Simulcast on YouTube, Facebook & Twitter | Tuesday, November 03, 2026 @ 8:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)
In 1971, a Costa Rican government mapping aircraft captured one of the most intriguing UFO photographs ever recorded. A mysterious disc-shaped object appeared in a single frame taken over Lake Cote, yet was absent from photographs taken just 13 seconds before and after. More than five decades later, the image remains unexplained. Martin Willis welcomes Costa Rican attorney and researcher Esteban Carranza and filmmaker Adam Pillon to discuss their documentary, *The Cote Photo*, which takes a fresh look at this remarkable photograph, its history, and the people behind it. Esteban explains how he inherited a rare contact copy of the original photographic negative from his uncle, leading to a high-resolution drum scan that reveals extraordinary detail. Adam describes the making of the documentary, including interviews with government cartographer Sergio Loaiza, photographic specialists, local witnesses, and journalist Leslie Kean. They discuss the earlier investigations by Jacques Vallée and Dr. Richard Haines, claims that the object might be a camera defect or photographic artifact, and why the original film remains such an important part of the investigation. Esteban also addresses criticism concerning digital cleanup of an earlier scan and explains why a new, unretouched scan was produced and made available for public examination. The conversation also explores reports of unusual aerial activity around Lake Cote and the nearby Arenal Volcano, the possibility of objects entering or emerging from the water, and why firsthand witness accounts are just as important as photographic evidence. What exactly appeared in frame 300 on September 4, 1971? Neither guest claims to know for certain, but their investigation offers a fascinating look at one of ufology’s most enduring photographic mysteries.
**Watch the documentary and explore the photograph:**
https://thecotephoto.com/