Picture: the wrath of Christ [Archive]

Ladewig

11th October 2003, 05:43 PM

Caption contest, anyone?

Entry 1
If you look very, very closely, you can see Archimedes in the other hand and he is saying "E pur si muove"

Entry 2
And then Jesus said, "this is my body, send rockets to it that you might have eternal life."

Entry 3
Here we see Jesus as a level 14 wizard preparing a fireball spell.

Correa Neto

11th October 2003, 07:15 PM

Some years ago I saw a lightning hit a cross at the top of a church in Niteroi. Quite a cool sight. I still wonder what the priest thought:rolleyes: ...

Blue Monk

11th October 2003, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by Ladewig
Caption contest, anyone?

Let's see David Copperfield top that.

!Xx+-Rational-+xX!

11th October 2003, 11:25 PM

I'm very skeptical because of what happens when you brighten the moon.

!Xx+-Rational-+xX!

11th October 2003, 11:58 PM

You get an interesting effect you changing the polarity of the face on the statue.

athon

12th October 2003, 02:53 AM

That has to be the world's biggest communion wafer.

Athon

Ladewig

12th October 2003, 06:44 AM

I could be mistaken, but I always thought that the statue faced north. If that were so, then having the moon behind the statue would not be possible, would it?

Pyrrho

12th October 2003, 07:46 AM

Luciana

12th October 2003, 12:51 PM

Originally posted by Ladewig
I could be mistaken, but I always thought that the statue faced north. If that were so, then having the moon behind the statue would not be possible, would it?

It faces East. I'm not 100% sure if the second picture is genuine, of if it has been altered, but I'm positive about the first one . It happened in the mid-nineties and the picture, covering just about the whole page of a newspaper, was very creepy.

Yahweh

12th October 2003, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
It faces East. I'm not 100% sure if the second picture is genuine, of if it has been altered, but I'm positive about the first one . It happened in the mid-nineties and the picture, covering just about the whole page of a newspaper, was very creepy.
Like the skeptic I am, I question the authenticity of the image. While it's possible that the image could be authentic, I think its a little unlikely (but not impossible) that 1000s witnessed this single lightning strike while at the same time someone mangaged to snap the perfect shot at just the right time.

I did a few minutes of searching Google, I didnt find anything. I tried Snopes (Snopes image gallery (http://www.snopes.com/photos/photos.asp)), nothing there either. With enough talent, you can fabricate pretty much any image (this below image is an obvious fake, most likely someone playing around with Photoshop, I thought it'd be fun to share :D )

!Xx+-Rational-+xX!

12th October 2003, 01:47 PM

I swear pancake bunny and David Hasslhoff are behind this one.

:wow2: :h1: :r: :jaw:

Luciana

12th October 2003, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by Yahweh

Like the skeptic I am, I question the authenticity of the image. While it's possible that the image could be authentic, I think its a little unlikely (but not impossible) that 1000s witnessed this single lightning strike while at the same time someone mangaged to snap the perfect shot at just the right time.

I don't find it unlikely at all. Millions of people can see this statue through their windows. Those lighting strikes would surely attract the attention of people and their cameras, so why not? One lucky click is all it takes. I know it's almost too good to be true, but this time, it happens to be true.

Chances are many other lightning strikes have hit the statue in its 50 years of existence, being the second tallest structure in the city, but only this time a camera perpetualized the image.

arcticpenguin

12th October 2003, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by Yahweh
Like the skeptic I am, I question the authenticity of the image. While it's possible that the image could be authentic, I think its a little unlikely (but not impossible) that 1000s witnessed this single lightning strike while at the same time someone mangaged to snap the perfect shot at just the right time.

Filming lightning is easier than it sounds. The sky is dark, and the lightning provides its own light, so you can leave the shutter open a while in hopes of capturing some streaks. You don't have to snap a shot at 'just the right time'. Getting the exposure right on non-lightning features in the frame may be difficult; you'll note that the statue is quite over-exposed. This is because it is illuminated with flood lights, and so gets burned in over the lengthy exposure.

arcticpenguin

12th October 2003, 03:06 PM

Now this one I think might have been retouched a bit

Luciana

13th October 2003, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
Now this one I think might have been retouched a bit

Ahahaha! Thanks, penguin! I'm smoking the cigar to celebrate the Combat Wombat Day, you know. :D

MoeFaux

13th October 2003, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
Now this one I think might have been retouched a bit

Okay, this almost make my lunch go through my nose. :roll:

arcticpenguin

13th October 2003, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by MoeFaux

Okay, this almost make my lunch go through my nose. :roll:
You're new here, you probably missed Manfred's media award (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=23201&highlight=gimp) thread and the ensuing award poll. (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=25241&highlight=gimp)

wayrad

13th October 2003, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by Ladewig
Caption contest, anyone?

Entry 1
If you look very, very closely, you can see Archimedes in the other hand and he is saying "E pur si muove"

Entry 2
And then Jesus said, "this is my body, send rockets to it that you might have eternal life."

Entry 3
Here we see Jesus as a level 14 wizard preparing a fireball spell. "At rallies, the Grand Dragon often uses visual aids to illustrate his worldview."

MoeFaux

13th October 2003, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by arcticpenguin

You're new here, you probably missed Manfred's media award (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=23201&highlight=gimp) thread and the ensuing award poll. (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=25241&highlight=gimp)

I missed out on good times. :(
That earingmouse is spectacular. Maybe one day, I too will be able to compete.

Agammamon

14th October 2003, 05:39 AM

Luciana

20th October 2003, 05:38 PM

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/031019_sol/sol_1.jpg

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/031019_sol/sol_2.jpg

Well, I believe. :D Whatever! :re:

Brown

21st October 2003, 05:34 AM

What's the deal with this statue? Does the "I once caught a fish this big" pose have any symbolic significance? (Of course, it looks like a cross from a distance, but in a typical Catholic representation of a cross-shaped Christ, Christ is actually hanging on a cross and is nearly naked. Here, the statue stands tall and is full clothed, and there is no cross in sight.)

Was the statue built by a private individual? Was it built by a church? Was it built to commemorate an event? Is there a famous inscription or message associated with it?

Correa Neto

21st October 2003, 07:37 AM

Originally posted by Brown
What's the deal with this statue? Does the "I once caught a fish this big" pose have any symbolic significance? (Of course, it looks like a cross from a distance, but in a typical Catholic representation of a cross-shaped Christ, Christ is actually hanging on a cross and is nearly naked. Here, the statue stands tall and is full clothed, and there is no cross in sight.)

Was the statue built by a private individual? Was it built by a church? Was it built to commemorate an event? Is there a famous inscription or message associated with it?

That was the very intent of its designers. From a distance, you see a cross, coming closer, Jesus. A smart move, when you think about structural limitations and also on the difficulties of building something at the top of a narrow 700 m high cliff.

Luciana, are you sure that its not the sun behind the statue? I have the impression that the pics were taken using a filter to decrease the luminosity or with a fast shutter speed. But I may be wrong. By the angle, I would say the pics were taken from the Guanabara bay or Niterói.

john_v_h

21st October 2003, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by Brown
Was the statue built by a private individual? Was it built by a church? Was it built to commemorate an event? Is there a famous inscription or message associated with it?

The statue was completed in 1931 and paid for with donations. Of course, the Catholic church spearheaded the effort. It depicts Christ the Redeemer.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
Job 19:25

CFLarsen

21st October 2003, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/031006_cristo/cristo4.jpg
I think we are missing the greater point of this picture.

Lightning (the part we see) usually propagates from the earth to the sky, not the other way around. So, in effect, Jeebus is kickin' God's ass....

T'ai Chi

21st October 2003, 12:36 PM

I love this beautiful statue. Jesus is in an 'embracing all' pose, which reflects Christianity's philosophy of taking in everybody, with compassion and charity.

There is also a national park below.

It was commissioned by the Catholic Church, designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva, and sculpted by Frenchman Paul Landowsky, and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931.

21st October 2003, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
I love this beautiful statue. Jesus is in an 'embracing all' pose, which reflects Christianity's philosophy of taking in everybody, with compassion and charity.

There is also a national park below.

It was commissioned by the Catholic Church, designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva, and sculpted by Frenchman Paul Landowsky, and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931.

Nothing wrong with religious art. I even have an old wood and metal crucifix that appeals to my aesthetic sense.

Glory

21st October 2003, 07:39 PM

Luciana,

Do you happen to know if that statue is hit by lightening comparatively frequently? That would explain why so many people might be watching it during a storm and why photographers would be trained on it then as well. If they knew they were likely to see something spectacular if not extraordinary. Of course the paper running that photo in such a spectacular way would serve to make sure that everybody remembered the incident wether they actually witnessed it or not. Cool photo anyway, regardless how you may feel about the subject of the statue.

Glory

Brown

21st October 2003, 09:16 PM

Those who have studied electromagnetics may suspect that a lightning strike with the fingers of the statue is more likely than a lightning strike with the head.

The more "pointed" an object is, the more concentrated its local electric field, and the lightning strike is generally more likely to occur where the electric field is more concentrated. The fingers of the staute are more "pointed" than the head.

Have you ever wondered why lightning rods have sharp points on them?

Glory

21st October 2003, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Brown
Those who have studied electromagnetics may suspect that a lightning strike with the fingers of the statue is more likely than a lightning strike with the head.

The more "pointed" an object is, the more concentrated its local electric field, and the lightning strike is generally more likely to occur where the electric field is more concentrated. The fingers of the staute are more "pointed" than the head.

Have you ever wondered why lightning rods have sharp points on them?

I actually had not but I get it now. That explains the exact wheres of many lightning strikes. Now, what was that about lightning originating on the ground rather than the sky?

Glory

Luciana

22nd October 2003, 08:19 AM

Correa: Sorry if I didn't make it clear: the second picture is indeed the sunrise. But it looks really supernatural, don't you think?

I love the statue, and it's something I miss in the nightsky wherever I am. If I'm coming to Rio by plane or car, and I see the statue, I know I'm home.

For clarification - the statue is a major tourist spot, not at all a shrine. The view you have of the city is jaw-dropping.

The idea of building something on the top of that mountain lingered for centuries, because it does look like a pedestal.

Then, in 1921, the Church started to collect donations from Catholics, and ten years later, the statue was finished. It was made in France, with Brazilian stones, and sent to Rio is smaller parts. There was already a railroad to the top, so they just had to assemble everything in there.

The original project depicted Christ carrying a cross and a globe; through popular vote, the majority preferred the art déco version of it.

It's not just a symbol of Christianity. At least I, and many others, see it a symbol of hospitality - the city with open arms for its inhabitants and visitors. I can't resist, look! If you come by boat, you're being welcomed too.

http://www.brazilcenter.co.kr/pics/rio%20de%20janeiro/cristo%20redentor1.jpg

It's also a venue for many kinds of protests, like this:

http://www1.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/images/05cristo.jpg

Luciana

22nd October 2003, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Glory
Luciana,

Do you happen to know if that statue is hit by lightening comparatively frequently? That would explain why so many people might be watching it during a storm and why photographers would be trained on it then as well. If they knew they were likely to see something spectacular if not extraordinary. Of course the paper running that photo in such a spectacular way would serve to make sure that everybody remembered the incident wether they actually witnessed it or not. Cool photo anyway, regardless how you may feel about the subject of the statue.

Glory,

The statue is one of the highest places in Rio, and is not close to the other taller points. Also, we are in the tropics, so summer storms are very common. But I don't really know, and for a very good reason - usually, when there's a storm, the mountain is surrounded by clouds. If it's overcast, during the day, you can look at its direction and never be able to tell there is a mountain in there, let alone a statue!

It can be seen from all over the city, and, needless to say, many buildings face it purposefully. So I don't doubt at all that many people stood in their windows watching lightning strikes against the mountain rage, specially when that particular area was clear from clouds.

Brown: thanks for the info, yes it makes sense. Last year I saw and ad for some kind of eletro blablabla convention, and it depicted that lightning picture.

arcticpenguin

22nd October 2003, 08:52 AM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery

http://oglobo.globo.com/foto_galeria/031019_sol/sol_2.jpg

Well, I believe. :D Whatever! :re:
Hmm, that reminds me of someone's avatar...

Glory

22nd October 2003, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by arcticpenguin

Hmm, that reminds me of someone's avatar...

LOL!

Glory

Luciana

22nd October 2003, 06:25 PM

WHAT?? Wait, I want to laugh too! Whose avatar? Please don't make demands on my wit, it's midnight of a very tiresome day...

Glory

22nd October 2003, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
WHAT?? Wait, I want to laugh too! Whose avatar? Please don't make demands on my wit, it's midnight of a very tiresome day...

Look at the penguin.

Glory

Yahweh

22nd October 2003, 07:04 PM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
I don't find it unlikely at all. Millions of people can see this statue through their windows. Those lighting strikes would surely attract the attention of people and their cameras, so why not? One lucky click is all it takes. I know it's almost too good to be true, but this time, it happens to be true.

Chances are many other lightning strikes have hit the statue in its 50 years of existence, being the second tallest structure in the city, but only this time a camera perpetualized the image.

Whoops, I misread the original post. I didnt read the part about the statue, I thought the lightning had arc-ed into shape of Christ.

My bad :cool:!

Correa Neto

23rd October 2003, 02:39 AM

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Correa: Sorry if I didn't make it clear: the second picture is indeed the sunrise. But it looks really supernatural, don't you think?

I love the statue, and it's something I miss in the nightsky wherever I am. If I'm coming to Rio by plane or car, and I see the statue, I know I'm home.

...

Yep, I know how you feel. Every friday when I return from Minas the statue is there "greeting" me. Even though I´m not a religious person, I can say I love the sight. I lived for ten years in Botafogo, where I could see it from my room.

Nitpick- wouldn´t that be the sunset?

Luciana

23rd October 2003, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Correa Neto
Yep, I know how you feel. Every friday when I return from Minas the statue is there "greeting" me. Even though I´m not a religious person, I can say I love the sight. I lived for ten years in Botafogo, where I could see it from my room.

Nitpick- wouldn´t that be the sunset?

Oops, yes, sure. It faces East, therefore...