has anyone ever tried to photograph a ghost?

[emayoh]

Well, one idea might be to setup an SLR on a tripod. Set with intervalometer or tethered to a laptop to take a large series of shots in the dark, one every 30 seconds, say. Then I'd dump all the shots from the night into photoshop and do some experimenting with the blending and look for minute variations in the darkness, jack the levels on the shots with the variations and see what you come up with. Maybe you see the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots.

If you can afford one get a DSLR with IR filter removed, throw that into the mix too. IR photos = ghosts, as we all know.

Another idea would be to do the same idea with an empty room overnight, but with an actual flash. Maybe one photo every 2 minutes though. In the morning, check for slightly moved objects, doors, cups. Maybe a poltergeist has been there?

And of course Hitchens died for nothing, that was the sum total of his crackpot wisdom: We all die for nothing.

 

[Hjortsberg]

I guess that's the kind of assignment that I would decline. Firstly I wouldn't base a paid assignment on the assumption of the existence of a ghost. And then there is a moral problem with this kind of assignment. The point of an assignment is to make the client happy, and there is just too much that is likely to go wrong.

There might be no ghost in the pictures (most probable outcome), or the customers might not be happy with what they see, or they might be of the type that expect to see SOMETHING which would lead you into all sorts of conflicts. See the links above for some famous predecessors who were in exactly the same situation (commissioned by people who really believed that there was a ghost) and started doctoring something into the pictures for the sake of $$$.

sounds reasonable. hard to say no to first paying gig, tho

 

[---f]

We all die for nothing.

touché, like that perspective.

 

[Hjortsberg]

Well, one idea might be to setup an SLR on a tripod. Set with intervalometer or tethered to a laptop to take a large series of shots in the dark, one every 30 seconds, say. Then I'd dump all the shots from the night into photoshop and do some experimenting with the blending and look for minute variations in the darkness, jack the levels on the shots with the variations and see what you come up with. Maybe you see the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots.

If you can afford one get a DSLR with IR filter removed, throw that into the mix too. IR photos = ghosts, as we all know.

Another idea would be to do the same idea with an empty room overnight, but with an actual flash. Maybe one photo every 2 minutes though. In the morning, check for slightly moved objects, doors, cups. Maybe a poltergeist has been there?

And of course Hitchens died for nothing, that was the sum total of his crackpot wisdom: We all die for nothing.

thank you for responding. like your ideas. it was hard to keep my mouth shut on the Hitchens comment from the yahoo above. thanks for doing it for me

 

[loneranger]

You will find many ghosts to photograph on holloween

 

[wafflecakee]

ahahahah good thread.

 

[gliderbee]

[...]See the links above for some famous predecessors who were in exactly the same situation (commissioned by people who really believed that there was a ghost) and started doctoring something into the pictures for the sake of $$$.[...]

That's interesting; I always assumed these were supposed to be normal pictures, the ghost only be "discovered" afterwards. That's also (but not only) what makes them unbelievable: if there wasn't meant to be a ghost in the picture, the framing is very badly done: there's nearly always a nice empty space in the frame where the ghost happens to fit in .. I can't believe those "old" photographers would frame a commissioned picture that badly. But of course, if the people who commissioned it really believed a ghost would appear in the picture, it would be "normal" that there was some room left for the ghost. But how did they tell the ghost where to appear ? Or was it already visible to their eyes when the picture was taken ? In that case, my respect for the calm and quite attitude of the people photographed ...

Stefan.

 

[--s]

the problem boils down to whether ghosts are subject to the laws of physics, i.e., optics, or not. is there any expert around?
besides, countless reports tell us that ghosts are a bit on the shy side of reality, what should be only a minor problem for a decent street photog.

 

[f16sunshine]

I've never seen or photographed a ghost but do have an interesting story.
About 20 years ago I lived in an old house in the Seattle area with my then wife Coco.
It turns out the house was originally a workers quarters for a strawberry farm about 100 (120 now) years ago.
The house had been added on to several times. This included a large remodel sometime after the war (WW2).
Which is when, the strawberry farm gave way to a housing development.
We had something inhabiting the place with us. Sometimes at night the hot water in the bath would slowly turn on.
This continued even after I re-modelled the bathroom and changed all the fixtures.
We knew the nights it was to happen as the dogs would be freaked out. Staring at the exterior wall corner of the WC. Really weird.
Then once the hot water turned on while I was brushing my teeth. I actually watched the hot water dial slowly turn... nearly sh!t myself as it went to a full blasting run of water.
A few nights later we heard a thud in the WC. Coco went in to find a small conch shell that usual sat on the toilet tank... now laying on the floor in front of the toilet.
And, then that was it. No more hot water business... nothing. We never saw anything. If it was a ghost It was never ever a visible one.
I don't know what sort of situation you are expected to photograph. As someone who was once terribly skeptical ( and still mostly so) I would say, get all the info you can and formulate a plan.
Chances are it will need to change. Chances are as well even if you succeed many if not most will still view your captures as a failure (fake or inconclusive).
Even being in that house 20 years ago, if someone told me the story I just told... I would not believe it. It's just one of those things.

 

[--s]

http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/ghostphotos.html

so, yes, it should be possible.

 

[gliderbee]

the problem boils down to whether ghosts are subject to the laws of physics, i.e., optics, or not. is there any expert around?
besides, countless reports tell us that ghosts are a bit on the shy side of reality, what should be only a minor problem for a decent street photog.

Of course they are subject to the laws of optics; how else would we be able to see them ?

As for their shy side: I prefer them like that: the risk of getting in trouble because you took their picture is much less than with ordinary street photography. Imagine yourself filing a complaint because you were beaten up by a ghost ... 😀

 

[--s]

Of course they are subject to the laws of optics; how else would we be able to see them ?

As for their shy side: I prefer them like that: the risk of getting in trouble because you took their picture is much less than with ordinary street photography. Imagine yourself filing a complaint because you were beaten up by a ghost ... 😀

...or the ghost filing up a complaint because you were taking a picture of him...

 

[Phil_F_NM]

...or the ghost filing up a complaint because you were taking a picture of him...

How is anyone going to get a ghost to sign a model release? I mean, it's a paid gig and the photographer is making money off of the ghost's image.
At the same time, be sure to pay close attention to your local/state/provincial/national laws regarding photography.
For instance, here in Pennsylvania, USA the law on the book regarding recording video and or audio is that both parties must know and consent to the recording that is being done (of course the person doing the recording knows but the subject must also know.) Any recording done without the consent of the subject is against the law and subject to criminal charges.
And here we get into issues of consent. If the ghost is willing but under the age of 18, the parent or guardian of the ghost is going to have to consent to the recording of the minor. This also comes into play with the model release. Of course, a ghost of sufficient age to enter into a legal agreement can make that decision and allow their essence to be used for profit.
Also make sure any ancillary equipment that you use is within the law (tripods, lights, umbrellas, power packs, cords, etc.) and you have permits to use said equipment where applicable.
If the recording/photography is being conducted in the domicile of the ghost you may have to get explicit permission to shoot there. I've always like to cover my backside and get both written AND verbal on-camera/on-audio tape but if the written can't be done for the sake of expediency, make sure you get all statements of consent at the very least on-camera/audio.
Just some good CYA tips.

Phil Forrest

 

[---f]

... from the yahoo above. thanks for doing it for me

your kidding right? :angel:

 

[---f]

Logically, though, it means that we all live for nothing. Any meaning or value to life's activity is but mere illusion; there is no good or evil to any decision or action in life. For it all is for nought. To help the drowning child or to ignore the drowning child are both 'equal, that is, both are of no value; for if this opinion is correct, this is true. Of course, I would argue this perspective is false, yet what interests me is your claim to like it.
I can understand thinking it is true and, as did Camus, shudder in horror. But to like a world where love and beauty and courage etc. are of no value over their opposites, that I don't understand.


OP --> Except symbolically, I have no idea how to use a physical process to capture a non-physical presence.

I never said live for nothing. I simply like the irony that you die for nothing. As in there's nothing after you die.

As for living, make the most of it, I believe you only get to do it once. So make your life rich by surrounding yourself with people you love, do the things that make you happy and generally be a nice person. Enjoy what we've got while we are here.

 

[Johnmcd]

As much as I'd like to. I'm not touching this topic with a 10ft barge pole. Unless I'm with like minded people, I've never failed to upset somebody when discussing the paranormal/religion.

But I will say I don't believe it is possible to photograph a ghost (or a Bigfoot for that matter). That's not to say that I couldn't photograph something that another may choose to interpret as such.

There, I just had to say it...

Cheers - John

 

[Johnmcd]

As for living, make the most of it, I believe you only get to do it once. So make your life rich by surrounding yourself with people you love, do the things that make you happy and generally be a nice person. Enjoy what we've got while we are here.

My thoughts exactly. (and I said I wasn't going to post - can't help myself)

 

[pinkarmy]

...an interesting story.

i was right. this is a funny thread and it's getting even better.

 

[dotur]

www.ivanlozica.com

Most people photographed throughout the long history of photography are now dead, including the photographers themselves. Photography is a ghastly business. The easiest way to obtain a photography of ghost is to shoot a living person and just wait.
Ghosts are deprived of civil rights, all their complaints are legally irrelevant. Fear the living, not the dead.

 

[Sparrow]

I once saw a dead baby ghost on the pavement ...


... although it could have been a handkerchief I suppose