Can you picture it?

(commons.wikimedia.org ~ www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/photography)

Some of the most common things people hold up as evidence of the paranormal are photographs. Spirit photography has been around for a long time. Hoax photos have been around nearly as long. With a little research and practice, you can spot the real deal and not be fooled by imitations.

Camera

Digital vs. 35 mm: Some paranormal researchers insist that 35 mm cameras are best for ghost hunting for a couple of reasons. First, you have negatives. They can be used to study the photos more closely and to debunk anomalies that might be caused in processing. Of course, if you didn't have film, these anomalies wouldn't be an issue to begin with. Second, digital cameras are more likely to pick up "orbs."

Others say a digital camera works the same or even better in this type of situation. You don't have to worry about taking film along, you can check your results instantly, and many digital cameras are able to take photos in the infrared spectrum. Use of a digital camera also allows you to quickly upload your photos to a computer for greater scrutiny.

Trust your gut

If you get that feeling like you're not alone, take a picture. You will also want to do some EMF readings to rule out that what you're feeling is merely an effect of a high electromagnetic field. Also, if you get an odd EMF spike, start taking photos. There's no set-in-stone rule for when to take photos. I like to take them pretty consistently throughout the investigation.

I also like control pictures. A few months ago, someone showed me a photo taken in a cemetery at night and asked if I thought a particular shape in it was a ghost. I told them that I was inclined to think it was a headstone. It didn't appear to be in line with the other stones in that row, but I know that that particular cemetery is very old, and there has of course been some settling, vandalism, etc., over the years. What I said I wanted to see was a picture taken of that same spot from the same angle during the day. Without knowing what the spot looks like normally, it's hard to make a determination if a photo contains something out of the ordinary.

Another recommendation is to avoid reflective surfaces and sun-facing photos. This can reduce bothersome lens flares, which can be mistaken for orbs. Also, taking a photo facing the sun is a good way to have the picture come out too bright to really see anything.

If it's possible to use more than one camera, do so. If you can catch the same anomaly on two different cameras, it can help you better see what you're dealing with. If it is something paranormal, there's a possibility it may only show up on one camera. Or if it's something worldly, one camera may get a clearer picture of it than the other, making debunking possible.

The home game

Watch for the following in photos. All these things can cause anomalies that mimic spirit activity. Try looking up ghost photos online and see if you can separate the real from the fake.

Hair: A hair near the lens of the camera can cause a streaklike anomaly. It will often appear bright because of the flash, so it may show little or no color of the actual hair. A good tip if you are the one taking the pictures is to tie long hair back in a ponytail. This will eliminate the greatest chance for contamination.

Fog/smoke: Fog or smoke in the area can create white, wispy images in photos. This is why it is important to not smoke while actively investigating and to avoid taking pictures in fog if possible.

Dust: I touched on what dust can do in a photo here. Dust, bugs and rain can all produce the same results: "orbs." Just be aware of your surroundings and note if the environment has any of these things present.

Camera strap: For Pete's sake, keep the camera strap out of the frame. I have seen many photos of bright flashes or streaks of light that are clearly just the camera strap getting in front of the lens. It's a similar effect to a hair only much thicker and brighter.

Dirt on the lens: This can show up in photos as a blurry, solid spot with kind of transparent edges, giving it the look of a shapeless form in the photo. Once again, it's all about keeping foreign objects out of the frame. Before you begin taking photos, make sure the lens is free of dirt, dust, water droplets, anything that might get in the way.

Double exposure: Double exposures happen when the person taking photos neglects to advance the film after snapping a shot and exposes another picture on top of the first. Most newer cameras have mechanisms to prevent this.

Knowing what to rule out, as always, can help you distinguish real evidence from fake. Many things out there that claim to be paranormal clearly just need a little more scrutiny.

Further reading

History of spirit photography

"Best Ghost Photos"

Anomalies and hoaxes