Advise needed for paranormal/ghost hunting photography

[Montana girl]

Does anyone have advice on how to best photograph paranormal activity?

On August 15 and 16, 2008 a couple friends and I are going ghost hunting. The conditions at the time of recording will be indoors and dark.

Looking at user submitted photos on this website (http://www.ghostweb.com/free.html) ~scroll down the page~ it appears as though they are just using point and shoot cameras with the light being provided by the camera's flash. I would like better quality photos than that.

Questions:

• What ISO should I use?
• What f-stop and shutter speeds should I use? (assume a dark building at midnight with some ambient light from street lamps)
• Should I use a tripod?
• Should I use my digital SLR (Rebel XTi) or non-digital SLR (Rebel XT)? Why one over the other?
• Do you think EM can be affected by a digital camera?
• Do you think I'm crazy?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer. Ohmygosh, how would amazing would it be if I actually captured something? If I get anything, I will post it!

[coolie21]

I think you should use a 5D Mk2, its vapourware...

and yes, I do think you are crazy

[qtfsniper]

lol this just sounds crazy. I've wanted to try this before but it sounds pointless. nothing will probably come up. Dust = Not Orbs. You'll be catching tons of it with flash. Your questions are also too broad.Are you new to photography? F-stop and shutter speeds depends on each scene to get a properly exposed picture. You'll probably want a bigger than normal depth of field. F5.6-f11 is what I would use. Shutter speed will vary with the scene. It will be VERY slow. (if it's that dark, im going to just guesstimate 5 second exposers. You MUST have a tripod. You aren't going to take pictures without it unless you are taking pictures of an orb that is as bright as the sun. You'll probably want ISO100.. you wouldn't want to think noise was a ghost now goodluck, its going to be tough unless you have a flash. Flash scenes are going to make it look not scary at all though.

[RTP]

Well, looking at the photos on that site:

- to capture orbs leaving contrails you should read up about "painting with light" and "light graffiti"
- to capture overlapping dimensions just set a shutter speed long enough to get some motion blur

[Montana girl]

"Your questions are also too broad.Are you new to photography?"




Yes, I am new to photography and wasn't trying to hide that fact. I learn by asking questions, even ones that may be considered naive, stupid or too broad.

I have searched threads to glean advice from people as yourself - with the experience, knowledge, and willingness to pass it along. An example being "how do I take a picture of the moon?" One of the answers I found in response to that question was the Sunny 16 or Sunny 11 rule. These were answers that actually provided me a basis to start.

Even though I infused my post with some humor, I really am seeking some useful advice. I am sorry if my post seems too rudimentary for users. I am not an idiot, but I am the first to admit I have volumes upon volumes to learn. I was hoping that the Photography on the Net Forums could be that resource for me.

If this is an inappropriate forum for me to ask these questions, please let me know and I will remove this post. Thank you!

[RTP]

There are bound to be skeptics and rude comments on a subject like this... and I doubt many people have a lot of experience photographing ghosts. Some comments below to your specific queries:

• What ISO should I use?
  • The general rule is to keep it as low as possible to avoid noise in your photos. However, if you want to take photos without a tripod in dim lighting you'll need to use a high ISO to get a fast enough shutter speed
    
• What f-stop and shutter speeds should I use? (assume a dark building at midnight with some ambient light from street lamps)
  • I wouldn't like to guess, but I suppose your photos will look spookier if you underexpose slightly
    
• Should I use a tripod?
  • Would definitely be a good idea to take one, given that it will be dark and hence you'll probably be using relatively long shutter speeds
    
• Should I use my digital SLR (Rebel XTi) or non-digital SLR (Rebel XT)? Why one over the other?
  • Digital, so you can take as many photos as you like and experiment with the settings without wasting film
    
• Do you think EM can be affected by a digital camera?
  • EM?
    
• Do you think I'm crazy?
  • Only a little...
    

Do post anything you get

[gjl711]

• What ISO should I use?

I would think that as ghosts are dim and vaporous that you would want to set it as high as possible. Also there might be the affect that the apparition has some ability to influence the noise itself.

• What f-stop and shutter speeds should I use? (assume a dark building at midnight with some ambient light from street lamps)

Again. go with the lens wide open and set the shutter speed to several seconds. Your going to want to get very dim light. Think photographing fireflies.

• Should I use a tripod?

Absolutely, especially if your serious. Camera motion on even the dimmest of light can create a light area resembling a ghost.

• Should I use my digital SLR (Rebel XTi) or non-digital SLR (Rebel XT)? Why one over the other?

Well this gets into all types of different paranormal stuff like karilian photography, and such

• Do you think EM can be affected by a digital camera?

possible, who knows for sure

• Do you think I'm crazy?

Depends, It could be a fun outing.

[Montana girl]

Thank you everyone for your responses!!! Wish me luck!!!

[Vacation]

Originally Posted by Montana girl

Does anyone have advice on how to best photograph paranormal activity?

On August 15 and 16, 2008 a couple friends and I are going ghost hunting. The conditions at the time of recording will be indoors and dark.

Looking at user submitted photos on this website (http://www.ghostweb.com/free.html) ~scroll down the page~ it appears as though they are just using point and shoot cameras with the light being provided by the camera's flash. I would like better quality photos than that.

Questions:

• What ISO should I use?
• What f-stop and shutter speeds should I use? (assume a dark building at midnight with some ambient light from street lamps)
• Should I use a tripod?
• Should I use my digital SLR (Rebel XTi) or non-digital SLR (Rebel XT)? Why one over the other?
• Do you think EM can be affected by a digital camera?
• Do you think I'm crazy?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer. Ohmygosh, how would amazing would it be if I actually captured something? If I get anything, I will post it!

You could always ask the ghost to come back to the studio with you...lol

I have no idea but being the jokester I am I couldn't resist..lol

Have a great time!

[EOS_JD]

Crazy

[cryforashadow]

Do you think I'm crazy?
Yes, but in a good way. I'm sure you'll have fun.

[gjl711]

Don't forget to post some pictures especially if you get one.

[PhotosGuy]

Wish me luck!!!

Take the worry out of having to be lucky! You could get an old film camera & put a few holes in the bellows. Then every image would have a ghost in it!

[fubarhouse]

Well as illogistical as the topic is, the only way I can see you photographing invisible objects or such would be through infared. There's no way to photograph something you can't see without a filter, and still, it's VERY limited, nothing even worth mentioning.

I might say your crazy, but I have heard a few legitimate ghost stories - however I don't believe them. I believe ghosts are seen because your brain is telling you that you're seeing them. They're not a physical object.

Anyways, good luck...

[howzitboy]

ive watched those shows and the only type of cameras they use are point and shoots. so u might as well use one of those. ive never seen one of those type of pictures taken with an slr.