Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
The Alan Smith Tulsa Photograph
Teenager Alan Smith photographed a bright multicoloured object over Tulsa on 2 August 1965 using a simple camera. The Oklahoma Journal later purchased the photograph and negative and published it on 5 October. The image became famous, but the object is unresolved only at the level of the historical
Why This Case Matters
A striking colour photograph with better newspaper provenance than many classic images, but still a single-frame case with severe scale and authenticity limitations.
Chronology
- 2 Aug Smith photographs object
- local UFO investigators learn of image
- Oklahoma Journal obtains photo/negative
- 5 Oct front-page publication
- image circulates internationally
- later researchers debate staged/model/image-copy possibilities
The Witnesses
Evidence
The following evidence types are documented for this case:
Conventional explanations: Small model, staged light source, photographic reproduction or other terrestrial object remain possible. Recent visual-comparison claims suggesting copied artwork need independent confirmation before being treated as solved.
What Remains Unresolved
- Current location of original negative
- camera/exposure details
- exact first-generation print
- technical analysis
- whether modern artwork-comparison hypothesis is valid.
Key Takeaways
- Contemporary newspaper possession of the negative improves provenance, but one photograph still cannot establish object size or extraordinary origin.
Sources
Primary and secondary sources for this case file: