Wednesday, January 8, 2025

SearchResearch Challenge (1/8/25): Earliest photograph from Cozumel, Mexico?

Simple questions are sometimes tricky. 

Lionfish at 20m (60 feet) on the reef in Cozumel, Mexico


As we've noticed before, even very simple questions sometimes bring up unexpected surprises and issues.  That's the case with this week's very simple question. 

As it turns out, I'm taking a vacation week in Cozumel, Mexico.  I'm scuba diving with my buddies and as you know, travel often begets questions in the curious mind. 

I started searching for the earliest photos I could find taken on Cozumel.  Easy, right?  Turns out there are interesting issues here.  See if you can spot the biggest issue and work around it! 

This week's SearchResearch Challenge isn't hard, but I think it's an important one that speaks to the future of doing online research.  Let's figure it out together.  

1. What is the earliest / oldest photograph you can find that was taken on Cozumel?

I know, it sounds simple--but can you find the issue with this question?  

Let us know what you find. 

Keep searching! 

 

Imagine that I'm here.
P/C LRM from Pexels.com


10 comments:

  1. Hi Dr Russell

    I hope you are enjoying Cozumel, Cenotes, Papadzules, Cochinita and Mexico.

    I know that Cancún was developed in the 70's and I guess that's the moment Cozumel also started receiving more visits.

    On Wikipedia, the article says in 1956 Rene Cardona started talking about Cozumel's water so I guess maybe that could be the first image. Or at least near those years

    https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipio_de_Cozumel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. how 'bout "Expanded Bay of Campeche/Tabasco/Veracruz" or "Gulfo CTVMXUS"
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gulfs
      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Satellite_pictures_of_the_Gulf_of_Mexico
      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Satellite_pictures_of_gulfs
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Campeche
      "Bays and gulfs are indeed opposites in terms of their geographical definitions: - A bay is a body of water partially enclosed by land, typically with a wide mouth and a narrower inner portion. - A gulf, on the other hand, is a body of water that is almost completely enclosed by land, with only a narrow entrance."
      Estanque Mondo de las Américas? ;^P

      Delete
    2. to be inclusive of our Canadian neighbors…
      Bahía Hudson Sur
      probably should avoid 'Gulf of Tonkin West'
      https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2008/february/truth-about-tonkin
      busy place
      https://worldoil.com/news/2024/8/14/pemex-taps-private-sector-to-redevelop-gulf-of-mexico-oil-fields-aiming-for-production-boost/
      https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/022824-pemex-commits-680-mil-to-explore-deepwater-perdido-in-gulf-of-mexico-in-2025

      Delete
  2. Searched [Fotografías antiguas Cozumel] many results with FB groups show some photos. I don't have that so only few posts available.

    Also this YouTube with images from the past

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iajPrL5ENtc

    ReplyDelete
  3. a maybe? BTT (you can't spend all your time submerged)
    https://maps.app.goo.gl/rzKuyMC74DjBce8m8
    https://maps.app.goo.gl/MA6EaC4ZGnYFE5UN7
    found an 1855 example but am suspect because of this:
    "1856: Englishman William Thompson shoots the first underwater image"
    and that April Fool 2014 Maya thing… NO faded "geographs"
    https://www.google.com/url?esrc=s&q=&rct=j&sa=U&url=https://thisiscozumel.com/news/70-latest-news/1536-world-s-earliest-photos-found-in-cozumel&ved=2ahUKEwjqu63S6eaKAxUvGDQIHfrRD9IQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw3uNFHxHdb1pt0iu23ZPaXt
    https://www.cozumeluwphoto.com/post/scuba-diving-cozumel
    off Cuba is a different story - maybe they cruise Cozumel?
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-submarine-ships-cuba-caribbean-military-exercises-photos/
    https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/14/politics/nuclear-submarine-us-navy-havana-russia/index.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. With [Primera fotografía de Cozumel]

    Photo from 1901. Plus the History about how the place became in 1849 as San Miguel de Cozumel

    https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=742651327872563&id=100063831060749

    ReplyDelete
  5. are you referring to determining the veracity of historic visuals?
    1855? somewhere near Cozumel @~4m…
    https://i.imgur.com/FuCl4kM.png

    OK, not near Cozumel, but supposedly the first underwater
    https://vintagenewsdaily.com/the-story-behind-the-worlds-first-underwater-photograph-taken-by-william-thompson-in-1856/
    1893
    https://www.vintag.es/2021/01/louis-boutan-selfie.html#google_vignette
    https://bsoup.org.uk/freshly-spun/
    https://bsoup.org.uk/competitions/monthly-competitions/competition-feedback/competition-archive-2024/

    ReplyDelete
  6. did find an image from 1958 - kinda curious, but it was a more innocent time - are the scuba waters there Ponce de León-like?
    https://i.imgur.com/debpdZk.png
    some others, Pepsi - it is an evolving location:
    https://i.imgur.com/5jqoetG.png
    https://i.imgur.com/09fTv6W.png
    https://i.imgur.com/RHvpvrE.png
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Creole_hairless_pig
    have your old haunts L.A. been directly impacted? sad situation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. is this the 'here' there?
    https://www.occidentalgrandcozumel.com/gallery.asp

    ReplyDelete
  8. the earliest I could find... don't know how old...
    https://i.imgur.com/LsOcRBT.jpeg
    close -
    https://i.imgur.com/1YqUX44.jpeg

    ReplyDelete