How do I tell if I have something paranormal in a photo?

Answer 1

It's very difficult since there is no body of scientific theory for ghosts or other paranormal entities. In fact, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of ghosts at all. With no theory or characteristics to test against, it's very difficult to make any judgments that aren't purely subjective.

It's very likely that if you see something strange in your photo, it's either a photographic artifact or your mind playing tricks on you (e.g., seeing faces in random or arbitrary shapes). But if you can post your photo and provide a link, I'm sure many here will be happy to take a look.

EDIT: A haunted pinball machine? With a ghost attached? Good lord.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, photographs are terribly tricky things in that what might appear paranormal can also easily have mundane explanations.

First, you need to identify what element of the photo you think is paranormal (orb? vortex? glowing light, phantom images, etc)

Next, you should look into known mundane occurrences that can produce anomalies in the type of camera used (digital cameras, for example, can produce odd effects than an old Polaroid can't). An orb might be a bit of dust, a vortex a camera strap, a phantom mist your own breath! There could be more of gravy than grave about your paranormal picture.

You should also gather as much information about the scene as possible. For example, as orbs can be the result of bugs, dust, or water, if people were walking around the scene quite a bit before the picture was taken, then the orbs in the picture are more likely to be mundane. Alternately, a bright light in a photo could be a reflection from something you hadn't noticed at first (I've seen more than one "ghost" photo that was nothing more than a reflection on a stop sign that was so far away the person didn't notice it.)

Also be careful of the effects of photoshop! Personally, I can add a ghost face to a window in about 3 minutes, a ufo in 2, etc. Still, photoshop is also good for showing you what has been modified on an image. Look for "noise" in the picture, specifically around and in the anomaly, that is too uniform. Look for something that looks anti-aliased, air brushed, etc.

Also be careful of how the scene was set up; forced perspective can imply that something is there when it most certainly is not (the most realistic photo of aliens I have ever seen was the result of someone putting toys on a fence; force perspective made it look like the aliens were in the yard beyond it).

After you've done your due-diligence and can find no other reasonable explanation, then you can start getting excited.

Answer 3

show us the photo, you will get a variety of opinions and ideas.
Other than that, there is not really any way to know. Its all a matter of interpetation and experience in photography after the photo is taken.
I used to work in a photolab, and am now a professional photographer. All the anomolies that are now considered paranormal, used to be known problems with picture taking. Strap over the lens, xray exposure (at airports), hair, flash out of sync. There were tons of problems that can cause very specific anomalies, which are now mostly considered paranormal activity.

Answer 4

As usual, I'm with TR on this one.

Let me add this: If you really believe something weird is in a photograph, then you can scan it and send to either Fujifilm or Eastman-Kodak labs. Somebody there will probably be willing to give it a look and get back with you.

These labs have regularly reproduced the phenomena that people find in their pics for research purposes. There's nothing paranormal about any of them--they're just errors that the camera and film (and CCD) companies want to eliminate because they mess up people's pictures---like yours.

Good luck!

Answer 5

You can never be 100 percent sure, however if you remember that dust is everywhere and know what dust looks like that will cut out 90 per cent of what most websites post as evidence of ghosts.

I do have 2 photos out of hundreds that I believe to be paranormal, but I have dozens that look exactly like most websites post as paranormal.

Be sure your camera strap is off and take a one million candle power spot light with you and shine it in the air, and if you see dust particles, just don't take pictures because that will be your orbs.

Way too many ghost hunters claim to be selective and even skeptical, but I disbanded my team because I could not find any people who weren't too eager to see ghosts everywhere.

I consider myself a true believer because I have seen ghosts and talked to one who talked back, but that was a very long time ago. I don't however have a website nor do I post pictures of dust as proof. I do make mistakes and at times change my mind several times. I am leary of those who try to make money or a name for themselves in this hobby. That is what this is a hobby, nothing more. In my opinion the only way a person will know for sure if they have a ghost in their photo is if it is a transparent human, but sadly most of those are fake.

You will never convince the skeptic or the scientific community, but you can have fun with fellow believers and even learn things if you keep an open mind.

Answer 6

You go back to where you took the photo and try to recreate it. That would eliminate the physical.

Seriously, some pretty strange things have been caught. A man selling a haunted pinball machine on Ebay accidently caught what he thinks was the ghost attached to it. It was not behind the machine he was shooting, but a human-shaped shadow in a doorway to one side. A bidder spotted it before he did.

It's rare that a full face appears. If you have one, look for the practical joker.

Most images are fuzzy and indistinct. They may be transparent, cloudy white or faint black. The more detail you have, the more likely there is another explanation.

Answer 7

I would check out some photos that purportedly have paranormal things in them and learn the qualities and what to look for.

Answer 8

Village Labs in Tempe Az is run by Jim Dilletosso, I believe he used to do work in the movies. He has examined lots of photos (ghosts, ufos) and can let you know if they are fake or not.

Answer 9

dust, hair, rain, moist air, camera straps and reflections can decieve you. Real orbs tend to be bright white and seem to vibrate- they move too fast for human eyes sometimes. 3 white balls stuck together are actually one orb moving. If its weird and casts a shadow.... can I see? you can email it to me, I'm a paranormal investigator and I run a group in Canada

Answer 10

Many people split on this. So-called "ghost hunters" assume ghosts exist and merely mine for evidence to support this. If you showed a picture to one of them it's quite likely they will believe it is a ghost. If you ask someone who lives in a non-magical, reality-based world he will probably tell you there is a rational explanation for what is in your photo.