Credibility and
Ghost Photos

by Fiona Broome and the Hollow Hill staff ©2005


It's difficult to define what we take seriously when looking at "ghost photos." The bottom line is generally simple: A ghost photo is only as credible as the person who took it.

Also, many fake ghost photos are easy to spot. Unfortunately, some of the best photos look "fake" when you first glance at them. A solid working knowledge of a good computer graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop can be helpful. Then, you'll know what's possible to fake, and what's unlikely.

Again we stress that the credibility of a photo depends upon how well you trust the photographer. And, unless you are very familiar with this field (and sometimes, even if you are), it's a mistake to put too much faith in photos that came from "a friend" or "a friend-of-a-friend."

However, we can provide general guidelines for looking at photos purporting to show paranormal phenomena.

Indoor ghost photography

In general, we cannot trust any photos taken indoors with a flash camera.

Unfortunately, inside or outside the frame of the photo, there can be a reflective surface such as a window, TV screen, computer monitor, polished wood floor or table, metal figure or hardware, an animal collar, or even jewelry on the hand of the photographer or a bystander.

A reflection of the flash can refract inside the camera, causing false "orbs."

Ghost photos taken where there are lights and/or reflective surfaces

Flash photography outdoors, or where the sun or headlights can cause refracted light in the camera, can raise questions.

When you take a photo, or examine a photo, it's wise to study the setting carefully for possible sources of light or reflection.

The stop sign twenty feet away can cause a false orb, if the light hits it right.

Beer cans and broken glass is common in cemeteries and abandoned buildings, and they can be hidden in the grass so you don't see them except when the flash reflects off them.

Shiny surfaces, including polished granite/marble headstones can cause false orbs.

Although the flash is usually necessary to detect orbs, our best advice is to examine the setting carefully. Also, have someone watch when you take each photo, to see if they spot a reflection that you don't notice in the viewfinder.

Photos taken while smoking

Many ghosthunters smoke. We usually have a "smoke break" before the photography starts, and wait at least ten minutes (20 is better) for any smoke residue to dissipate, before taking photos.

Photos taken by people who've been drinking or doing drugs

An unsteady hand, or even mild inebriation, can affect photographs in a variety of ways. They range from being less observant--for example, not noticing headlights nearby that could cause false orbs--to unintentional projections by the photographer or someone with him/her.

Between those two extremes, there are myriad conditions that can occur when someone is in an inebriated state, reducing the reliability of photos.

Photos taken on buggy nights

Bugs are always a problem when the weather is warm. Ask people with you to check in front of your camera when the flash goes off, to see if there are bugs near the lens, if you have any questions.

Bugs can cause false anomalies. They tend to be more solid and irregularly shaped than anomalous orbs. See this example: Ghost orb or bug?.

One good way to check for bugs is to look up at any streetlight. Generally, if it's a buggy night, there will be insects around the light bulb.

Photos taken on humid/misty nights, or in damp settings

Humidity in the air from any source can cause false orbs in photos. We have an extreme example, in This is NOT a Ghost Portal. Lesser examples from that same night are here.

For more about taking reliable ghost photos on damp nights, read Ghost Orbs and Humidity in the how-to guide.

BUT...

Before we slide entirely into the "Randi" level of cynicism, let's talk about credible photos. They include:

  • Photos you've taken yourself, and you know cannot be explained.
  • Photos taken by someone you trust as honest and with experience in this field.
  • Photos you look at and know cannot be a double-exposure or digitally altered.
  • Photos for which you've studied the negatives and the prints, and sometimes the camera.

There are many other reasons to trust or distrust a "ghost photo." This list covers only the most common reasons we discount certain photos we've seen.

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