01 of 07

The Camera Strap

Photos That AREN'T Paranormal Camera strap. Photo: J.D.

How to avoid mistaking common glitches for the paranormal

This website receives many photographs from readers and ghosthunting groups that they suspect show paranormal images: ghosts, spirit activity, demons, etc. The truth is, convincing ghost photos are very rare, and most of the pictures I receive can be explained in other ways -- sometimes quite easily. The photos in this gallery are common examples. They do not show ghosts or other paranormal phenomena... probably. (I say "probably" because when we're talking about paranormal possibilities, nothing can by ruled out definitively. Yet, I think we can be 99.9% sure that they are not paranormal.)

When examining photos for possible paranormal elements, we have to be very careful and skeptical. So many things can spoil the photographic image, which by its very nature is sensitive. Stray light, reflections, dust, hair, and insects can all cause photo anomalies. Just because you didn't see something in the viewfinder that later appears in your photo does not mean it's a ghost. For example...

This is a very common mistake. Many people see this strange formation in their photos and wonder if it's some kind of energy vortex or long-dead great-grandma materializing to say "happy birthday". A close look at this "vortex" will make it quite evident that this anomaly is merely the strap that is attached to the camera which has fallen in front of the lens. This often happens when the camera is titled to the side to take a portrait-oriented picture, like this one. You can plainly see the loop of the strap and its braided texture. It is illuminated by the flash.

When I receive photos like this, I diplomatically respond by asking, "Do you think this could possibly be the camera's strap in front of the lens?" Oddly, they very often respond by saying something like, "Oh, but this camera does not have a strap on it...."