sighting," Mr Campbell continued. "In June, when it was reported, nobody had seen anything for a year. If it hadn't been for that one, we would have been really, really worried."
According to Scottish legend St Columba invoked the power of God to drive the serpent back into the Loch way back in the 6th century and there "Nessie" has remained ever since.
That makes the legend of a monster in Loch Ness over 1400 years old. That's a very long time for a school of living dinosaurs to exists in one body of water without being caught. Now, I'm not saying that proves that there isn't a monster. I'm just saying that the legend of the "Loch Ness Monster" has existed for a long time. Longer than many people realize.
That makes the legend of a monster in Loch Ness over 1400 years old. That's a very long time for a school of living dinosaurs to exists in one body of water without being caught. Now, I'm not saying that proves that there isn't a monster. I'm just saying that the legend of the "Loch Ness Monster" has existed for a long time. Longer than many people realize.
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