Searching for Ghosts

Since there is a great interest in ghosts lately, I thought I would put together some information on ghost "hunting." Although, ghosts probably are not really hunted. As far as I can tell, they stop by and have a little chat in your dreams. Since I never find a ghost, or at least rarely find a ghost, perhaps this makes me some sort of authority in the field. Hang around with me! Chances are you will never be spooked unless it is actually me doing the scary stuff. Half the time hauntings are people that are looking, getting horribly scared, and running around without their socks as a result.

Anyone who has ever seen a scary ghost hunting movie knows that the first thing you will need is equipment. You have probably seen all those movies where the ghost guy has a lot of sophisticated equipment to detect what might be going on. Chances are the characters will even compare equipment and one will say something like, "No false readings...." I have no idea what those guys are using, but it is probably something that is way too expensive to invest in for someone who rarely sites a ghost. Most of the tools you need are probably right in your home and not half as fancy as what "those guys" have.


Camera

The first tool, that you probably have in some form is a camera. There is a benefit in having an instant camera like a Polaroid or another brand of camera that gives the photographer quick results. These pictures will develop right away and no one at the photo labs will try to correct your photo or reject it because of some giant ghastly cloud they think is a flaw in the photo. A few corrections and your ghosts may be edited out or not provided as a ruined picture. If I finally see a ghost, get a good camera shot at it, and never get my photo, I would find that terribly disappointing.

You might prefer a 35 mm camera, then you will have to wait to have the photos developed. Some of these cameras work well for night pictures too, which is a feature you could use in some circumstances. Some creative people may be able to develop the photos themselves and also have some nice equipment and lenses to attach. This will give a lot of flexibility to the art. You may have problems getting the correct lens changed during a crucial one second moment of appearance though. One time I did have some sort of an appearance, I was half asleep in my bed tucked in cozily and after the visit I fell back asleep. It did not occur to me to get a camera at all until now... years later.

In the past, I have always preferred to use my digital camera for almost anything. This way you can take all the shots your camera memory will hold without worrying about the expense of film. I download the picture to my computer and also use some other program to blow up sections and examine details that I might not see otherwise, like those dust spots and occasionally the edge of someone's finger.

According to a former BBC cameraman I spoke to, the best piece of equipment to have for "ghost looking" is a movie camera. This cameraman told me they would be on a job filming and review a lot of the film later. They would occasionally capture images that they could not, or did not wish to explain besides groupie behavior. The movement of the image in a film may prove more to anyone than a still photo.

Many non-movie cameras will photograph something that appears to be supernatural, but is simply quite regular. I keep on seeing one picture online that is obviously someone who quickly opened the camera back and partially exposing the film. They keep on speaking of the mysterious light emitting from the person in the photo. I once took a picture in a darkened cellar that was full of "light orbs" in the final photo. The one possibility that we could not rule out was slight condensation on or even inside the camera from moving from a hot afternoon to a cool, damp cellar.


Tape Recorder

Microphones can capture a lot of interesting phenomenon. I did read about Stallone leaving his microphone on while having quite a time on a movie break with a "fan" in his trailer. One professor did leave his mic on while visiting the men's room. Besides all this fun, I have read a microphone can be useful for ghost listening.

A lot of people will use a tape recorder with a microphone to capture sounds at a haunting. Some units are very sensitive to sound. In order to not have a lot of soundless tape to review, since you may go away and see if you caught anything later, a sound-activated tape recorder might be nice. Of course, if you are using a movie camera, you may have the sound aspect covered already. I have read some accounts of people just letting the tape run on a regular recorder and then finding sounds they did not notice later when they review it. I have no experience in capturing sound, so you are on your own with this one.

Microwave Radiation or Electromagnetic Detectors and Other Useful Devices

I was reading the book, "How to be a Ghost Hunter" by Richard Southall where these types of devices are mentioned. I do not have any of these gadgets myself, but they do sound useful. In this book the author mentions that a radiation detector can be used to detect a change in the amount of radiation in an area and would read a difference when it encounters an abnormal energy field. The one specific device mentioned in the book is the "Detecto Card" from Enzone Corporation that would normally be used to detect radiation leads in microwave ovens. Of course if you get a reading when the microwave is going, this could obviously be your oven.

Electromagnetic detectors can find electromagnetic fields (ELF's) in unusual places. ELF's emanate from any electrical device such as your computer, so expect to find a few of those around. However, this may help you find one in an unusual spot such as in the middle of the yard by a tree. If that tree is not plugged in for Christmas, it may be worth investigating unless squirrels have gone hi-tech.

Apparently a compass can detect some weird readings too since it works with a magnet. If it refuses to work, you may again have something to investigate. Since I cannot get any of my compasses to point north or my watch to run regularly, I would not bother with this personally. This can be worth a try for you.


Record Keeping Devices

We have a lot of hauntings where I live, and I am actually not that far away from Sleepy Hollow. There is also another headless horseman where I live, that I have never seen either. Although I have sat at the Sleepy Hollow bar, I have not seen the headless guy go by. This larger ghost population leaves me very conscious of being somewhat ghost deprived, however.

I was reading a story of a paranormal investigator going into a very popular local place performing an investigation into a haunting. In any case, this investigator goes in with a team. This particular day the staff includes a newspaper reporter who has a laptop to take notes. A short time into the investigation, the skeptical reporter's laptop went crazy with the mouse running around the screen and then became inoperable. The point is, if you want to take notes, be sure to take up old fashioned back-up devices such as a pen, pencil and some paper. If you work, these should work. The laptop may work too, but you want to be ready just in case. This reporter ended up making all the notes for his story on paper during the investigation.


Lights

Taking notes may be difficult if you are in pitch darkness. Always bring flashlights, plenty of fresh batteries and backup sources for any light breaking down. Bring candles and matches just in case electrical devices don't work. I can't imagine trusting the candles to stay on, so you might wish to bring those light up sticks that can be worn as bracelets. I have seen them used for night divers so they can find each other at short distances. This may come in handy if you ever strike it rich in the haunted realm.


Detecting Tampering

One item I did not consider in the past was the possibility of tampering with the equipment. If you are doing the investigation for more than just personal curiosity, you may need to look for signs that someone is playing with your equipment. Other people may want to play a joke on you and try to do something at the site in order to make the haunting appear real. Apparently there are people that may wish for that type of excitement in their lives.

In Richard Southall's book, he mentions dusting the area with flour to see any person who may have attempted to walk through the area and to also put up lines of thread. If the thread is broken, you can be reasonably sure someone has been in the area. The markings in the flour around the feet of your tripod may mean that someone has been around your camera. You have valid reason to be suspicious.


Dealing With Yourself

The most difficult aspect of a haunting may be yourself. If you are really frightened of such things, you may be running around screaming and scaring your own crew. Your team may run around screaming after seeing you and then you have a whole haunting full of very real physical beings acting like nuts. I have always taught that what you give (or send), you receive. If you are dealing with an energy and you lose control, what you are left dealing with are the results of your own emotions. This can be difficult, since a backfiring car at a crucial moment can make someone jump out of their pants. Practicing some elements of self-control can be useful for clear seeing in any situation.