During
ghost photography
Protect from water droplets. Rain,
sneezing, coughing and the like can assist in the accumulation of
droplets on your lens. Such droplets can create on film the globule
effect. The best way to minimize such a mishap is to protect the
camera lens. Additionally, condensation can occur when you get out
of your nice warm car and step into a cold cemetery. In this case,
allow your camera to adjust to the abrupt change of environment. A
few minutes to permit evaporation and a brief lens cleaning will
counter lens fog. Remember, NEVER clean the lens while in the middle
of a roll of film!
Lights. Oftentimes, it is
unavoidable to take photos without getting a natural light source in
the frame. Be sure to document what light sources are around you in
case they show up in the pic. Street lights, lanterns, flashlights,
cars and even airplanes can work their way into your photos. Be
careful!
Remove your camera strap.
If you should obtain a photo that clearly
shows a vortex, a strapless camera eliminates reasonable doubt in
your photos authenticity. The strapless camera is a must at all
investigations. If for some reason you cannot remove your camera
strap, you MUST secure it around your neck or tightly around the
wrist as to not get in the way of your camera's lens.
Tie your hair back. If you have
long hair, wind can blow it right into your camera's way. Something
as simple as a rubber band can significantly reduce the risk of a
false-positive image.
Do not smoke. During an
investigation, especially while photos are being taken, do not
smoke. Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke may show in an image as an
ectoplasmic cloud. By designating a time before and a place away
from your investigation to smoke, you will eliminate the possibility
of an ectoplasm of tobacco smoke. Also responsible for this
phenomena is the photographer's breath in cold weather (hold breath
while photo is taken), vehicle exhaust, fog and lens condensation.
We have made it a point to document area and weather conditions for
every investigation in our reports.
Routinely clean your lenses. The
port of your camera lens can easily become stained with
fingerprints, dust, dirt, dried water spots, etc.. A quick cleaning
and cautious handling of your camera can reduce these problems. Be
sure to ONLY clean the lens between rolls of film! NEVER clean it in
the middle of a roll! If dust or water droplet is on the lens, it
will show up in more than one picture in the same spot. By not
cleaning in mid-roll you will be able to distinguish water droplets
from anomalies. Although the ghost hunter does not recommend ghost
hunting photography in the rain, we do recognize that sometimes it
is unavoidable. Whenever possible, avoid ghost photography while it
is raining.
Avoid reflective surfaces. Mirrors,
glass and other surfaces capable of directing your cameras flash
back at you should not be photographed head-on. Instead, take
pictures of reflective surfaces from an angle. This will reduce some
common film problems.
Camera grip. This mistake
pertains to a select amount of people who constantly put their
finger in front of the lens when they raise the camera (you know who
you are). Simply be aware of how you handle your camera when taking
pictures.
Hooded Jackets. Be sure to
wear clothing that does not have any type of tie. This pertains to
hoods that have laces to tighten, etc.. They can get in the way of
your camera lens, especially if you are taking a photo in a downward
direction.
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