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Learn basic ghost photography!
Here's the must
know facts that every ghost hunter should know when out on a ghostly photography
shoot. There are many basics that all ghost photographers should be aware
of in order to have the best possible chance of getting ghostly phenomena
on film. My hope here is to furnish all of the essentials necessary to
allow everyone the opportunity to capture their own great photos! Once
you get
that first great snapshot.....you're hooked!
 ........ ........ ........
Let's
Get started...
The first thing you
should realize is that ghost phenomena does not always show up on film,
even when they are present. And daylight photos are always a challenge.
Therefore it's always better to take your photos at night with a flash
or in an area with subdue lighting for the best possible chance of capturing
something..
Type
of camera's to use
Just about any camera
will give you the desired photo results you seek. I'm seen great photos
come from all types of camera's including simple disposable units. Now
if you want the advantage of slow shutter exposure or fancy filters then
you'll need a fancy camera to do it but to capture ghost phenomena on film
can be achieved by using just about any camera you might have. I also recommend
using 400 film. It's an all purpose film that will work great in most conditions.
Digital Camera's are a
great tool for ghost hunters, but...
Digital cameras
can be a great tool for ghost photographers! They allow you to see your
photo results immediately. No film required! They only require a memory
card or in some cases like mine, a floppy disk. The big advantage is, you will
know right away if you have captured an anomaly, therefore allowing you to track
it. There are draw backs however, digital cameras do
not furnish a negative, therefore it's hard to prove your photos are not
enhanced, A drawback indeed! So with that in mind, never depend totally
on a digital camera for all your photos....more like use it as a tool to
locate the anomalies. Then have a buddy duplicate your photos with a regular
film camera. This will document your findings with a negative as well as
a hard copy photo. There are other drawbacks that I am a bit reluctant
to mention but I feel a responsibility to do so. First of all, I want to
say that digital cameras are the best for capturing authentic ghostly orbs
on film because of the technology used, (no doubt about it). But they are
also notorious for producing them artificially from airborne particles
at the time of the flash. These particles being, dust, pollen, and moisture,
to name a few. Please note however that regular film cameras can also pick
up these artificial orbs, but it is much more rare and they are always
fewer in numbers. A general rule is to look for some substance within the
orb structure for authenticity. Also avoid taking pictures in the above
described conditions....that's it! In conclusion, Let me reiterate what I suggested
earlier...... Taking
your digital camera along with you on your ghost hunts (as I always do)
but also take along your 35 MM camera as well. It's best to use them as
a team.
Here
are twenty helpful tips:
1.
Ghosts are not just in haunted old
buildings. Ghosts are almost everywhere in one form or another. So don't
be afraid to take photos at the mall or out on a busy intersection at night,
or anywhere else for that matter.
2.
When you take photos at night, let's
say in a cemetery etc. make sure you have you camera set for night filming.
If your camera has this setting, please use it otherwise your photos might
come out to dark or fuzzy.
3.
Always take photos of something and not just
a clearing. Having a background image such as a tombstone, tree, building
etc., It adds to the quality of the photo and allows mild light reflection for
best possible results.
4.
Take lots of pictures! Takes photos
of anything & everything with a good background image. The odds are
good that you will capture an anomaly if you take at least 50 pictures
on your hunt. Then again, you might just get some great stuff on your first
roll, you just never know.
5.
When taking your photos, make sure to avoid
shinny surfaces. The shine from a glossy tombstone or pane of glass etc.
can cause anomalies that can appear to look like ghost mist, fog &
orb shapes. Oh, and never try taking photos through a glass window. It's
just to easy to create shapes that aren't really there. Not worth wondering
if it was created from the glass or not. Old glass is the worst.
6.
Make sure your camera lens is clean at all times. Again, this can cause
anomaly type images to appear. If the lens has a smudge it can easily show
up on several pictures and can look like an anomaly, so look for that sign.
Try to always keep your lens spotless.
7.
Make sure you know where your camera strap
& lens cover are at all times. These can appear as a vortex or other
ghostly images if left to dangle free from the camera. If your thumb or
finger is in the way of the lens it can cause this same effect.
8.
Make sure long hair is tied back. Hair can also appear as a ghostly anomaly.
Strains of hair can look like orbs in motion as well as ghost energy.
9.
Completely avoid taking photos when conditions
are windy, foggy, rainy, dusty and where it's snowing or when moisture
is in the air. All of these conditions can cause images to appear that
look exactly like orbs and ghostly anomalies.
10.
In cold weather make sure your breath is not
affecting the photo results. Exhaled air in cold weather can appear in
front of the lens to create all sorts of strange elusions including mist
& orbs shapes.
11.
A condition called "Lens Flair" produces strange
effects in your photos. To avoid this do not take photos in the direction
of the sun. Also, never take a picture in the direction of any direct light
source. Preferably have all light sources away from you or even
behind you when snapping your photos.
12.
Talk to the ghosts. When you enter an area
that you want to photograph, such as a cemetery, follow these steps: Walk
around the area for about 15 minutes before doing anything else. As you're
walking around, clear your mind and think only good thoughts. (Ghosts can
sense your feelings and read your thoughts) After 15 minutes, recite the
following statement or something similar. "Hi, my name is ______, We have
come here to take some pictures of you as ghosts in order to show &
document that there is life after death. We have only the best of intentions.
We are not here to do any harm and we will only be here long enough to
take our photos and then we will leave. Our only request is to take
a picture of you, any of you! Thank you so much. I'll begin taking pictures
now......thanks. Take all the pictures you think you need to and start
heading back to your car. On the way, stop one last time and say: We are
leaving now, just in case I didn't get any pictures of you on film can
I take just 5 more pictures of this monument (or whatever) and would one
of you mind posing for me in these very last photos? Take five more photos
and then say: Thank you so much for putting up with me & my group.....we
enjoyed being here in your company and am grateful for any photos you have
allowed us to have of you..........thanks again, bye. If you were able
to get some good pictures and you proved your good intentions to the ghosts.....then
you will be welcomed back on your return visit. :)
13.
Most ghost energy will appear in the air from two to ten feet above the ground.
So focus a portion of your attention at that level but don't limit yourself
totally to it. Ghostly phenomena can and will also appear above your head
at times so be sure and snap some random shots up above at times. Note: in a buildings they
can appear at any level of the structure and at any height.
14.
The odds of encountering an evil spirit are
slim to none but here is the counsel concerning them. Don't go hunting
for evil spirits and DO NOT dare them to come around. If you hear or see a sign
of evil spirits you should leave immediately.
15.
Avoid mirrors or even taking photos in the
general direction of a mirror. The camera flash can create a flash in the
mirror that can produce a variety of effects including vapor, mist &
fog.
16.
Try following your instincts when taking ghost photos. If you have a particular
inclination to snap a photo in a particular direction or at a particular
object, do it. Trust your feelings an as you do, your abilities to sense
ghosts should increase.
17.
Ghosts are quite often attracted to people
and will follow them around. So include people in the photos you take.
Tip: When taking photos of others try to include enough space to one side
of the picture and above the heads of those in the photo to capture any
anomalies present. Remember the purpose is to catch anomalies and people
together in the same photo. Here's another trick to use when ghosts might
be following you around......put the camera over your shoulder and snap
a picture behind you. This can be an effective technique at times......trust
me.
18.
The best time of the year for capturing ghost
images on film are in the colder months when electrostatic energy is at
it's highest. These months being October through February. You can capture
any kind of ghost type on film at any time of the year but the above mentioned
months just increase your odds is all. Orbs however, don't seem to be affected
by seasons and are by far the easiest anomalies to capture on film.
19.
Remember your flash limitations. A flash can
only be useful for up to a certain distance. Normally within 15 feet.
So if you are in a cemetery at night and take a picture of a mausoleum
30 feet away, the image will be hard to view and a bit washed out, as well as any anomalies present. Important note: The flash will help highlight the
anomaly if the background image is within the the range (15 feet). Note:
A flash attachment will increase your range if you desire to use one.
20.
Best places to take pictures:
Some places
are more haunted than others. Some typically haunted locations are cemeteries,
old buildings, including old hotels, houses, hospitals, schoolhouses, and
churches. Other good spots are theaters as well as any historic part of
a city. Use your imagination and see what works for you. Just remember
the best rule of thumb is to include places that are rich in history on your investigations.
That's the basics
in a nutshell.......study and know them well and you will be well on your
way to capturing strange phenomena on film in the near future. I might
add, once you start seeing the fruits of your labor, you will be hooked!
And life will no longer be the same for you as it was before. Ghost hunting
is a great hobby and can be a truly fulfilling one as well. We wish you
the best of luck in your endeavors!
Don't forget to check
out your old photos and photo albums for ghost anomalies. You might
be pleasantly surprised at the ghost pictures you already have!
Check out
our Ghost Hunting tips page
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