How to Photograph a Ghost

Interest in the paranormal is very common, because it's a way to explain the unknown concept of what happens after death. Many people believe a spirit (or ghost) could remain earth-bound for varying reasons. Often researchers claim to have captured these spirits on film, although the majority of photographs are fake or mistakenly analyzed. To increase you own odds of taking a ghost's picture, follow these steps.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Camera, preferably digital
• Extra batteries

1. Purchase or choose your camera. Any camera with a flash will do, but digital allows you to look immediately to see if you caught anything. This allows you to continue taking pictures in an area to increase your odds of capturing a ghost in the photograph. Digital cameras should be at least 1.3 megabytes for resolution.

2. Select the location for your photo shoot. Places where other people have claimed to capture ghostly images, or which are purported to be haunted are the best to start with. Many people visit cemeteries, so try there. A better location, however, is where the person actually died, or a place where the person whose spirit you hope to photograph spent a lot of time.

3. Set the date and time for your ghost hunt. Night time is really the best time to photograph a ghost, because paranormal apparitions are better seen with a flash and in the dark. When photographing outdoors, warm weather is best because in the cold of winter breath can be mistaken as ghostly mist. Likewise, you should reschedule your outdoor ghost hunt if there is rain, snow, mist or fog is in the air because these types of weather cause anomalies in pictures which can be mistaken for a ghost.

4. Arrive at the location armed with extra batteries. For a ghost to manifest (whether by sight, sound or touch) it needs energy. Often batteries are drained right before you have a paranormal experience. You may also feel your own energy depleted after leaving the scene because the spirits borrowed from you as well.

5. Walk around, and speak in low voices so the spirits are not scared off and they get used to you. Do this for about 30 minutes, and don't start taking pictures until then unless you hear some kind of activity. Get your camera ready and be on alert. Make sure you take off camera straps or anything which could hang down in a picture and be misconstrued, such as hair covering the lens.

6. Snap pictures when you feel the urge, trust your instincts. When using a digital camera and you see something unusual snap more pictures. Also take in your surroundings to make sure there isn't something explainable causing it such as a reflection, insect or fingers getting in the way of the lens. Take some pictures by surprise.

Tips & Warnings

• Try different brands of film until you find one which produces good results when not using a digital camera.

• If you must investigate during poor weather conditions, hold your breath a few seconds before snapping a picture. Disregard any fog-like substance in your picture, as chances are it was an exhaled breath.

• There are many potential earthly explanations for images some may construe as paranormal, so make sure you look for these circumstances first. Examples are long exposure, dust on the negative, flash reflections, bugs, dust, objects blocking the lens, bad film or overlapping pictures.

• For the most part, it is illegal to be in a graveyard at night. Since this is the best time to potentially capture a ghost image, be sure to get permission if this is your location of choice.

• There are many photographs claimed to be ghostly or paranormal, whether intentionally faked or mistakenly analyzed by someone who really wants to see something. Be a skeptic, and when in doubt do not count a photograph as paranormal.

Resources

• Watch Ghost Hunters for more ghost tips and show schedules.
• Learn about ghost hunting.