anomalies.htm


Photographic Anomalies


Ever since we started taking pictures on investigations, we have always come across photographic anomalies that people may see as being a spirit or ghost. In all reality, these anomalies have a simple explanation: dust, pollen, smoke, breath, etc. We have compiled some of our pictures to show you examples of what could explain these anomalies.

		Dust/Pollen - We have found that this usually occurs after walking through grassed areas and in areas that the ground is either sand or gravel. The wind can also pick up these small particles. They are seen when the flash goes off and the light reflect back into the lens. The can either appear out of focus or in focus, depending on where the camera focused. There is a device called a DEVA which you can make yourself which eliminates the dust in close proximity to the camera. Plans to build this device are available online - Click here.
Over Exposure - This occurs when the aperture of the camera is open for an extended period of time. A picture's exposure is anywhere from 1/15 second to 1/100 second, even though some camera's can have exposures even shorter than that. Camera's have night shot which keeps the aperture open for a longer period of time. 1/2 second to 1 second is the usually exposure time for night shot. Some cameras also have Long Term Exposure with can range from 1/2 second to 4 seconds. Any movement during either Night Shot or Long term will cause the blurriness and any light source in the shot will be stretched out light in the examples. As what has happened in the past, sometimes a camera will malfunction and take a long term exposure even though the setting may have not been selected. The exposure time is saved in the EXIF data part of the picture file which can be viewed by looking at the pictures properties.
		Smoke - This occurs when either the photographer or someone in close proximity is smoking and the smoke travels in the path of the picture. Smoke looks like breath in the picture, but has a more defined boundary and sometime has patterns that could resemble an apparition. Hence why there is no smoking in and around the area of the investigation.
Breath - Breath looks very close to smoke, but is less defined. This occurs when the air is cool and humid. It is caused by either the photographer or someone in close proximity has exhaled around the camera. When taking pictures when it's cool and humid, it is good practice to hold your breath for short period before and during the taking of the picture.
		Rain - When taking pictures in the rain, each raindrop reflects the light from the flash. Raindrops also may appear to be moving. This is caused by the movement of the drop during the time the flash is going off. There really is now way to avoid this except for not taking pictures in the rain. Most cameras aren't water resistant, so that is good practice to begin with.
Humidity - This appears just as dust or pollen would but it is the water vapor in the air reflecting the flash instead of small particles. This cannot be avoided when using a flash.