Visual Documentation of High Strangeness ...

From these humble beginnings, this site will build a reputation as the place to come for digital images of anomalous phenomena, eccentric ideas, unusual people, odd observations and other curious things. And we won’t neglect all the associated illustrated literature and documentation that goes with our subjects, nor the people who study, or follow, or object to them.
I use the term ‘fortean’ as an umbrella-word for the study of strange phenomena and their explanations, after the American iconoclast Charles Fort (1874-1932) who spent most of his adult life in the great libraries of New York and London collecting and analysing reports of curiosities and anomalies for four ground-breaking books. His work is continued today by specialists such as Fortean Times magazine, which I founded in 1973 and edited for 29 years.
In that time and since, I’ve developed an interest in pictures and other visual documents useful to those who study strange phenomena or who publish material in its many sub-fields. I also worked with Janet and Colin Bord in establishing their well-known Fortean Picture Library (FPL).
Having retired from the FT editorial chair in 2002, I am now turning my attention to the supply side of the desk. I’m building my own picture library of fortean images to complement that of the Bords - with their blessing – to provide scanned and digitised images for use in printed and other media, to be selected from an on-line catalogue and supplied using secure internet delivery.
My goal is similar to that of the FPL – to develop an extensive archive of rare images and documentation on the widest range of fortean subjects, while preserving them for posterity. And like FPL, it will be self-funded by licensing images for commercial publication.
Bob Rickard

New Photographs Always Wanted ...

If you have any images you think may be suitable for this project please contact me. I will split any revenue from the licensed use of your images 50:50, with all expenses from my half. I don't need exclusivity although that is a bonus.
We are particularly interested to include more images relating to the following subjects ...

• UFOs (especially classic images)
• Firewalking
• Religious Visions & Saints
• Natural Phenomena
• Interesting Places

From single images to collections of photographs relating to special investigations, research projects, expeditions or striking experiences. In the meantime, a few minutes spent exploring our images, subject categories and keyword searches will give you a good idea of the type of material in which I'm interested. See our 'Wants List' (on right) for our priority needs but perusing our category list (drop down on top RH corner of Home page) might give you a fuller picture.
If you are in any doubt, email me and I'll be happy to answer your questions.
Bob Rickard