I am looking to get started in ghost hunting/investigation?

Question

Looking for help from other people who do this, just need some pointers e.g. what equipment is the best, where to get started, times of the day or moon cycle etc.

Answer 1

there is no bettr time of day or the month. The equipment you need to get will be expensive. I use a Sony Digital Hard Drive camcorder with infrared. about 700.00. I use a Nikon SLR Digital camera, about 650.00. Type 2 EMF about 40.00. 2 Digital recorders one Sony one Olympus, about 200.00. a dedicated HP Laptop, 1000.00, 2 types of thermometers, both infrared, one ambient, one point and shoot, about 110.00 several rechargable flashlights, mine are Maglites about 300.00, tripod for camcorder, 75.00. and other misc. equipment. not to mention, your gonna have to spend for travel expenses where ever you go. My advice is to join up with a reputable group, and learn from them. be serious, your often in other peoples property or on hallowed ground. Dont be afraid of every bump and niose you hear.

Answer 2

You are best not to start on your own. Find an existing group in your area. The amount of work involved in starting a group from scratch is huge! Also, wait until you see the amount of work that goes on for an investigation. You may only be at the location for 4 to 6 hours but then you have 8 to 12 hours of video to go over, another 8 to 12 of audio, research can run you another 12 hours or more.
If you start a group you need to be in a position of being able to train everyone that joins, from would be investigators to researchers. Your question pretty clearly says you are not able to do this yet.
Find an established group and learn the ropes. Then you can branch out if you want.
EDIT:
I can't believe anyone would suggest the International Ghost Hunters Society. A team I am familiar with sent them several pictures that they had purposely faked, and not even faked well. They asked IGHS if they were ghosts and received a reply that those were in fact real ghosts and to keep up the good work. Heck, if you want a diploma in ghost hunting I can print one up for you. I have publisher, just like them. I won't even charge you $150+ for a CD full of stuff that is free on the web.

Answer 3

This field needs more good investigators. You can start with a camera, any digital will do and a voice recorder. Voice recorders are like anything else, usually the more you spend, the better the quality and performance. Never investigate alone. Pictures of Orbs are not evidence. I would recommend you google ghost hunters and read from many paranormal sites. Some of them list a "how to investigate" section. Ours does. Find it at www.tricitiesparanormal.org.
Don't run when you find something, move in and continue investigating.
Have Fun!
Tim
Co-Founder
ETPRS Tri-Cities Division
East Tennessee Paranormal Research Society

Answer 4

a.) Make up your mind which you want to be. A ghost hunter looks for evidence supporting the existence of ghosts. This is not impartial and this is not investigation. (Nor is it scientific.) Investigators examine a setting objectively and attempt to find an explanation for events that have been reported to occur. Ghost busters operate under the preconceived notion that ghosts exist and all that needs to be done is to find the evidence that is there. Investigators operate under no such notion.

b.) The only equipment you will need is a flashlight, a hardhat, a video camera and a still camera. EMF detectors are unnecesary because there is no reason to believe ghosts emit electromagnetic fields. Temperature gauges are unnecesary because there is no reason to think ghosts affect the temperature in any way. Sound recorders are unnecesary because ghosts don't have voice boxes.

c.) You can investigate paranormal claims any time of day. Don't be fooled by the TV shows that investigate only at night. They don't do this because ghosts are more active at night. The only reason they do this is for the "spook factor". Logically, the ghosts are dead, so why do they care whether it's day or night? Some might say because we tend to notice ghosts more at night. I would say because it's dark out we're more likely to misinterpret normal things as having paranormal causes. Investigate with the lights on.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. Whatever you do, please do it in a subjective, impartial and scientific manner. Enjoy!

Answer 5

Ghost hunting takes guts and an open mind, which is why a strong and willing team is an added asset. Most people 'hunt ghosts' for kicks. Be clear about what your intentions, perceptions and limits are.

Mark up a scouring area known for hauntings. Your local tour guide might have ideas on this, but researching history on the Internet is a better option. Look up case studies and other people's experiences hunting ghosts -- specially sites like the International Ghost Hunters Society and Ghost Hunting 101.

If possible, you can join them (or get them to join you) based on mutual interests and common goals. Always start with your local area (a place you know) before fanning out to unfamiliar grounds.

Answer 6

The important thing to rememvber is that YOU are the best piece of equipment. You will determine when something is or isn't unusual. Other than that, invest in a good digital camera, a digital voice recorder (make sure it is compatible with your computer) and if you want, an EMF Meter.

Have fun and grow your equipment as your desire and commitment requires. Oh- and a GOOD flashlight!

Answer 7

I have been doing it for a while now and its fun. First you need to read everything you can about ghosts and hauntings. Not fiction but facts, pro and con. Don't call everything paranormal, because most things have a logical explanation. Get a few good cameras, I like Canon digitals for still and Sony video with Night shot for videos. Also extra battery's for both. An EMF meter is handy to see if there any stray electric fields around.
Other equipment I have:
5 high resolution CCTV cameras
4 infrared CCTV cameras
2 digital recorder systems, one computer based, one stand alone DVR.
2 trail cams.
6 thermometers
4 voice recorders
2 Geiger counters
400 feet of power cords
400 feet of video cable
lots of adapters
lots of tripods
lots of tapes
lots of memory cards
And worsted of all, thousands of hours of free time to watch all of those videos with nothing on them just to find one thing that people will say you faked anyway !

Answer 8

The term "Ghost searching" is used loosely and maximum of people who do look into the magical at the instant are not on a quest to reason injury or excite one in each and every of these ghosts and or spirits. The component of the magical may be a attractive project to communicate with and there is allot to be responsive to.. in case you're so vulnerable to take it upon your self to do such investigating i might recommend getting to understand approximately it by potential of reading books on the priority. this could be your first step formerly actually doing any investigating interior the sector. learn may be the 1st steps in any learn. understanding with reference to the spirit realm and the different varieties of haunting will aide you once you're interior the sector and you have the potential to distinguish between what may be an clever haunting or probably a residual haunting. it is likewise clever to in no way flow on my own to any suspected haunted region in spite of if or not it somewhat is occupied or not. protection is an significant component. you basically don't be responsive to what you will possibly be getting your self in to and numerous what you are able to come upon could very lots be alive and could reason you injury so i might %. another compatible persons to accompany you. once you're arranged to start investigations and have a collection of others the equipment to have does not could be of the costly style. it rather is easy, easy units including digicam or any video digital camera and likewise voice recorder. you do not could pay real greenback and rather any recording units are able to yield info of the magical. A EMF meter is many times used to degree fluctuations in magnetism in a definite section. they may be clever. i might initiate off easy and concentration on gaining knowledge of and reading. something will fall into place as you flow alongside. sturdy success and be careful.

Answer 9

Ghost hunting works best for people who have an unusually acute sense of their environment including an awareness of things both conscious and subconscious.

Answer 10

if u investigate someting,first eliminate/exclude/look for mundane explanations,like people who lie,are on drugs,defective physical objects,natural phenomena caused by MOTHER NATURE,,animals,houses settling,hoaxes etc when u eliminate said things,then un can b certain,whatever is,must be of the paranormal