Today, with the aid of a domestic computer and basic imaging software, almost anyone can "enhance" certain qualities of any image to their hearts content, whether it be brightness, contrast, sharpness, or other more subtle qualities. Back in the 1970's few researchers knew what an underwater picture looked like, even fewer had seen the bottom of the loch.
Below are four video frames taken recently. The first two are simply
frames taken during the camera's descent to the bottom, original condition
on the left and "computer enhanced" on the right. The two below show the
bottom itself with its typical occasional lighter patches. These enhancements
have each been made in a matter of a few minutes, and are merely illustrative
of the difference a few key strokes on a computer can make to an image.
In their enthusiasm, some researchers made errors of analysis. Some
have been admitted, some have not. In my view no underwater photograph
from Loch Ness yet published shows any part of any unclassified animal.
To complicate things further, our recently gained knowledge about seals
in Loch Ness throws an amount of confusion over any future photographs
which might be obtained, as even the best of these will need to be
shown not to be any part of a seal.
Unenhanced still frame of loch bottom
same image as above after contrast increase
Early picture of loch bottom