Ghost Web Photo Gallery

August 24, 2005 6:55 PM

Supernatural flashes and light leaks! The page layout is surely not the best of the web (forgivaness-- you've got to scroll past some bad 1998-vintage ads to get to the meat) but the credulous explanations for the photographic anomalies are some of the best leaps of logic I've seen posted anywhere. From cigarette smoke to light leaks, these guys leave no preternatural stone unturned.
posted by Devils Rancher (44 comments total)

I got my page title and post title backwards. See you in court.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:56 PM on August 24, 2005

Ha ha I especially like this one, although it makes me suspect that this webpage is just a prank.
posted by Citizen Premier at 6:59 PM on August 24, 2005

"This photo was taken with a digital camera with no batteries in it."

Uhhhh, yeah.
posted by neckro23 at 7:06 PM on August 24, 2005

Well, I don't out of hand dismiss the notion of ghosts or the possibility that they can can be captured on film. But this site is just a wee bit ridiculous.

When you attribute every "odd" photograph as spirits, ectoplasm, nature sprites, whatever, isn't that just crying "wolf!" over and over? Maybe one of those pics are genuine--who the hell would know?
posted by zardoz at 7:37 PM on August 24, 2005

Isn't this obviously a leaf? There are even other leaves similar to it at the bottom of the photo. Or are those spirit orbs too?
posted by agropyron at 7:47 PM on August 24, 2005

Metafilter: Shooting downward leaving a contrail behind it.
posted by UseyurBrain at 7:51 PM on August 24, 2005

Carol is a graduate of the IGHS certified ghost researcher home study course.

damn..and they didn't provide a link where I could sign up.
posted by j.p. Hung at 7:59 PM on August 24, 2005

Wow.

From my own experiences, I have, to a degree, a belief in some "paranormal" type things. I typically take most with a grain of salt, though.

After seeing these and reading some of the explanations, I think I've had enough salt to have an instant coronary. They all have completely logical explanations. Like the mysterious hooter face. Looks like a little hot and heavy 2-1B action going on.

Sometimes I think the greatest mystery of all if why people are so attracted to the most implausible explanations of a mystery. Or maybe I'm just cranky.
posted by zerokey at 8:03 PM on August 24, 2005

Isn't this obviously a leaf? There are even other leaves similar to it at the bottom of the photo. Or are those spirit orbs too?
posted by agropyron

No, definitely a ghost! Same with all the other really crappy, poorly lit, slow shutter speed, reflections off the lens, pictures in there. Any sane person just tosses those in the bin. Examined by an 'expert'. Pah! 'Dr.' my foot.
posted by defcom1 at 8:06 PM on August 24, 2005

damn..and they didn't provide a link where I could sign up.

Actually, yes they do.
posted by brundlefly at 8:07 PM on August 24, 2005

thanks brundlefly...I can't wait to get my degree and explain away all sorts of obviousness.
posted by j.p. Hung at 8:09 PM on August 24, 2005

Well, just sign me up

The CD Version of the Ghost Researcher Course is USD $175.00 .....

The special Printed version is discounted when the Certified Ghost Researcher and the Certified Paranormal Investigator Courses (Part 1 and 2 of Home Study Course) are purchased at the same time for US$350.00 and we pay Priority Mailing in USA The Spouse/Mate/Friend/Family option is available so a second person can be certified at the same time with an extra set of test questions. This option is $35.00 for the combined Part 1 and 2 Home Study Course.
posted by X4ster at 8:11 PM on August 24, 2005

These are the scariest and yet most impressive images I've ever seen. I was always skeptical before, but this image in particular (which is in no way the end of someones eyeglass frames) really makes me rethink my entire belief system.
posted by tastybrains at 8:14 PM on August 24, 2005

Goddamn. They're not even trying.
posted by fleetmouse at 8:24 PM on August 24, 2005

I love how these people throw around the word "contrail."

I was walking up the contrail to my contrail when I pulled out my contrail. I captured this image of a contrail with contrails coming out of the contrail!
posted by sklero at 8:38 PM on August 24, 2005

I want to believe.
posted by fandango_matt at 8:43 PM on August 24, 2005

Pah! In the old days, we didn't need no stinkin' cameras to document ghosts. Not when good ol' ASCII will do. Like this:

OOOOoooo....---'

What mysterious spectral force could have left that? We'll never know for sure...
posted by arto at 9:04 PM on August 24, 2005

Hee hee, heh, oh man, d'oh!
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:29 PM on August 24, 2005

I'm sorry, but the photographic ghost-hunter people are so pliable that I can't even make fun of them.

It's more fun to make fun of the ghostly Electronic Voice phenomena.
posted by snsranch at 9:44 PM on August 24, 2005

That didn't work, how about this.
posted by snsranch at 9:47 PM on August 24, 2005

"Learn how to discern between a camera strap and a vortex . . .

Let me save you guys $175 USD:

One's real, and the other isn't.

You are all now certified ghost hunters. You're welcome.
posted by Mikey-San at 9:48 PM on August 24, 2005

*adds that closing " to his quote, steps away from the keyboard*
posted by Mikey-San at 9:50 PM on August 24, 2005

Come on. This is smoking GREAT! What's up with all the comments suggesting this is anything other than a brilliant send-up of spoon-bending remote-viewing fairy-photographing Uri Geller types?
posted by cccorlew at 9:57 PM on August 24, 2005

I must say, there's nothing more entertaining than making fun of the Ghost-Photographer that takes an image of a room filled with dust and calls it a cacophony of souls. Nevermind that dust refracts light and she was standing in one of the dirtiest rooms ever.
posted by Plinko at 10:11 PM on August 24, 2005

How can you not take me seriously?
posted by Plinko at 10:12 PM on August 24, 2005

Do not trifle with the Theory of Intelligent Film Development. Heathens.
posted by 31d1 at 10:14 PM on August 24, 2005

"Someone from beyond the grave who loves cats. "

Terrifying... yet adorable.
posted by brundlefly at 10:24 PM on August 24, 2005

This thread is magnificent.
posted by deafmute at 12:54 AM on August 25, 2005

Looking at these photos and ignoring the "ghosts", one notices one thing in common. All of these photos are incredibly bad. Who takes a picture of an empty staircase? Who take a picture of a shelf with a shopping bag? In the past I have tried to explain to people posting these types of photos what the real problems with their photos are but they still try to justify the most unbelievable things.
posted by JJ86 at 1:54 AM on August 25, 2005

Isn't this obviously a leaf?

Yes it is. If you read the comments beneath the photo:

"Dr. Dave's Notes:
While this photo suggest a green streaking orb, if you exame the photo closely you will see leaves below the streak suggesting the streak is a leaf with jagged edges and not a green orb in motion. Sometimes it is easy to miss such small evidence as leaves, but once pointed out, they stand as evidence of a natural anomaly."
posted by Hal Mumkin at 4:08 AM on August 25, 2005

They've changed the text, Hal - last night the comments claimed it WAS a green orb in motion.

The internet archive doesn't have an older version of the page, unfortunately. Anyone have it in their cache?
posted by yhbc at 5:35 AM on August 25, 2005

They've changed the text, Hal - last night the comments claimed it WAS a green orb in motion.

Just the fact that they changed it (yes, I saw it myself, looked at it a couple times at least while writing up the post, and posting it to another forum) lends credence to the notion, however farfetched, that these guys at least hope to be taken seriously.

WOW.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:52 AM on August 25, 2005

Dimensional shifting! WHERE ARE THE MAN'S LEGS???
I'm going to send in some of my photos, see what Dr. Dave has to say about them. I think they're supercharged orbs, do you think they're supercharged orbs? I bet Dr. Dave thinks they're supercharged orbs.
posted by nylon at 8:28 AM on August 25, 2005

Or the contrails thereof, obviously. I mean, what else could they be? Lights? Impossible! Occam's razor leaves nothing but supercharged orbs.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:08 AM on August 25, 2005

The "Dimensional Shifting" explanation:
Notice the man on the left, his legs have vanished and it appears that there is another figure of a small child, plus look at the ectoplasmic spirit energy.

I noticed that the man on the left was dressed a priest, wearing black pants in a dark room, and had affixed a doll to his crotch.

I am obviously not a doctor!
posted by Mamapotomus at 9:39 AM on August 25, 2005

I can hardly wait for Dr. Dave's revision of that caption:

"While this photo suggest a man with no legs, if you exame the photo closely you will see doll affixed to black priest pant suggesting pedophilic oral sex, and not a figure of small child. Sometimes it is easy to miss such small evidence as pedophilic priest costumes, but once pointed out, they stand as evidence of a natural anomaly."
posted by yhbc at 9:44 AM on August 25, 2005

There was nothing in that area that would look round and white. I think this might be my daughters grandmother that passed away a good many years ago

Because my daughter's grandmother was also round and white.
posted by ook at 9:45 AM on August 25, 2005

Oh man.

This photo was taken at 3am in the morning in my son's room with a digital camera and absolutely no light what so ever.

Because I wanted a picture of, uh, the dark.

Ghost-believing credulousness aside, I really wonder what some of these people's photo albums look like; do they just wave their cameras around at random and collect the results?
posted by ook at 10:01 AM on August 25, 2005

My band's new name is gonna be Natural Anomaly. We're gonna rock out from beyond the grave!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:06 AM on August 25, 2005

My band's new name is gonna be Natural Anomaly.

I prefer Adam's Bayou Bigfoot Hunt
posted by JeffK at 10:29 AM on August 25, 2005

Penn and Teller did a very entertaining Bullshit! episode on this a while back.
posted by blendor at 11:03 AM on August 25, 2005

While fakes are always possible, this photo appears to be valid. Notice the contrail near the head and near the belt line of the appartion. The contrail near the head is casting a shadow to the wall. These are small details that suggest that this photo is of an apparition, complete with portions of the body that is transparent while other portions are solid looking.

Thanks Dr. Dave. Here I thought it was 1/6 @ 22f. Silly me.
posted by Jazznoisehere at 11:30 AM on August 25, 2005

These people make all of us that are real Paranormal Investigators look bad. Charlatans.
posted by stevis at 1:14 PM on August 25, 2005

Dr. Dave's Notes:
The first photo shows supercharged orbs, the red dots are from his auto focus and should be ignored.

Fantastic.
posted by Celery at 1:23 PM on August 25, 2005