East Georgia Paranormal

[Bobbysuniverse]

In this thread I am going to discuss “Ghost hunting for beginners” abridged… In my opinion this is stuff you need to know to get started in paranormal research. Now first let me explain that I am not an expert in this field. I do not think anyone really is.. There are some with a little more knowledge than others but to call anyone an expert in the paranormal is ludicrous. The reason I am writing this is that there are too many folks out there calling themselves researchers who have questionable methods, theories, and conclusions. If you are going to research something use a somewhat scientific approach, document your findings, and let the general community scrutinize those findings, just like they do in any other science. But I digress. Anyway this information will come in installments so check back to this thread often if you are interested.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

What you need…..
To truly do research you need a way to document or record your findings. This way you can analyze data you have collected and not have to rely on your memory. Funny thing how unreliable the human memory is to detail. Now, you don’t have to have any super expensive equipment like a thermal camera or anything like that to get started just a few basic supplies.

First you need a good small flashlight. Light is good, especially when walking around in a dark unfamiliar place. The Mini Mag Light is great. Small, bright, and can use a red colored lens for night vision. But any compact LED light will do. Another good option is a head lamp; it keeps your hands free for other things.

Now it is no good if you can’t document anything so you need a recording device.
Most micro cassette or cassette recorders will do, but I prefer a digital voice recorder. Sure they are a bit more expensive but they make up for it in reliability and ease of data transfer.

A good camera is a must, Digital is preferred because it is less likely to have false positives due to film or developing. Nothing fancy is required and a “good enough” digital can be found for less than $100.00

A video camera is not imperative but makes documentation even better. On this one you don’t have much of a decision to make as far as the brand. Sony all the way.. Their nightshot feature is awesome for the ghost hunter.

That is pretty much all you need to get started… Soon we will talk about some of the other equipment you may want to acquire but for your first hunt, these items will do fine.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

To get started all you really have to do is find a place that is allegedly haunted. No matter what site you choose make sure you have permission to be there and have notified the proper people. For instance if you are investigating at a cemetery, let the local police know. This is a good way to avoid any confusion and have your investigation interrupted or be charged for trespassing. Your greatest asset as a Paranormal Researcher is your credibility; I can not stress this point enough and will revisit it over and over again in this series. If you are caught trespassing your credibility goes out the window. When you arrive on site, be prompt. If you made an appointment to investigate a private home or building it is courteous to be on time. Also look professional. I am not saying wear a suit and tie but don’t show up in tattered jeans or a t shirt that says F*** You. First impressions are the lasting ones and a homeowner or manager will judge you on their first encounter. Always try to get a history of the site. This way you “know where to look”. Finally, take a buddy, never investigate alone. Not because you may find a boogey man but because you are in a strange place, most of the time in the dark. Kinda would suck if you were all alone and twisted your ankle or fell off a porch. The buddy system works…Use it.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

Once you arrive for your investigation, greet the owner or manger and get right to business. Explain to the owner what you will be doing, what you need them to do, and what equipment you will be using. Homeowners are more comfortable if they have an idea of what is going on and what is going to happen. Quickly observe the area and take a mental note of any hazards that may be around. Conduct your interview with the property owner. You can decide what questions to ask but here are a few musts;

• What kind of activity have you witnessed?
• Where have you experienced this activity?
• Has more than one person experienced the activity?
• Do you know the history of the property?
• Does anyone in the house have a history of mental illness?
• Does anyone in the house use mind altering drugs?
• Are there any hazards the investigators should know about?
• Are any areas off limits to investigators?

Note: if you choose to use a person with sensitive abilities make sure they do not get any information. If they do hear it or have information in advance their credibility is shot.

After the interview do a sweep of the site. If you have the basic equipment I mentioned previously, take pictures and video in the light so you have something to compare later pictures to. For example, an old hand carved bureau can make a pretty freaky shadow when photographed later in the dark. Notice the temperature and humidity of the rooms. Your skin makes for a basic although inaccurate thermometer and barometer. Make note if a room feels warm, cold, or damp. If you have EMF meters and thermometers even better! Record the readings and find sources for the EMF readings such as electrical devices and document where they are. Next you need to get a game plan. Based on the interview decide how you are going to investigate. Who is going where (remember the buddy system), and how you are going to document evidence. Now it is time to get to work….
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[SmokeEater]

Bobby
I am lovin your posts...very informative. I fall into the "technologically challeneged" category on alot of electronic equipment. I would like to see some specific info on electronic equipment if possible, i.e. Is it possible to hook up my Sony camcorder directly to a DVD recorder for longer recording? How to download DVR files to my computer and edit with software. Good Stuff. Keep the info coming.

[Bobbysuniverse]

Choosing the investigation team is important. Never overcrowd a site, if there are too many people not only will they step all over each other but background noise can ruin valuable evidence. If your team uses members with sensitive abilities it is best to put them in different teams so they don’t “lead” each other. Sensitive reports can better be validated if two sensitives get the same data without knowing what the other picked up. It is also a good idea to keep people in romantic relationships on separate teams. Again, in this instance one person could lead another into collaborating a false positive. i.e. if pookey sees a ghost she could convince her boyfriend shnookums that he saw one too. Or it could go the exact opposite way where if one does not collaborate the others story, it could cause tension. Let’s also not forget the distraction factor. Two people romantically involved in a dark room together…Use your imagination. When setting up the teams try to mix things up. For example use a Sensitive, skeptic, and believer on a team. Basically, try to get people with differing points of view in a team. You can cover more opinions this way.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

When you enter the room or area your team is investigating there are a few simple protocols that should be followed. First, do a visual sweep of the area; take a quick mental note of where objects are such as windows, doors, or vents. Also look again for tripping hazards. After all, you are probably walking around in the dark. Next take readings (either by feel or with equipment). You should compare your current readings with the data collected during the initial sweep that was completed when the group arrived. Note any differences on your audio recording device. In addition each member of your team should say their name into the recording device. This way you can recognize each member’s voice and compare them with any other voices on the recording. Announce out loud what you are doing as well. By doing this, whoever is reviewing the recording can ignore sounds like cabinet doors being opened by team members. After the sweep, the team should try to move around as little as possible. Get in a place and get comfortable. The quieter the group, the more likely you are to notice odd sounds or movements in the area. The person with the video camera should position themselves in a way that they can cover as much of the room as possible with as little movement as possible. It is best that all the team members are fairly close to each other so other members can see when they do things like shuffle their feet or drop something. Doing this eliminates wild goose chases or minor panic attacks. Try not to whisper when communicating with other members of the team. The person reviewing audio will appreciate it. When communicating, try to use a soft but audible voice. Whispering can be mistaken for an EVP and it is harder to discern a team member’s voice when they whisper. Try to investigate an area for more than one hour at a time. The longer a team stays in an area, the more likely you are to catch evidence. Or to be put more accurately, to miss any evidence while teams are rotating areas. It is imperative that if there is more than one investigation team, that they each take turns investigating each area or room. One team can either disprove or confirm experiences of another team. Look at it this way, the more eyes or opinions you have on an issue the better. If you do happen to have an experience, keep yourself from freaking out either from fear (which can be a natural reaction) or excitement. Screaming and yelling only works up the rest of the group and can be detrimental to evidence gathering. Try to stay as focused as possible. People losing focus and getting excited can ruin the best evidence. If you get scared or become uncomfortable in a situation NEVER, EVER run. Again, you are in a dark unfamiliar place and it is hard to run from the boogeyman if you fall and break your leg. If you notice the monster always get the girl in horror movies after she falls down while running. Instead, tell your team members you want to leave. Either one or all of them will escort you from the area (Again the buddy system, no person left alone.) When the team is done investigating an area make sure to again make a mental note of where objects are. The next team coming in might find something out of place.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

Audio is very important during an investigation. A good audio recording documents what your team is doing and is many times the only evidence you may gather. It is important to have a good reliable recording device on any investigation. I personally prefer digital media because it is less likely to gain false positives because of faulty media. Some people complain that digital media does not pick up as much as magnetic media (tapes) but in my personal opinion quality is better than quantity. In addition, digital media is the easiest way to share your findings with the public. With that being said, and even more important than the type of recording device you use is being able to use it properly on an investigation. As previously stated, your recorder can be used to not only gather evidence, but to document what your group is doing. Announce out loud when you are entering, leaving, or what doing in a room. This helps when you need to go back and review anything on the recording and can eliminate false positives. Now to the real reason you are recording, to gather evidence. What you are trying to capture is an EVP, which stands for Electronic Voice Phenomenon. The theory behind EVPs is that an entity can more easily imprint a voice on an electronic device than make an audible sound. Of course you want to get audible sounds as well.. Way more exciting. Anyway, it is important to keep in mind that many of the digital recorders out there have very sensitive mics, so when you enter a room, find a good stable spot to set your recorder down, hit record, and leave it alone until you are ready to leave the area. When you carry your recorder around, it picks up noises from your clothes, or gets bumped around. At any time one of these ambient noises can cover up good evidence or cause a false positive. Another important reminder is always make sure you have good batteries. Nothing is more frustrating than thinking you may have recorded something and finding out the recorder shut down due to lack of power. If you are leaving your recorder in an area, make sure everyone knows it is there. Have them announce when they enter or leave a room. This helps the person that is reviewing the recordings. Also, remind your team members not to whisper while recording. Many EVPs have been captured as whispers and you do not want to get excited because you thought Joe whispering was the boogey man talking to you via EVP. Again, it is the quality of the evidence captured and not the quantity.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

Next we come to photographs. Some consider a photograph of an entity the holy grail of paranormal research. The problem is how do you know if you have captured a picture of a ghost? Good question, especially with some of the photos out there claiming to be of “spirit orbs” and “ectoplasm”. Many people do not have the expertise or knowledge to know when their camera is giving them a false positive. I am no expert in photography either but I have talked to a few. (Knowledge is power and all that jazz). Here is what I have learned and a few suggestions. First, get a good camera. That little 110 you got for your 12th birthday is just not good enough. I again, prefer digital. With film cameras you run the same risk, if not more so, than you do with magnetic tape. Not only do you have to worry about your camera, but flaws in the film itself, double exposure, and issues while developing. With digital, if the sensor is messed up, you get roughly the same flaw in every picture. And you do not have to worry about if Kevin at the photo mat has messed up your pictures or not. Another good thing about digital cameras is the ability for instant review. A very nice feature if you happen to see the boogeyman. I personally would select a camera with 5 megapixels or more. These cameras give a very good quality picture for what you are doing. The more megapixels the bigger you can have the picture blown up. If you do not want to go digital, I would suggest a good 35mm SLR.
Now that we have the type of camera out of the way, let’s take a look at some common mistakes that can cause a false positive and how to avoid them. The most common picture taken is that of an “orb”. I personally do not put a lot of stock in them. Most of the time they are merely debris like dust floating in the air. What happens is, you take a picture and your flash reflects off these small particles. When the light is refracted back to the lens of the camera it flares causing it to become a perfect circle in the picture. The rule of thumb on an orb is to ask these questions; Does it generate it’s own light? Does it have a “tail” (showing light and movement)? Was it captured without a flash? One way to remove dust orbs from your pictures is to use an indirect flash. This is one that you can point away from what you are taking a picture of. You can get them for most SLR type cameras. Without a direct flash the debris is less likely to reflect directly back to the lens. If you can get a picture without a flash, even better. Another false positive can be a rod. These are usually elongated white lights in a picture and often have a pattern to them. Sorry to say, most of the time they are bugs. Yes bugs. You see, when you are taking pictures in a dark place the shutter of the camera stays open longer so the film or sensor on the camera picks up a streak as the bug flys across the camera’s field of view. Add a flash which again reflects off of it and viola, a rod. Now we come to ectoplasm. What can I say about ectoplasm except that there is no scientific proof it even exists. That is not to say it doesn’t (after all we are looking for ghosts). It is just hard to capture something on film that no one really knows what it is. Most people describe it as a mist or fog. I can live with that. Here is the problem. With a mist or fog it is very easy to get a false positive. You have to take many things into consideration. First is the most obvious, are there any sources of smoke. A chimney, a cigarette, a forest fire? Next is the temperature. Is it cold enough to see your breath? Finally, think about the humidity. Could it just be a patch of naturally occurring fog in a low spot? Always take more than one picture, snap them off as quick as you can. If the fog moves, note if there is a breeze and if that mist is traveling with it. This will help eliminate some false positives. Another common mistake, and a worrisome one is the amount of pictures claiming to be entities that are actually that of the camera strap in front of the lens and illuminated by the flash. It is worrisome to me because some folks either don’t care or are so ignorant that they try to pass them off as spirit photos. Make sure your camera strap is out of the way! I personally have removed them from my camera. Less chance for me to screw up a perfectly good picture. One helpful hint to eliminate false positives and to see if there is dust and debris in the air is to use your flashlight. Simply turn the light at a 90 degree angle to you and look through the beam. You can usually see how much stuff is in the air by doing this.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

One staple tool of every paranormal researcher is the EMF meter. EMF stands for Electromagnetic Field.. This particular tool measures the amount of electromagnetic energy in the area. All things have an electromagnetic field. Most are very weak but some electrical devices put off a rather strong one. The theory is, an entity will try to draw energy from its surroundings in order to manifest itself. When it does this it creates an anomalous EMF. The purpose of this tool is to find these fields and investigate them. It is not a required tool but sure can come in helpful in confirming or discrediting a haunting. EMFs are still not widely understood but it has been suggested that they do have an effect on the human psyche and body. EMFs have been said to cause anything from paranoia, and nightmares, to hallucinations, aches and pains, and even cancer. If the site for your investigation does have high EMF readings, it is something that should definitely be taken into consideration. The meters themselves are calibrated to “tune out” normal or low level background EMFs. So if the meter goes off you are picking something up. Maybe not a ghost but a microwave or faulty wiring, this is why you have to carefully investigate each reading before yelling ghost. Getting a good EMF meter is like getting a good camera, important. Some out there are merely toys and don’t work worth a flip. The ones I have found to be reliable yet cheap ($35-$50) are the Gaussmaster, Sperry, and Cell Sensor. Of course if you are going for accuracy on your readings go to one from Fluke or another meter manufacturer they can range from $100 - $350. Of course you are a beginner and I would suggest getting your feet wet before spending that kind of money. And the aforementioned models are accurate enough to detect an anomaly. Now to the good part, what you are looking for. First you are looking for EMFs that do not seemingly have a source. This means there is no electrical device, or in ideal situations no power in the area. Be sure to check for high voltage power lines. Remember to examine each reading for a source thoroughly. For instance there could be an electrical panel on the other side of the wall that you can’t see. Next you try to find EMFs that are “free floating” This means that you pick up a reading out in the middle of space. You can circle around it, and above and below it and not get a reading, but if you put it in that certain spot your meter spikes. Another thing you are looking for is movement. Can you follow a free floating EMF? Does it seem to move about an area. Another form of “movement” is manifestation and dissipation with no reason. Does it get stronger and weaker with no known explanation like a switch being turned on or off or a walkie talking being used? One important thing to remember is to document your readings and where they are by saying them out loud so your audio recorder can pick them up.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

If you want to make video recordings, two words, Sony Handycam. Sony has come up with the perfect video camera for paranormal researchers. This camera can shoot video in total darkness or zero lux. It uses infrared technology or IR. IR is a bandwith of light not visible to the human eye. But this little camera picks it up beautifully and allows you to shoot in what appears to you to be total darkness. You will pay a little more for this feature that Sony calls Nightshot. But it is well worth it. Now this is not to say that you can’t use another brand or type of video camera. But as far as I know Sony is the only one that can shoot in total darkness, all others require at least some type of ambient light.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

With all my talk about flashlights, cameras flashes, and zero lux video cameras, perhaps I should explain why paranormal researchers run around in the dark. It is not because entities only come out in the dark. In fact we have received many reports that most activity on some sites occur during the day. The reason we wait until night and work mostly in the dark is because it benefits us. At night there are less distractions like traffic outside or curious onlookers wandering in or out. When it is dark our senses tend to become slightly more heightened. We as humans tend to use our sense of sight as a majority for collecting data about the environment around us. Take that away or lessen it and your other senses pick up the slack. You tend to feel more, hear more, and smell more. That’s it, I know it is pretty anticlimactic but it is true…Sorry to say but the boogeyman does not just come out at midnight like in the movies or books.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie

[Bobbysuniverse]

Now that you have completed your investigation, picked up your mess, packed your gear, and thanked your host for allowing you to invade their lives for a few hours it is time to go home and review all the data you have gathered. Now if I have not explained it before let me explain it now. Paranormal research can be best described as huge amounts of hours of boredom with tiny intervals of pure excitement thrown in from time to time. Reviewing data is no exception and is in fact the most tedious part of an investigation. However boring it may be, it is also the most important. Research is about collecting and analyzing data. If you are not doing that, do the paranormal community a favor and just watch it on TV. In order to effectively analyze the data you must remain focused and undistracted. It can be hard watching a rocking chair do nothing for 4 hours straight but it is important because maybe once in that 4 hours that rocking chair will rock back and fourth one time. Now I am not saying you have to do it all at once. If fact I would encourage you to take a break after about 30 minutes of listening to white noise on a recorder or staring at a monitor. Just stop and pick up right where you left off. Too much analysis can make you loony and you start to hear and see things. Once you do find what you think might be evidence, tear it apart. Remember, your biggest asset in this field is your credibility as a researcher. If you go to a client and show them dust orbs in a picture they will probably think you are a nut and tell their friends. Always look for a natural explanation even if it is not the most obvious. If there is any doubt whatsoever my policy is to dismiss it. Here it comes again …. Quality evidence is better than the quantity of evidence. Always keep your evidence in raw form. If you use editing techniques such as amplification it can be argued that it was doctored. Raw form allows for scrutiny by others. While we are on the subject always get a second opinion. Whether it is someone in your group or an outside expert, the more eyes and opinions on an issue the better. Outside experts are great for verification, Experts in the field of photography, video editing or audio production can be valuable when deciding on whether something is evidence or not. Just make sure you have thoroughly examined and analyzed everything…Wait for it……Quality is better than quantity.
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"Daddy, if ghosts aren't real then what are you hunting?" - Suzie