IFO's In Contrails
These photographs and video stills of Identified Flying Objects (I.F.O.'s) are presented as a research tool for comparison to and analysis of past, present and future video and photographic materials containing anomalous images of similar appearance and nature.
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We must be very careful in our analyses of video and photographic materials as not every dot, spot, speck or blob is necessarily a UFO. In photographing contrails, I have found many natural objects in the sky can become unusual looking objects when frozen in time as happens in photographs and/or video stills. Naturally occurring objects we see every day may seem to be "unknowns" when reviewing video or photographic images and may seem to "hover" or take on unfamiliar shapes when taken out of context. Even less can be discerned about very distant objects or bugs, birds and debris flying in front of the camera lens as one films or snaps the shutter.
In the video stills and photographs presented on this site, I have attempted to share known objects I have photographed and video taped as a sort of baseline by which researchers and investigators can compare other data and materials containing anomalous images under analysis.
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Con-Tales
By Amy Hebert
I first began looking up and noticing the contrails forming over my town in October, 1999.
Like many others, I became alarmed and concerned due to all the claims of
"spraying", illnesses related to "chemtrails" and chemical/biological
attacks on human populations. I felt the issue warranted intense and immediate study and
began researching the phenomenon.
Every time I saw contrails forming overhead I photographed and/or video taped the trails
throughout the day. I began tracking illnesses among school children in my town by
obtaining absentee reports from numerous schools in an attempt to study any correlations
between absenteeism and days with heavy contrail activity (found no apparent
correlations). I spent many hours observing, photographing, filming and researching
contrail activity in my area as well as around the world (I became somewhat of an
"expert" at spotting contrail activity in satellite images because I needed the
information to track this phenomenon).
In addition to research, I opened a discussion list and reporting center called
"Contrail Center". People reported contrail activity in their area and I began
matching satellite images and photographic materials with their reports. Subscribers to
the discussion list shared their sightings, theories and photographs with others on the
list.
The more I learned, the more I began to notice how the "chemtrail" theories were
actively promoted and defended with such vehemence that it has begun to take on the
characteristics of a cult. When I suggested to those studying the phenomenon that perhaps
there were other possible explanations for what we were witnessing, I was accused of
working for the government (well, I'm still waiting for my paycheck!). People I once
considered friends turned against me all because I stressed the need for objective and
thorough research and analysis BEFORE reaching conclusions.
Then came those claiming they were video taping and photographing UFO's in the contrails
(claiming they were capturing images UFO's in photographs and on video tape each day). I
had 9 months worth of video tapes and photographs and not once had I seen a UFO in the
contrails nor in my photographs and video tapes. As I began reviewing the images presented
by Mr. Avery and others as posted on web sites on the internet, I recognized similar
images from my own photographs and video tapes of contrails. I had carefully noted what
each image was while I photographed and video taped. I immediately recognized images of
birds, bugs, emulsion defects, planes and debris in these photographs and video footage
because I had photographed and video taped them as well.
I posted a small sample of the images I obtained on a web site
("http://Yellowrose_4.tripod.com") and informed MUFON of my analysis and where
they could view the images for comparison with other photographic images of a similar
nature. Mr. Jeff Sainio, MUFON's staff photoanalyst, responded to my letter saying: (caps
his)
"AT THE 2000 MUFON SYMPOSIUM, AVERY'S PRESENTATION SHOWED NO UFOS THAT I COULD SEE,
ONLY INSECTS. HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT "PEOPLE LIKE MACCABEE & SAINIO
(MUFON'S PHOTO AND VIDEOANALYSTS) SHOULD ANALYZE THIS STUFF" WHICH IMPLIED THAT WE
HAD NOT. THIS IS FALSE; HE HAD SENT ME SEVERAL CLIPS; ALL I FOUND WERE INSECTS. ONE CLIP
HE ADMITTED AS INSECTS; I
COULD FIND NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IT AND A 'UFO' CLIP FROM THE SAME VIDEO
SEGMENT. I DO NOT KNOW IF BRUCE MACCABEE DID ANY WORK ON THEM.
AVERY'S WORK ON 'CHEMTRAILS' HAS NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO UFOS, AND IS
THEREFORE NOT WITHIN MY FIELD OF STUDY (OR MUFON'S, FOR ALL I CAN TELL.)
HEBERT IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR TAKING THE SCIENTIFIC DUTY OF INDEPENDENT
DUPLICATION, A STEP WHICH IS USUALLY BORING, TEDIOUS, AND LEFT OUT OF
AMATEUR SCIENCE.
A GUIDE I FIND USEFUL (NOT SCIENCE, JUST EXPERIENCE) IS 'ANYBODY WHO
CLAIMS TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS/PHOTOS OF UFOS ACTUALLY HAS A VERY POOR ABILITY TO
RECOGNIZE ORDINARY THINGS IN THE SKY.' I'VE GOTTEN A VIDEOTAPE WITH 46
UFOS, ALL AIRPLANES, SEVERAL EXTREMELY OBVIOUS; 2 FULL HOURS OF LEAVES
BLOWING PAST THE CAMERA; PICTURES OF CLOUDS, WHICH ANY CHILD CAN IMAGINE AS NEARLY
ANYTHING; DOZENS OF DISTANT UFOS LEAVING CONTRAILS (THOSE ARE CALLED JETS);
AND GAZILLIONS OF SHOTS OF VENUS. UFOS ARE RARE, SO LOOKING FOR THEM IS
FRUSTRATING. THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO MIS-RECOGNIZE OTHER THINGS IN THE SKY.
HEBERT MENTIONS CONFIDENTIALITY; HOWEVER MY VIEWS MAY BE MADE PUBLIC IF
ANYBODY DESIRES."
Through my studies of contrail activity I have found the phenomenon more likely a result
of the effects of pollution and other events than some government or alien conspiracy to
kill us off. If one is serious about learning all sides of the issue, go to the web sites
listed below and carefully review and consider OTHER explanations presented. Don't just
jump on the "chemtrail" bandwagon and let others do the thinking for you. Check
out all the information BEFORE reaching any conclusions.
As for "chemtrails"/contrails making people sick, I have spent many hours
directly beneath these trails as have my children and others and have not become sick or
suffered any ill effects. If you spread the idea that something in the sky, the air or the
water is making people sick, you will find people reporting all kinds of illnesses just by
believing they may have been "exposed". It's much like the old medical student
syndrome where those studying about disease begin to imagine they have the same symptoms
as the disease studied.
The power of suggestion can be amazingly subtle and effective. If I went around saying
"chemtrails"/contrails make people thirsty, dozens of others would begin making
the same claims. If someone said "chemtrails"/contrails make cats lick their
tails, people would be reporting an increased occurance of tail-licking in felines. But
where are the verified data to support these claims? How do we know anything in the sky is
actually connected with events occurring on the ground? Why do so many refer to contrail
makers as "spraying" when they don't really know if anyone is actually
"spraying" anything? Referring to these events as "spraying" indicates
a biased perception and lack of objectivity. No one has yet proven what those contrails
contain therefore labeling it as "spraying" is actually an assumption rather
than fact. I often wonder if the chemtales function more to dis-inform than inform and
divert attention AWAY from logic we might otherwise explore.
We must keep our wits about us and study ALL the information available as objectively as
possible. You won't find alternate explanations about contrails in magazines, on TV or the
radio programs because they are boring and mundane. Sensationalism sells, truth does not.
Try not to let sensational claims overly influence your reason and perceptions. Examine
all the claims, all the information, all the evidence - over and over. Compare and reason.
Above all, use common sense and don't let anyone use your fears against you.
Check out these web sites for alternate information:
"http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/swallowtail/619/index.html"
"http://users.erols.com/igoddard/contral2.htm"
"http://www.nmsr.org/chemtrls.htm"
(This site is a small sample of a larger site and database under construction covering a wide range of I.F.O.'s often mistaken for U.F.O.'s or Unidentified Flying Objects.)
Photograph of contrails taken May 12, 2000 in which four objects appear - one seemingly making it's own contrail.
All four objects are birds in flight as noted at the time I took the photograph.
Photograph above converted to greyscale for comparison to clip at "www.sightings.com/1.imagesa/pucks.htm".
Video still in which three objects appear to be flying in triangular formation near contrails.
These objects are birds as noted during the filming of contrails on June 6, 2000.
Enlargement of video still above. All three objects are birds.
Three objects appear near expanding contrail in video still taken June 6, 2000.
All three objects are birds as noted at the time these images were filmed and as can be clearly observed throughout the entire video footage.
Enlargement of video still above.
All three objects are birds.
Above image converted to greyscale for comparison with image presented at "www.sightings.com/1.imagesa/pucks.htm".
©2000 A. Hebert
All photographs, images and material presented on
this site
are copyrighted material and may not be copied or printed without prior permission from A.
Hebert.
