Ghosts Caught on Camera

Poltergeist Snapshots

Nothing adds that additional flavor to a good ghost story quite like a photo. Check out these poltergeist snapshots and the accompanying stories.

Hampton Court Palace

On December 19, 2003, CNN.com posted the photo of a ghost dressed in robes standing in the doorway of the Hampton Court Palace, the home of Henry VII. The apparition was first spotted by security guards on closed circuit television footage during an investigation into who was leaving one of the palace doors open.

Jim Morrison

In 1997 Rock and Roll Historian Brett Meisner had a photo taken of himself at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, where Jim Morrison is buried. In the background, you can see the ghostly image of Jim Morrison standing in the doorway of a nearby crypt. Meisner reports that the close encounter with the specter has led to nothing but bad luck ever since.

Internet Paranormal Sightings

While many may never see a ghost, not to mention have the opportunity to get it on film, thousands of ghosts caught on camera do exist. Visit these online collections to view some:

• GhostResearch.org
• GhostStudy.com
• Ghost Stories and Pictures
• Real Ghost Pictures

Ghosts Caught on Camera Made Easy

In the event you are one of those unlucky people who never seem to be in the right place at the right time, never fear. Elite to the rescue! Their Ghost Finders' disposable 35mm camera will add a ghost to every shot. This is the perfect Halloween or prank gift.

Serious Ghost Hunting Video Equipment

If your goal is to seriously catch ghosts on film, a thermal camera is a must have. The reason a thermal imaging instrument helps when hunting ghosts is because it can "see" more than the naked eye. Its special technology also picks up temperature changes in objects, and since paranormal activity is often associated with cold or hot spots, thermal technology is the best way to quickly identify and monitor these temperature changes.

Look to these vendors to make your purchase:

• 7b.org
• Palmer Wahl
• Get Ghost Gear

Ghosts on Film Hoax

For every confirmed ghost caught on film, you'll find one hundred faked images, thus proving that seeing isn't always a good reason to believe. Some of the most popular faking techniques include:

• Double or over exposures
• Digital enhancements using software like Photoshop
• Fog machines
• Smudge on a window or camera lens
• Dust on the negative
• Lens flare

While it is true some people do not intend to fake ghost pictures, the end result is often the same. There are a huge number of images passed off as real that cannot be reproduced under similar conditions. People are expected to believe that the ghost came out for just the one photo shoot, never to be seen again.

Some ways to spot a fake include:

• Look for blurry edges. If an image has been cut and pasted onto the background, the edges will be smudgy.
• Ever noticed how most apparition photos have poor lighting? Really look at the lighting and make sure it is coming in from the same direction. If the ghost is lit up from the left, but the shadows of the trees fall to the left, the ghost was likely added to the photo.

With a Grain of Salt

Pictures of unexplained phenomenon are fascinating, and if reproducible under similar conditions, they are wonderful proof positive that ghosts exist. However, do not assume all spirits on film are real. Enjoy the pictures and the stories for what they are worth, but consider the sources and act accordingly.