Taking Pictures

* Open your film and load your camera after walking around the location for about 20 minutes first. * Use at least 400 speed 35 mm film. 400 and 800 speeds work the best. 1000 speed film develops too grainy. Black and White film also works well. * If you are an experienced photographer, you may want to try infrared film which also has had excellent results in the past. * Make sure you note any other lights in the area so when you view your developed pictures you will not think a street light is an orb. * Make sure you clean your camera's lens regularly. * no smoking at the location, this can appear like mist on the photos so you don't want to contaminate your evidence. * Watch for dust or dirt being stirred up in the area you are photographing. They can give false positive pictures. * All long hair should be tied back or under a hat, again this is to eliminate any false positive pictures and to give the skeptics less ammunition. * Remove or tie up any camera straps so you don't take a picture of that, it looks like a vortex when photographed. * Watch for reflective surfaces and make notes of them. The flash reflected off shiny surfaces such as windows, polished tombstones, etc. can look light an orb or other anomaly. Make note of street lights and any other light source that may appear on the film. * Let fellow investigators know when you are taking a photo so that you don't get double flashes and the night scope operators can look away. If you think you have a double flash photo or any other false positive, log the picture number so you can exclude that photo from the batch when they are developed. Night scope operators can get eye damage if they are looking at a flash through the scope so this is important. * In cold weather be conscious of your breath so you don't photograph that, it'll look like ectoplasm mist. If you think you may have, log that picture number and discard it when you develop the pictures. * Many people like to ask the spirit if they can take their picture , it can't hurt. * Take pictures anywhere and everywhere. If you feel some thing or someone else does, take a picture. Did you think you saw something, take a picture. * Sometimes you will see an orbs, mist or sparkles in your flash or others flashes, take more pictures right there, you are near a spirit. *You can get pictures developed anywhere. Just let the developers know to process and print every photo. Audio and Video Recording * Load the tapes when you are loading the film so you've given any spirits in the area a chance to get used to you. * You can set up stationary recorders and just let them run or you can walk around with them. During audio recording, ask questions whether general ones or one specific to a certain spirit. You can find a few ideas of question on or near the gravestones (i.e. how did you die, ask who left flowers, etc.) * Make sure you view or listen to the whole tape. EVPs are usually not heard at the time of recording but are heard only after the tape is reviewed. * Review notes where you should have recorded any normal sounds as well as unexplained ones (dogs barking, cars, etc.) This way you can tell what a sound is that wasn't heard by you at the time but is now on the tape.

Where to Look

These are some places you can start your ghost hunting at. These are suggestions and you should not limit yourself to just these, spirits can be anywhere. Don't let the age of a building or area fool you, do not trespass. * Cemeteries - The age of the cemetery doesn't matter but the older it is, the more time it has had to accumulate restless spirits. Why cemeteries? Well there are theories such as they are portals to the other side or that some spirits are drawn to their former bodies. * Schools - Schools and former sites of schools may have the build up of psychic energies and imprints of all the highly emotional events that have transpired there. * Theaters - The actors have run the gambit of human emotions inside the walls of a theater plus many have interesting haunting attached to them. * Battlefields - These are great locations simply because of their nature. Many violent deaths in one area will always hold some spirits and psychic energy there. * Churches - There is a long history of the faithful returning to the church they worshipped at. They may be looking for the salvation they were promised and cannot find. * Hotels/Motels/Boarding houses - Many dark dealing and highly emotional events take places in these rooms. * Historic Locations - Many historic buildings, because of their age, have had more time to have spirits attach to it. These buildings are often open to the public and can give you an easy place to start. Many even have known histories of haunting and you may be able to gain access to the building after hours after speaking with the caretakers.

More Tips

* If it is raining, snowing or foggy and you are scheduled to do an out door ghost hunt, reschedule it. You cannot conduct a proper investigation in these conditions. * Keep an open mind, any negative feelings may drive the spirits away. Be respectful of the locations and the dead. * Be skeptical, look for causes for any phenomenon such as natural or man made causes. As an investigator you have to make sure your final evidence will stand up to scrutiny. By eliminating all other explanations, your evidence becomes stronger proof. * No smoking, alcohol or drugs at an investigation for mostly obvious reasons. * No whispering, it can taint your recording results. * The Tax Assessors Office can give you historical info on many locations you visit. * Do not wear perfume, cologne or anything else with a very noticeable scent. This is so someone does not mistake the smell for a supernatural occurrence. Spirits often use scents and smells to get our attention. * Make sure you let someone know where you will be so they will know in case of emergency.

Final Notes

Keep in mind that many of the people who will request an investigation will want to be comforted, educated and they may even want the spirits to leave. Whatever your approach or beliefs, be prepared for this and if you are not willing or cannot help the people in the way they would like, at least provide them with names of people who may help them. Also try to educate them so they understand what is occurring. After explaining what is happening to a witness, many will no longer be frightened or as concerned and you will have done them a great service. If you are a person or group that does offer more assistance through psychics, spirit rescues, etc. remember that the well being and the feelings of the living come first.

Stacey's View: