Photographing a Ghost: Tools and Tips for Capturing a Spirit on Camera

I'm going to be perfectly frank. Photographing a ghost or even a true
orb is very difficult, and while I have captured a few EVPs
(electronic voice phenomenon) over the past 3 years since I've been
involved in a paranormal investigation group, I personally have never
caught a spirit or
ghost on camera.

While I am a believer in the paranormal; I wouldn't spend my free time
researching and investigating claims of such if I weren't, I'm also a
skeptic. I feel that the majority of photos of orbs and other
phenomenon circulating the web are likely fakes. What most people are
seeing when they look at photos of what are thought to be spheres of
energy or ghostly mists, are likely just droplets of water, bugs doing
a fly by, dust or smoke.

There are several factors to take into consideration when
photographing a reportedly haunted site, and studying a photograph of
what you think might be a ghost.

Orbs

As I stated earlier, dust, bugs and moisture will all cause countless
round spheres in a photograph or video. All of these things reflect
light and depending on how much you are moving around, may appear in
one photograph and not the next. A true orb will will be solid in
color and shape, with a defined border, and will appear to be emitting
it's own light. An actual energy orb may even have a trail behind it,
indicating movement. One of the most important pieces of information I
can pass along about orbs, is that they are not truly paranormal in
nature. They are simply balls of energy which occur naturally, and
while they can be present during the manifestation of paranormal
activity, they can also be present in the most mundane situation and
location. In a nutshell, orbs are NOT manifestations of spirits or
ghosts.

False Positives

Another common mistake new investigators make is not paying attention
to their clothing, hair and camera straps when taking photos. These
completely mundane objects can look pretty impressive framing a photo
of a dark room, especially once the flash hits it. Check to make sure
your hair
is tied back, your sleeves are rolled up and the camera strap is
secured and out of frame. You should always go through this short but
important checklist prior to taking photos.

I highly suggest using a digital camera when doing an investigation.
That way, you can analyze each photo as it's taken and if anomalies
appear on film, you have an opportunity to reassess the circumstances,
and try to recreate the photo. Even if that means letting that camera
strap or strand of hair fall into frame to compaire the images, and in
the end, debunking the photo. As an investigator, I would rather be
disappointed than risk putting a false piece of evidence into
circulation.

Smoke and Mirrors

If you are a smoker, extinguish your cigarette. If you are in a
location where the temperatures are low enough for you to see your
breath when you exhale, try to hold your breath when taking a photo.
Cigarette smoke and the moisture your warm breath creates when it hits
the cool air can look like a pretty amazing manifestation of a ghost,
or ectoplasm on film. I've seen countless photos of these exact
mistakes and believe me, it's frustrating to witness. If you are
photographing a location where mirrors are present, pay close
attention to angles, as a flash can create strange refractions and
reflections of light that can appear to be something supernatural on
film. This is another situation where you will want to make an attempt
to recreate the photo to see if any anomalies that have appeared can
be debunked as a reflection.

Remember this: the best thing to do when setting out to take a spirit
photograph, is to pay close attention to the guidelines I've listed
above, and to simply be in the right place at the right time. It takes
a lot of energy for a spirit to physically manifest so bring along a
digital voice recorder as well. A true EVP is a little easier to
capture as it takes less energy. Be respectful of any energies that
may be present, ask them to allow you to take a photo of them, bring
extra batteries and memory cards and snap as many pictures as
possible. And always be safe, and have fun.