Dallas Ft. Worth   -   Washington D.C.   -  Seattle  -   New Orleans

"There are more things betwixt Heaven and Earth

than can be dreamt of in your philosophies, Horatio."

-William Shakespeare

Here I will post links, lectures and brief thoughts on where you can find more on the use of equipment and theories in paranormal research. 

EMF Detectors

Orbs

Ecto

DIGITAL VS. ANALOG CAMERAS

There are a number of reputable ghost hunters who do not like the use of digital cameras as primary photographic evidence. Here is an excellent article which disputes this view written by Dagulf posted on the Tripar website.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030506052652/http://www.triparinvestigations.org/articles/digitalphotography.html

http://www.prairieghosts.com/digital.html

NIGHTVISION OR THERMAL VIEWER?

Confused about the difference between nightvision cameras and thermal viewers? These links help to explain. 

http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/infrared.html

http://www.infraredthermography.com/irvsvis.htm

INFRARED FILM

Here is a link to a site which rates infrared film.

http://www.photographyreview.com/Black,and,White,Film/PLS_3119crx.aspx

Infrared Range refers to region of maximum sensitivity. For a quick rule of thumb, the lower end of the range is red at 700 nM. Between 700-400 nM is the visible light range. Lower than 400 nm is ultraviolet and beyond. The shorter the wavelength (smaller the number) the higher the frequency. Cost is from Glazer's in Seattle, (#) is the number of exposures per roll. 

For various lighting conditions with a #25 filter:

Hazy   f11   1/125

Normal Direct Sun   f11  1/250

Very bright  f11   1/500

Here is a handy chart to illustrate the differences between Kodak, Ilford and normal B&W film. Taken from the Jefferson Davis book

Ghosts, Critters & Sacred Places of Washington 2 reviewed here

Remember to use a #25 (filters 600 nM) or #29 (filters 620 nM) filter, or else it will act like normal B&W film.

DIGITAL INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

This is a branch of photography that is just now beginning to emerge. Infrared photography is another one of those things that most people either love or hate. Up until now, the biggest barrier keeping most people away from it has been cost and the fact that it can be an unholy pain in the ass to utilize. With conventional 35mm film, you have to first buy the expensive film, keep it refrigerated, load and unload in total darkness, use special filters, compensate the focus, have it specially developed at the lab, sacrifice a unicorn and a few pixies...etc. 

Wouldn't it be great to skip all that picky crap? Well, you can, but it just costs more money up front. First off, all digital camera CCD's are infrared sensitive, but they usually have a hot lens built in front which is designed to filter out most of that wavelength. How much? It depends on the make and model of your camera. One of the best ways to test is to point a TV remote at the camera and press a button - the MUTE function seems to work well. 

Can you see a bright flashing white light? If you can, then chances are good that you have the potential for infrared photography. If the light is very dim or invisible, then I am afraid you will have to either find another camera, or perform surgery and pull the hot lens out. (thereby ruining the camera for normal photography) I have a tentative list of cameras that are probably good for IR - but don't buy one based on my recommendation alone. Do your own research and see what works best.                                                                     

Sony MVC 717 - Excellent as it has a Nightshot mode which removes the hot lens. But the 707 has an exposure limiter which can prevent daytime use without a filter. (It will overexpose) I'm not sure the 717 has this feature.  I tried Nightshot mode inside a well lighted store and it seemed to photograph fine. 

After you get a good camera, then put a filter on it (Wratten numbers 89b, 87 and 87c are common) lengthen the exposure, use a tripod and shoot away. The photos you get will probably turn out real dark and funny colored, but just use a photo editor to lighten it up and grayscale the image. 

Here are links to other sites which go into more detail on this subject. 

http://www.cliffshade.com/dpfwiw/ir.htm

http://infrareddreams.com/how_to_shoot_ir.htm

"Up where the smoke it all billowed and curled,

Between pavement and stars, is the chimney sweep world.

When there's 'ardly no day nor 'ardly no night,

There's things half in shadow, and halfway in light,

 On the roof-tops of Lon-don, coo, what a sight!"

Chim Chim Cher-ee

- Mary Poppins