So, assuming that this is true, what could be the significance of Our Lady apparently lifting Her head from the traditional prayerful position to one of looking at the observer?
Maybe it's not looking at the observer, but showing us that she is looking at and since hands are folded in prayer, worshiping Him?
It looks to me like the photo was taken from different angle. Is it reasonable to suggest that an image looks different from different viewpoints (because it is 3D)?
Ahem, despite red-herring denial of a lower camera position (something to do with the jewels that doesn't seem conclusive to me), what is conclusive is the angle of Mary's outer "robe" flowing off the shoulders in both photographs. When perspective is moved closer to the floor the angle must get greater as lower sections of the statue appear to get magnified when compared to upper sections (which appear to get smaller). Take a look at all the photos in the link. there are 2 full length ones where the photo was obviously taken close to the floor. The Angle of the robe is very accute. Now back to the "miraculous" photo. Here too the robe flows off the shoulders at an angle significantly greater than the "normal" photo. In other words, the "miracle" is contra-indicated by the fact that the photo was indeed shot closer to the floor despite the "jewel logic". (BTW there is no sudden extra jewel. In the normal photo this "extra" jewel (the right hand one of the cross of 4 jewels) is right in front of the big centre jewel so it cannot be easily seen in the normal photo. When the photo shot was taken from the floor it no longer lined up with the big centre jewel and so "revealed" itself. In fact if you go to the link and look at one of the large photos you can just make out its outline as it is indeed "eclipsing" the bigger jewel.)
Would love to see the full length -after- lined up exactly with the red tapestry and the wall behind. Not thinking that it's impossible...
If it is the same statue then looking at the position of the hands in relation to her body I don't think it can be just a different camera angle. ..show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Indy- foreshortening might be the answer. You have a different angle (lower) and it places the hands in front of the ornament. I guess it wouldn't change my devotion up-or-down to know the answer here. It is THE Fatima Madonna- miraculous in either case. Hail Holy Queen.
View attachment 1637 Just a very quick analysis of the two images show that the angles how the photos were taken are very different. Look for instance to the green lines I draw and marked with (2). Distance of the rose to the upper left corner of the door is very small on the right image. The ornamentation that can be seen in (3) on the right image and not on the left one. Also there are flowers in (4) that can not be seen on the right image. In the left picture one can see the table and not in the right picture. So the angles are clearly different. The images taken from a different perspective look as if they were in different position but they are not. The same effect observed with the head and hands can be see if one compare the objects that belong to the statue like the left cross and the cross hanging but this is not due to the Virgin elevating her hands because then the pearls of the rosary should also variate their position with respect to the ornamentation (blue arrow) but they do not. The only thing that could have been manipulated is the "apparition" of two new jewels in the crone of the second image (see original article). If you look at the color of the "new" jewels they are green and blue and this is exactly the same color of two of the four stones on the front of the crone that could also be the same in the back part of it. So, they could have been easily removed from the back part (not shown in the pictures) and placed in the new location for taking the picture.
Well for my two pennies worth after having a look at both pictures using adobe and taking into consideration about what has been said about different angles which can be debated over and over again. I can confirm one undoubtable thing the tears are present in the eyes of the statue. To thee Mother !!!!! do we cry poor banished children of eve......
Well, I do not think the issue about the different angle is a matter of debate anymore. It is a fact that the two pictures are taken at different angles! About the tears I would like to see them... I did not find them in the picture. But if the thing with the jewels could have been manipulated I think is would be easy to manipulate some tears as well. But, as I said, I do not see the tears in any of the pictures.
