His real form will probably have been like what you said, just
that the picture lacks details because it probably isnt taken a
very expensive camera - and probably black and white. Ancient robes
wasn't just orange colour either, it can be of various colours..
and notice the Buddha was meditating with his eyes closed.
The story was told by Venerable
Mahinda of Aloka Foundation, at a private meeting.
The picture was taken by an Australia (if my memory does not go
wrong), who was not a believer. When he saw people bowing to the
Bodhi tree, he didn't take that seriously, and he thought 'if you
are real, then show me'. Then he took a camera to take a picture of
the tree.
After the picture was developed, to his surprise, he saw the
image.
There was a very young boy in Sri Lanka, who was known for his
ability to recite very ancient scriptures at very young age. Then
he was discovered to remember them from his previous existence. And
he had been a human being at the time of the Buddha, so he had met
the Buddha. When Venerable Mahinda met this person, he showed him
that image, and this person confirmed that the Buddha did look like
that. - an e-sangha moderator
Also, interestingly, is the mudra of the Buddha in the picture. His
hand gestures is his way of saying 'hi' to the photographer
Buddha's upraised right hand is
turned outwards at the level of his heart, his fingers pointing
skyward. This gesture is known as the abhaya mudra. Abhaya in
Sanskrit means fearlessness. Thus this mudra symbolizes protection,
peace, and the dispelling of fear.
This mudra, which initially appears to be a natural
gesture, was probably used from prehistoric times as a sign of good
intentions - the hand raised and unarmed proposes friendship, or at
least peace; since antiquity, it was also a gesture asserting
power, as with the magna manus of the Roman Emperors who legislated
and gave peace at the same time. Buddhist tradition has an
interesting legend behind this mudra:
Devadatta, a cousin of the Buddha, through jealousy caused a schism
to be caused among the disciples of Buddha. As Devadatta's pride
increased, he attempted to murder the Buddha. One of his schemes
involved loosing a rampaging elephant into the Buddha's path. But
as the elephant approached him, Buddha displayed the Abhaya mudra,
which immediately calmed the animal. Accordingly, it indicates not
only the appeasement of the senses, but also the absence of
fear.
