Ghost Photo: Ghost Photography

By Julia Jablonski

In researching the matter of ghosts on the net, I found a number of pages with very interesting photographs of purported ghosts, (see links below!) as well as instructions on how to go about photographing such earthbound spirits. Many parapsychologists claim that it is quite easy to do.

 There seems to be an emphasis on cemeteries as rich ghost hunting grounds for photographers, though many photographs are also taken at big family gatherings, such as weddings and funerals. Battlefields, hospitals and funeral homes are also likely to have spirits hanging around who haven't yet moved on. I was once in an examination room in an ER waiting to see the doctor when a spirit came in who had just passed over. He was quite excited to find someone who could "see" and "hear" him.

 I personally would try having someone talk about a spirit who had died that they loved with intensity, for in my work as a medium, I have come to know that this sort of emotional reaching out always draws spirits near. I've also become aware that loved ones in spirit continue to attend major happenings in the family, such as births, deaths, and other important occasions. This doesn't mean that our loved ones in spirit are earthbound, but who says that all the energies we perceive as "ghosts" are really ghosts? They could just be regular old emotionally healthy spirits!

 Ghosts seem to manifest in a few interesting ways on film. The most common seems to be as orbs that are not visible to the naked eye, yet nevertheless show up on film as transparent orbs hanging in mid air. While at first these may seem easily explainable by film anomalies, after seeing dozens of photographs containing these orbs, I was convinced. Another interesting manifestation is as areas of intense light in an otherwise dark area. The most interesting to me was the manifestation of "ectoplasm," which looks a bit like the aurora borealis. Swirling clouds of color and light appear in some ghost photographs, and I found this of interest because spirits often manifest to me in similar form.

 There are quite a few theories as to why and how ghosts manage to show up on film (or in digital photos) when our naked eyes fail to perceive them. Our brains filter most of what we see; it's likely that we simply filter out that which does not make "sense" to our minds. Some people are able to see ghosts, of course, and these people would be open to and have positive expectancy about being able to see them, and therefore would not filter them out of their perceptions.

How to photograph ghosts:

 To optimize your chances, it's wise to open a vortex or doorway through which to establish communication with the other side. This can be done by choosing a ripe location such as an old cemetery. In early times, the locations of cemeteries were generally chosen because the energy of the land was felt to be sacred and open to Spirit, the veil between the worlds thin. Even if this portal didn't exist to begin with, over time such places become hallowed as many people reach out to the spirits of their loved ones when visiting. Another way to open such a portal is by meditating, setting your intentions, and reaching out with love and emotion for spirits. This always draws Spirits near.

 An attitude of sincere reverence and respect is always wise. The quieter and more aware you are, the better you will be able to perceive and respond to conditions and hopefully capture subtle energies on film. Focus on your intentions with positive expectancy. A tape recorder may also prove interesting to listen to later.

 There is no need for fear. Non-physical entities can not do you physical harm, nor are they likely to attach themselves to you in any way. The more confident and safe you feel, the better your experience is likely to be.

 Any kind of camera is supposed to work, though a flash is essential. The new digital cameras appear to yield amazing results. Any kind of film is also supposed to be fine, though it's best to use a camera and film that work well in low light or dark conditions. Darkness is ideal for shooting photos of ghosts and spirits, as their energy is luminescent, and may be hard to detect during daylight hours. The full moon and times of other high electromagnetic energy such as before a thunder storm also enhance spirit activity, just as such conditions stir up human activity.

 Take care to implement the proper controls. Make sure that your fingers and hair are not in the lens area, and that weather and other possible influences are eliminated. Listen to your intuition, and snap pictures when and where you get "that feeling." And lastly, by all means, if you catch a ghost on film, send it to us! We'd love to publish it!

 Happy hunting!

A great page of links to actual ghost photographs are: http://members.aol.com/Rayd8em/Photos.html, www.ghosts.org/links.html also contains lots of links to ghostly sites!

Julia Jablonski is an ordained Spiritualist minister, medium and clairvoyant. Please Visit Julia's website here: http://www.muse-net.com/