Blue Moon Paranormal Investigations
Our search for truth continues . . . .
GHOST PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Every ghost hunter, whether they’re a novice or professional, knows the importance of bringing along a reliable 35mm or digital camera to an investigation. It is one of the most important pieces of equipment to be used in conjunction with an EMF detector, digital infrared thermometer, and a digital voice recorder. Either type will do just fine, except with the 35mm you’ll need to wait until your pictures are processed and returned to you before you can examine them for any anomalies. Of course, if you do find something on the pictures, you’ll also have the negative as back up. With a digital camera you can upload your pictures onto a computer, enlarge them to get a closer look at anything suspicious, save them to a disk, share them with your friends and family, and any other number of creative ideas. I prefer the digital camera myself because I believe they’re more sensitive. I’ve captured more orbs, mists and apparitions with a digital camera than I ever had on a 35mm. That’s not to say it can’t be done, because “spirit photography” has been around since the early 1800’s with photographers using many types of film and cameras. And I’ve also found that it doesn’t necessarily have to be night time to get a ghost picture. Many photographs of ghostly anomalies have been taken during broad daylight, which proves that ghosts or spirits are around during the day just as much as they are at night.
So what exactly should you look for in a digital camera to do ghost hunting with? Well, today, just about any camera will do. Just make sure it has a good flash and the ISO settings can range from 100 to 1600. If the camera has a preprogrammed “night shot” setting, which is a very slow shutter speed, you may want to invest in a tripod, too. With this type of setting, any hand held shot will come out blurry. No ones hand is that steady without the help of a tripod or something to lean up against. I’ve also found that some digital cameras will simply not take a picture if it thinks the area is too dark. The flash needs something to bounce off of, like a gravestone. I’ve taken tons of pictures at night in a cemetery and found that my camera won’t work because it was too dark and the flash needed something to reflect off of. So, if you can, try to find a camera that will take a flash shot no matter what. Oh, and don’t forget the high capacity media card. Anything from 512 MB to 1 Gig is good, unless you enjoy sitting in front of your computer for hours looking at hundreds of photos you took using a 2 Gig or higher capacity card.
If you’re anything like me, then owning only one camera simply won’t do. The more I learn about new cameras and their abilities, the more I want them. The only thing that holds me back from having at least five digital and digital SLR (single lense reflex) cameras is the price. Maybe someday when I make my millions I’ll have all the cameras I want, but until then, here is a list of the ones our team uses:
Olympus Stylus 600 - This is a cool digital camera that’s small enough to take anywhere. One of the great things about it is it’s weatherproof. When the camera is not in use, the lense contracts back inside the base and a protective metal cover slides in front, making it almost impossible for dirt and water to get inside. It’s so compact, I keep mine in my purse and take it everywhere. You just never know when you’re going to need to take a quick picture.
Minolta Digital SLR - Maxxum 7D - This is the “Big Daddy” of my camera collection. I take it on every ghost hunt. It’s one of the more expensive “professional” use cameras (and God knows I’m no photography pro), but I love it. It takes great pictures and it’s so easy to upload them into your favorite photo editing software. If you look online you might be able to find this camera at a decent price because they don’t make them any more. Right after I bought mine I was told that Minolta was being bought out by, I believe, Sony. (Don’t quote me on this.) Anyway, I’ve since then noticed Minolta’s name is almost never mentioned by camera retailers. But don’t worry, if you do happen to find one and buy it you can still use different types of lenses for it.
Sony Handycam Camcorder with Night Shot Plus - DCR-HC20 - This is a great palm-sized camcorder that can go anywhere. It takes amazing videos in the dark when using the Night Shot Plus feature and also doubles as a voice recorder. So if you use this or any other camcorder for an investigation, make sure you go over the footage carefully. Don’t just watch the video for paranormal activity, but listen very closely as well. A good set of headphones is a must. This little camcorder is invaluable during an investigation, just make sure you turn the Night Shot Plus on only when it’s very dark. Any kind of light hitting the lense could damage the night shot functionality.
Ok, now you’ve found your camera of choice and you’re ready to use it on an investigation. You may be at a private home, public historical landmark or a very old cemetery. So what should you watch out for? Keep an eye on your EMF detector or any fluctuations in temperature using your digital thermometer. Any time you or someone on your team notices any differences in a particular area, you should start snapping pictures. Did someone feel a cold spot or have an unusual tingling sensation? Take a picture. When a spirit is trying to manifest itself, the surrounding electromagnetic field will change. The same holds true for temperature. Ghosts will use up a lot of energy in the area they wish to manifest themselves, causing the temperature to drop, sometimes dramatically. The idea is to take as many pictures as you can during an investigation while you’re walking around and asking questions. Start watching your LCD screen on the camera when it plays back the picture you just took. Can you see any orbs or ectoplasm? Now would be a good time to bring out the voice recorder and ask if anyone is here with you tonight and do they have something to say. Remember, always show respect and ask simple questions. Soon enough you’ll be showing off those pictures and EVP’s to everyone! Happy Hunting!
FOR A WIDE SELECTION OF DIGITAL CAMERAS, CAMCORDERS AND VOICE RECORDERS TO PURCHASE, PLEASE VISIT OUR ELECTRONICS PAGE.
