I think the shadow theory must be roughly/partially correct for at least some of the puzzles for two reasons: it is an excellent way to pinpoint an exact location (which Preiss needed to do), and the inclusion of precise times and months in so many of the paintings must be crucial to (at least some of) the solutions. Plus a couple explicitly mention shadows and have hidden shadows in the images (particularly Charleston, which has the shadow of a palm). However, I think the day is given by the fact that the months and the clocks line up in the images, rather than anything to do with zodiac symbols (which seems to be the weakest part of the most well-known shadow theory). For example, if you’re following this line of thinking and you realise that e.g. image 2 is for the 4th month and the clock reads 4 o clock, and Image 12 is for the 11th month and the clock reads 11 o clock, then the simplest and most natural suggestions for the day are the 4th day and the 11th day respectively. I am particularly confident that the Charleston dig spot involves the shadow of a palm, and in The Secret Podcast for Charleston one you guys identify an excellent candidate for the palm (now, unfortunately, removed). However, he digs around the area of the base of the palm, when actually the shadow of the palm would extend quite far away from that spot. I wonder whether anyone can work out where the end of the shadow would have fallen at 4 o clock on the 4th day of the 4th month and if anyone has tried digging there? Either AM or PM. I would be interested if anyone can somehow work the shadows out and whether the host who was interested in the Charleston puzzle has considered this idea. Thanks for the podcast! All Best, Tom
I think the shadow theory must be roughly/partially correct for at least some of the puzzles for two reasons: it is an excellent way to pinpoint an exact location (which Preiss needed to do), and the inclusion of precise times and months in so many of the paintings must be crucial to (at least some of) the solutions. Plus a couple explicitly mention shadows and have hidden shadows in the images (particularly Charleston, which has the shadow of a palm). However, I think the day is given by the fact that the months and the clocks line up in the images, rather than anything to do with zodiac symbols (which seems to be the weakest part of the most well-known shadow theory). For example, if you’re following this line of thinking and you realise that e.g. image 2 is for the 4th month and the clock reads 4 o clock, and Image 12 is for the 11th month and the clock reads 11 o clock, then the simplest and most natural suggestions for the day are the 4th day and the 11th day respectively. I am particularly confident that the Charleston dig spot involves the shadow of a palm, and in The Secret Podcast for Charleston one you guys identify an excellent candidate for the palm (now, unfortunately, removed). However, he digs around the area of the base of the palm, when actually the shadow of the palm would extend quite far away from that spot. I wonder whether anyone can work out where the end of the shadow would have fallen at 4 o clock on the 4th day of the 4th month and if anyone has tried digging there? Either AM or PM. I would be interested if anyone can somehow work the shadows out and whether the host who was interested in the Charleston puzzle has considered this idea. Thanks for the podcast! All Best, Tom