Paranormal photography is an interest that had captured the attention of a growing amount of people in the last few years.  If you find the idea of photographing ghosts or spirits interesting and you wonder how to go about becoming involved, there are a few simple things you should know.

First, one must go about finding a haunted site in which to take photographs.  This is not very difficult.  A good place to start may be exploring the local folklore.  Most areas have traditional stories of ghosts and haunting, and many libraries or bookstores may carry books with additional information on these subjects.  Also, most newspapers have pieces about these types of things around October 31.  Searching paranormal themed websites can sometimes be helpful, but one must try to separate tall tales from the more accurate sounding stories.  Police can actually be helpful as well, because they are usually able to distinguish hype and hoax from things that could actually be paranormal phenomenon.  Certain places, such as battlefields, old graveyards, theaters, and universities are normally rumored to have regular paranormal activity.

Most photos of what is believed to be ghosts or spirits show them in the form of an orb.  Orbs are circles or spheres of light that show up in some photos.  Although they are normally white or gray, some orbs may show up in different colors.  These are usually only caught on camera, and are not seen with the naked eye.  Other forms of supposed ghosts or spirits that can sometimes be seen in pictures are ectoplasms or vortices.  Ectoplasm is a cloudy spot that resembles smoke.  A vortex is a wavy line or column or light.

Ghost photography can be challenging because some photography issues such as dust or moisture can cause a similar looking sphere on photos.  Good quality cameras are much more reliable, and digital cameras tend to contribute more problems in this area.  If you are not using a digital camera, try to find the highest speed, best quality film available.  Slow speed films cannot adequately record fast moving objects. 

Some people believe the myth that digital cameras are better for taking paranormal photos, but this is not the case.  Digital cameras are not hyper sensitive to infrared, as some might believe.  Camera makers actually block infrared with an internal IR cut filter so that digital pictures accurately reflect the scenes that photographers wish to capture.

To avoid potentially mislabeled phenomenon, there are a few things you can do.  Always begin with a clean camera lens, and make sure that the strap of your camera stays away from the lens.  It is wise to use your camera in other locations of a similar setting before trying to take pictures in a reportedly haunted area.  Knowing how your camera performs in everyday locations can help you weed out strange things that may simply be a result of your camera’s quirks.  Never try to catch paranormal activity on camera when the weather is less than ideal.  Make sure the wind is calm, and there is no dust, rain, pollen, snow or fog.

Use a tripod with a remote control, or do your best to hold completely still when taking photos.  On chilly evenings, be sure to breathe in or hold your breath when you take your photo.  This eliminates any strange, “smoky” mists that might just be your breath.  Of course, do not smoke while taking photos! 

If you can take a photo without using your flash, this also helps eliminate strange lights caused by the camera.  (On digital cameras you can use the ‘P’ feature.)  Taking a few photos at a time can also help to give perspective and rule out things like dust, bugs, pollen, etc.  If you have access to more than one camera, try taking pictures with multiple cameras.  Additionally, always use the highest resolution possible.  In order to do this, you may want to invest in some extra memory cards.  Save your photos without compressing them so that they will be easier to analyze at a later time.

When you are using a digital camera, you should be able to enlarge the image and inspect it right away.  In the case that you see something unusual, take more photos from different viewpoints and angles so that you will later be able to tell if it was a camera issue or truly paranormal activity.

Look carefully through all of your photos to make sure you have not missed anything.  Careful inspection can yield great results and finds that may have otherwise been missed.  If you have captured images on film, make sure you tell the developer that you would like all of your pictures returned to you, even those that are dark or abnormal.

Most people find that they capture the best images of paranormal activity at night.  Some feel that this is because the darkness allows orbs to show up better in the photos.  If you plan to go out for a photography session in the dark, it is wise to bring someone along.  Also, always make sure it is legal for you to be on any property where you plan to take photos.  Courtesy and etiquette in places like cemeteries is always appropriate and helpful as well.  As long as it is done safely and intelligently, taking paranormal pictures can be a very interesting and exciting part of the world of photography.