Through My Camera

logo92397.gif (8067 bytes)

Through My Camera’s Eyes!

By Donna Kent

Ghost photos have a long and…dubious history. Cameras were new inventions when supposed spirits started appearing in the late 1800’s and just about everyone could be fooled by a simple double exposure. Today, with computer analysis and advanced technologies, truly unexplained spirit energy photographs are almost rare.

Initially, when my own ghost pictures started appearing on my film in the early 1990’s (this was before digital cameras – we’re talking 110 and 35 mm), I logically concluded that there must have been something wrong with my camera or some type of developmental or processing error (and there is a long list of those out there!) which would account for the strange looking shadows and forms that were surfacing on film as I photographed normal things any person might; the construction of a new house, family celebrations, and bringing home a new baby. Many of these early images were thrown away on the assumption that the photos were flawed, or worse, I was a horrible picture-taker!

But later, with different cameras, and different film, the images kept appearing. I was capturing accidentally what some might spend a lifetime trying to find. But are they really ghosts? In the few centuries that cameras have been in existence there have been spirit photographs. Are they truly, tangible proof of an afterlife? Or that hoaxes can be very convincing? These days with unlimited computer technology, photos can be manipulated and altered to show any imaginable "ghostly forms." Unfortunately, these fakes put a damper on those of us with an honest approach to trying to figure out this most fascinating phenomenon.

Photo experts and analysts can’t prove that photos like these come from another dimension but they can rule out every other possibility. They look for some sort of defective explanation that include aspects of the normal photographic process such as lens flare, light leaks, reflections, refractions or any other type of photographic artifacts or anomalies that can and might occur. They look for depth, texture, shadow, and shape – all the attributes the photo contains - anything known that might cause such strange configurations to the pixels in our pictures!

They do, however, leave the door open, for a paranormal explanation. They reason that there could be some sort of phenomenon occurring that a camera might pick up on that a person might not. Film is radiation sensitive; light sensitive. Spirits are beings of light, and electro-magnetic energy. Could happenstance be a justification for how the images were obtained? The idea being that the camera "freezes" a moment of our reality in space and time, including realities unseen to the human eye, but sensitive to common film, which can register energy from the low end of the infrared spectrum, to the high end of ultraviolet, thus capturing on film a wider spectrum of light energy than the human eye can perceive. Infra-red technology, although expensive and at times, tricky to use, is a favorite with many ghost hunters and those into spirit photography. Enter digital technology. Hmmm. Here we have no film or sensitive negatives to worry about…yet the forms and figures still keep presenting themselves.

For reasons as yet unknown, it seems that certain individuals have a "knack" for spirit photography and others, as much as they try, never seem to get any anomalous images in their prints. Many theories have been postulated in reference to this including some sort of attraction between the spirit and the photographer. Some feel it is entirely the entity's own volition as to whether or not it’s psychic energy pattern is imprinted on the film. Spirits can appear in many different forms in our pictures. What develops is, I believe, dependant on the skill and amount of energy exerted by the spirit. They must speed up or slow down their vibratory rate in order to materialize in our plane. Some are downright publicity hogs whereas others seem to be appearing merely out of curiosity, perhaps unaware that they are being seen or photographed at all!

For those of us outwardly unaware of our untapped psychic abilities, capturing spirit energy, ghosts or anomalous images on digital, film or videotape can help you document paranormal activity that is occurring at a specific location. This can be strong and convincing, tangible evidence. Certain collections of my photos have been presented as evidence to clergy or church officials called in on some of the more negative cases I’ve consulted on.

You don't have to be a professional photographer or videographer in order to achieve incredible results in this line of the psychic investigation field. By following certain guidelines, you can increase your chances of procuring elusive spirit energy, while maintaining the integrity of your photos. You do, however, need to know a few basics regarding how alarmingly close, photographic artifacts, development flaws, processing errors and other mistakes in film handling, can look in comparison with many, not all, photos presented as actual representations of spirit energy captured on film. Even weather conditions have an effect on the film.

A basic photography course or informative book on the subject should suffice in learning the difference between shoddy developing and actual photos of spirit energy and/or energy fields. Being very mindful of all the possibilities that can occur will help ensure your photos are the real thing!

Disregard anything that may have been taken outdoors during inclimate weather, as this most definitely interferes with the integrity of the photographic evidence. Atmospheric moisture, whether wet or dried and refracted on the camera lens, can be the cause for many images that resemble psychic energy, yet indeed, are not.

Match your negatives to the prints - You can determine if an image present in the photo was due to a processing error if the image is not on the negative.

Determine photographic artifacts such as reflections and refractions.

With digital cameras try to use the highest resolution to eliminate pixels that are void of matter.

Remove your camera strap! Unless you have it wrapped around your wrist at all times, you can't rule that out.

When "smoky" or "cloudy" images appear, you must watch for actual smoke (from cigarettes, cigars, car exhaust, etc). Hot breath on a cold night while picture taking is another no-no.

Remember that any form of spirit communication, including spirit photography, has potential dangers. Say a prayer of protection before beginning and be sure to thank and dismiss all the spirits that have shown up on your photos.

Spirits will usurp energy from many sources in order to manifest; people, plants, animals, lightning storms and the atmosphere, and even our camera equipment. Don’t forget plenty of extra batteries!

After I finally caught on that perhaps I wasn’t a terrible photographer after all, and the first time I consciously attempted psychic or spirit photography, I didn't really expect anything to come of it. Little did I know the photographic results of my half-hearted attempt would change my entire life in multitudinous ways. The image of a full figured man, (I call him Mr. Peet), an angel, and a pitchfork (none of which I had seen when taking the photo) appeared on the very last frame of film shot on March 19, 1995 sometime between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. Although unbeknownst to me at that time, I believe it was Mr. Peet’s appearance in the picture that set in motion the events of my future "career," through a series of synchronistic incidents, all leading me along a preconceived path. Things just "fell into place." It was as if unseen hands and bodiless minds were just behind the scenes, busy at work.

After many synchronicities – word about the “Mr. Peet” photo got around and I was invited to do a segment on Spirit Photography for a national TV Show called Sightings, which was a part of the Sci-Fi Channel network. People concerned with ghosts and hauntings began contacting me on a regular basis and thus The Cosmic Society of Paranormal Investigation was born. The society has investigated over 500 haunted locations, consulted and assisted on countless others.

So…what began as a curiosity and lifelong fascination has actually led, through spirit photography, to helping not only the haunted homeowners to find solace but the spirits who present themselves to us, to find a peaceful existence.

Donna Kent is the Founder of CosmicSociety.com the internet’s largest, free, spirit energy photo website and has appeared on over 50 TV shows including Sci-Fi’s Sightings and Ghost Hunters, The Maury Povich Show, and The ABC SPECIAL -World’ s Scariest Ghosts - Caught on Tape. Her latest book “Ghost Stories and Legends of Eastern Connecticut – Lore, Mysteries and Secrets Revealed” was the publisher’s #1 seller for 2007. She has authored and self published Investigating a Haunted Location Handbook and has written for magazines including The Door Opener, Conscious Living and Llewellyn's New World. Miss Kent is listed as an honorable member of Cambridge’s Who’s Who 2007.She is the editor and publisher of Cosmic Connections Newsletter and the 1997, 1998 and Millenium Ghost Calendars. Donna is the director of Haunted CT Tours (Voted CT’s #1 Tour!). Cosmic Society offers nationwide membership, classes, workshops, seminars and presentations on spirit photography and paranormal investigation.

For more on the "Mr. Peet" story, go here: peet.htm