Pretty disappointing to see what came out of all this. I remember hearing the Ted Philips show and also thinking "uh-huh" when he talked about this picture. This just seems like he realized that he promised too much, got a bit desperate because of the pressure and then resorted to post/make this picture...which, lets be honest, shows nothing interesting. I hope that isn't the case, cause a lot of what he has done during the years is really great, but its hard to see it otherwise.
However much we like and want to believe in these cases bringing us something exotic - and believe me, that includes me - its about time to realize that waiting around on the evidence is a dead end. Lance and Paul and other "skeptics" have some good points that i think everyone should start taking more seriously if we ever want to see a more widespread acceptance of these phenomena. If there hasn't been a single really good picture (except arguably a handful that are still in limbo) of radical cryptids until now, why would Philips all of a sudden have one of such incredible kind? Well i think its safe to say he hasn't...I don't think anyone has. That he and so many others claim to have and boast of it without proving it on the other hand, is a whole mystery in and of itself. Furthermore i think several researchers, a looong time ago, gave some good hypothesis on why it wont happen. Jenny Randles "Mind Monsters" is one example a book i can recommend that does this.
I dont think at all that the field research is superfluous, i think its really good and important to document sightings and study physical evidence where there may be some. Just as long as we don't keep on and on waiting for this incredible smoking gun evidence when some person is finally in the right place on the right time with a camera that doesn't malfunction. Maybe we should be using more time on getting back to working out what it may mean if these...things...aren't "real" in the way we think of as real. This is "the paranormal" after all, and its the one area that could interest many new scientists, as long as its presented in the right way.
I'm not directing this at any forum participators here, just putting in my few cents...