Ghost pictures and 'floating' camera straps

In our recent tests, we were amazed to discover how often a camera strap could look as if it was floating against a dark background.

We're not sure how often this happens in ghost hunting, but it's definitely worth noting if you're analyzing ghost pictures.

Here's a clear example.

Against a light background, the entire length of the camera strap would be visible. However, against a dark background--such as at a haunted cemetery--it might not show up, or look like a shadow.

We've shown other examples of camera strap 'anomalies' in two other articles from our experiments.

Ghost vortex picture... or camera strap?

Strange shapes and camera straps

If this camera strap wasn't silvery and textured, this could look even more like an anomaly. Most camera straps are smoother, and usually black. That makes them only slightly less reflective, according to our tests.

Here are some other examples of 'floating' camera straps. Note especially the picture at the far right, which probably wouldn't be identified as a camera strap during most ghost picture analyses.

If you're a serious ghost hunter, we recommend testing your own cameras to see what the strap could look like in photos.

To get the 'floating' effect, the strap should be peeking out from beneath the camera lens. The shadow of the hardware around the lens--and/or the camera body--usually causes the camera strap to look dark, translucent, or entirely invisible.