NON-Paranormal Photos

The investigators mentioned on this site have taken the time during the early years of ghost hunting and took some pictures depicting true anomalies from other particles. Below are pictures of false anomalies with descriptions to help you understand that being a professional ghost hunter also denotes some skepticism in one’s self, specifically in pictures. It is very easy for an amateur or anxious ghost hunter to capture a dust particle and assume it is a ghost anomaly. If you have any questions on any of the pictures posted below, please contact any of the investigators. More experimental and false photographs will continue to be posted.

Black Thumb and Red Thumb: This is a common mistake when the photographer’s finger is in front of the lens when the picture is taken. Fingers in pictures are typically projected as black or red shapes as a result in the picture and assumed to be “negative energy” when they are nothing but mere finger intrusion! (left)

Camera Strap: Some people assume straps to be a form of paranormal energy in motion. Please see the difference between the camera strap in which was purposely placed in front of the lens while taking this picture, and the picture of the orbs in motion from the West Virginia State Penitentiary/Moundsville Prison picture page. (right)

Strand of Hair: Another element that people accidentally capture on film or digital are the loose strings of clothing or material, and assume it is a paranormal anomaly. Also, notice the flash bulb reflection to the left of the strand of hair. Flash reflections are ordinary mistakes when it comes to anxious ghost hunters assuming they capture an orb on film. (right)

Mansfield Reflections: Note the door down at the end of the hallway in the Living Quarters of the Mansfield Reformatory. Two mistakes can be made by looking at this picture. One is the reflection of the flash on the glass of the door. It is common sense that flashes will reflect off of glass, no matter what the distance, and it is up to the photographer to realize and note where and what they are taking pictures of and how the result will portray flashes. Second, to the right of the flash is a reflection of the person who was standing next to me. We have seen some pictures where the author announces his or her capture of a full body apparition when it is nothing but the reflection off of a glass door, window, cabinet or high-gloss wall. (below left)

Mansfield Day Light at End: Another common mistake of anxious or amateur ghost hunters is the effect of actual lights being taken in the picture. Notice the light fixtures along the ceiling in one of the rows of Solitary Confinement at the Mansfield Reformatory. Due to the angle and length of the hallway, the last light which is long and narrow is seen as a small round dot of light. This can be misconstrued as an orb when it actually the angle of the light fixture from where the photographer was standing when the picture was taken. (below right)

Mansfield Day Movement: This picture was taken in the West cell block of the Mansfield Reformatory while the photographer's camera was in motion. Notice the blur further down the cell block compared to the closeness of which the camera was focused. People are sometimes not careful when taking pictures on ghost hunts and assume their movement resulting in blurry pictures is a form of ghost anomalies. (right)

The most common mistakes we see anxious and amateur ghost hunters making is assuming that dust particles are orbs. When taking pictures in an old, abandoned location such as a prison, Dixmont State Hospital or Prospect Place, hold the camera out and away from your body. While taking the picture, look at the amount of dust that can be seen in front of your camera when the flash is triggered. As seen on night-vision video, dust usually “sparkles” when floating in air, and when caught on film projects a very bright white reflection of light, causing people to assume that they captured a bright “orb”. Note how much dust can be seen with the naked eye, and then compare it to the amount that you will see on the picture. That is one technique to practice in taking pictures of dust particles versus an actual orb or paranormal energy. Below are typical pictures of dust that can be easily mistaken as orbs.

Tunnels Under Dixmont Dust: This is one of the many pictures taken in the tunnels under the Dixmont State Hospital. There are miles of tunnels that were used by Dixmont employees pushing carts and collecting laundry from other buildings on the grounds. Also, one tunnel leads to the attached water treatment plant, also abandoned, that once was used to heat the self-sufficient asylum. There are so many tunnels with twists and turns, no one would be able to distinguish the direction in which one faces. Note the ultra bright dust specks caught in the flash in this picture that was taken in January of 2004. (left)

Dresden Dust: This picture was taken while investigating Prospect Place in July, 2005. It was taken down in the cellar which was noted to be extremely dry, causing the air to be filled with dirt and dust particles. It can be seen on video the amount of dust that floats in the air currents. This is NOT a paranormal anomaly. (right)