Strange photo...proof of spirits?

shawmutt · 8th October 2009, 08:16 PM

My wife and I started what will hopefully be a long tradition in our young family. We carved pumpkins for Halloween. From top to bottom in the following picture, we have goofy me, my lovely wife, my cranky two year old son (I was going to make a happy face, but he whined the whole time and was scared of pumpkin guts, so I made him cranky), and my almost year-old daughter with her two bottom teeth. I set them up on my stairs, lit the candles inside, and snapped a couple photos. The first one came out OK:

The second one has a weird shadow that looks almost human. Is it pareidolia or do you see it too? I put the pic on facebook, and my friends are going nuts.

Pure_Argent · 8th October 2009, 08:28 PM

Yeah, I kinda figured that it was someone wandering in front of the lens. But then, I couldn't be sure until I clicked the spoiler, as I wasn't sure whether you had the flash on or not.

Nice pumpkins, by the way! I haven't carved a jack-o'-lantern in forever. I'm thinking about doing one this year, though...

ETA: My favorite is the one on the bottom.

Blackwell · 8th October 2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by shawmutt

My wife and I started what will hopefully be a long tradition in our young family. We carved pumpkins for Halloween. From top to bottom in the following picture, we have goofy me, my lovely wife, my cranky two year old son (I was going to make a happy face, but he whined the whole time and was scared of pumpkin guts, so I made him cranky), and my almost year-old daughter with her two bottom teeth. I set them up on my stairs, lit the candles inside, and snapped a couple photos. The first one came out OK:

The second one has a weird shadow that looks almost human. Is it pareidolia or do you see it too? I put the pic on facebook, and my friends are going nuts.

It's a great photo. You should post it on some ghost hunting forums and see if you get any skeptical feedback.

shawmutt · 8th October 2009, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Blackwell

It's a great photo. You should post it on some ghost hunting forums and see if you get any skeptical feedback.

For your viewing pleasure:

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com...owtopic=165790

jasonpatterson · 8th October 2009, 09:24 PM

Nice pumpkins. I still need to do this with my kids this year. We usually wait until the last minute since they go moldy so quickly in the fall weather. My daughters keep getting upset when I tell them that they can't get a pumpkin at the grocery store (they've been selling the stinking things for a month now, I can't imagine what a pumpkin that's been sitting outside, carved for a month already will look like at Halloween. Truly scary, probably.

This has always been my favorite jack o'lantern type. Not much in the way of art, perhaps, but funny.

shawmutt · 8th October 2009, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by jasonpatterson

We usually wait until the last minute since they go moldy so quickly in the fall weather.

Yeah, next year we'll probably wait until the weekend before, the bigger ones are already starting to mold and have soft spots, but the smaller ones are holding up pretty good.

Audible Click · 8th October 2009, 10:48 PM

I miss carving pumpkins with my kids...actually I miss watching my husband carving the pumpkins with my kids. We used to get the pale pumpkins that were were almost white. They look very spooky when lit.

Andrew Wiggin · 8th October 2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by shawmutt

For your viewing pleasure:

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com...owtopic=165790

Actually looks like you're getting pretty accurate feedback there, at least so far.

A

JoeTheJuggler · 8th October 2009, 11:05 PM

It says right on the label on the bottle what proof the spirits are.

Oh wait. . . .nevermind.

devnull · 9th October 2009, 01:54 AM

wow - they nailed it

imjohn · 9th October 2009, 05:49 AM

There are usually some fairly sharp, skeptical people on those type forums. They want to believe in the paranormal but they catch BS pretty well.

Careyp74 · 9th October 2009, 06:16 AM

They seem to be nicer over there too. This thread would be a lot harsher if it wasn't presented as a joke.

Akhenaten · 9th October 2009, 06:45 AM

You people put these delightful-looking gargoyle things about the place to 'entertain' children?

I don't know about the pumpkins, but YOU are scaring me.

And you reckon we're fruitcakes.

Careyp74 · 9th October 2009, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

You people put these delightful-looking gargoyle things about the place to 'entertain' children?

I don't know about the pumpkins, but YOU are scaring me.

And you reckon we're fruitcakes.

You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all.

What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits?

EHocking · 9th October 2009, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by shawmutt

...

There's definitely something spooky going on - camera EXIF info says that the exposure was for 15 seconds.

That ghost has stolen 5 sec of your life dude.

Akhenaten · 9th October 2009, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Careyp74

You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all.

What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits?

Blackwell · 9th October 2009, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Wiggin

Actually looks like you're getting pretty accurate feedback there, at least so far.

A

Yeah, agreed. I expected worse.
(I like the guy who says it's either Photoshopped, OR a picture of a shadow apparition. Really? Those are our only 2 choices?)

Biscuit · 9th October 2009, 10:59 AM

Was your kid carrying an action figure of some kind in his right hand? I noticed that the blown up pic on the other forum showed it quite clearly but none of them had commented on it.

This could bring up the very real possibility of ghosts and ghost toys!!!

Safe-Keeper · 9th October 2009, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Careyp74

You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all.

What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits?

He's just saying there's more than one way to celebrate Halloween...

shawmutt · 9th October 2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by EHocking

There's definitely something spooky going on - camera EXIF info says that the exposure was for 15 seconds.

That ghost has stolen 5 sec of your life dude.

You are correct. In order to limit shaky stuff on camera, I set it on a 10 second timer, push the button, and let the camera work. The exposure time was actually 15 seconds.

shawmutt · 10th October 2009, 10:54 AM

Alright, I let the cat out of the bag at that other site I posted at. It was pretty cool to see people get it right from the get go...I wonder if there's some undercover skeptics on that site

jasonpatterson · 10th October 2009, 10:18 PM

From the other site:
InfraredCow: "No, he was lying. They're all ghost -- his entire family."
I realize it was a joke, I just thought it was a good one.

I'm kind of amazed at how many of them initially said, "It's probably some sort of fake/photo error," but then went on to say, "But I really think it looks eerie, maybe you have a shadow apparition." They had the right idea immediately but discarded it in favor of the supernatural.

Azrael 5 · 11th October 2009, 09:27 AM

Looks like a cat has run down steps during long exposure.

kaigiteki · 15th October 2009, 08:24 PM

EXIFViewer is a cool add-on for Firefox. It's not difficult to figure out what happened when you know that it was a 15sec. exposure.

shawmutt · 17th October 2009, 12:56 PM

I was hunting for two things today, squirrels and a new desktop. When I got this picture home, further proof of spirits--orbs, are obvious in the upper center and upper right of the frame, with a few more a bit harder to see but there. The spirits follow me everywhere. It's a digital camera, so don't try saying there was something wrong from the film.

I had to take the picture quickly so my camera wouldn't get too wet from the rain

makaya325 · 18th October 2009, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by imjohn

There are usually some fairly sharp, skeptical people on those type forums. They want to believe in the paranormal but they catch BS pretty well.

I can attest to that, due to the fact that I was ONCE a legend over there! Regardless of disagreements, UM members loved me!

8th October 2009, 08:16 PM	#1
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	Strange photo...proof of spirits? My wife and I started what will hopefully be a long tradition in our young family. We carved pumpkins for Halloween. From top to bottom in the following picture, we have goofy me, my lovely wife, my cranky two year old son (I was going to make a happy face, but he whined the whole time and was scared of pumpkin guts, so I made him cranky), and my almost year-old daughter with her two bottom teeth. I set them up on my stairs, lit the candles inside, and snapped a couple photos. The first one came out OK: The second one has a weird shadow that looks almost human. Is it pareidolia or do you see it too? I put the pic on facebook, and my friends are going nuts. I'm sure most of you got it right away, but if you didn't, I had the camera set to 10 second exposure, and my son wandered into the frame during the second shot.

8th October 2009, 08:28 PM	#2
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,820	Yeah, I kinda figured that it was someone wandering in front of the lens. But then, I couldn't be sure until I clicked the spoiler, as I wasn't sure whether you had the flash on or not. Nice pumpkins, by the way! I haven't carved a jack-o'-lantern in forever. I'm thinking about doing one this year, though... ETA: My favorite is the one on the bottom.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

8th October 2009, 08:57 PM	#3
Blackwell Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,071	Originally Posted by shawmutt My wife and I started what will hopefully be a long tradition in our young family. We carved pumpkins for Halloween. From top to bottom in the following picture, we have goofy me, my lovely wife, my cranky two year old son (I was going to make a happy face, but he whined the whole time and was scared of pumpkin guts, so I made him cranky), and my almost year-old daughter with her two bottom teeth. I set them up on my stairs, lit the candles inside, and snapped a couple photos. The first one came out OK: The second one has a weird shadow that looks almost human. Is it pareidolia or do you see it too? I put the pic on facebook, and my friends are going nuts. It's a great photo. You should post it on some ghost hunting forums and see if you get any skeptical feedback.
	__________________ One can't break the laws of physics, but you can be civilly disobedient towards them. - Dr. Tiki And yea, the Lord did text unto the Philistines... U guys have to stop s1nnig. I totaly <3 U guys 4ever but I will pwn U when I CUL8ER and U will be all OMG! and WTF! and I be LOL!!! - Psiload

8th October 2009, 09:24 PM	#5
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 908	Nice pumpkins. I still need to do this with my kids this year. We usually wait until the last minute since they go moldy so quickly in the fall weather. My daughters keep getting upset when I tell them that they can't get a pumpkin at the grocery store (they've been selling the stinking things for a month now, I can't imagine what a pumpkin that's been sitting outside, carved for a month already will look like at Halloween. Truly scary, probably. This has always been my favorite jack o'lantern type. Not much in the way of art, perhaps, but funny.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

8th October 2009, 10:48 PM	#7
Audible Click The gap in the plot Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BFE Posts: 2,037	I miss carving pumpkins with my kids...actually I miss watching my husband carving the pumpkins with my kids. We used to get the pale pumpkins that were were almost white. They look very spooky when lit.
	__________________ A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.-William James. www.StopVisionFromFeeling.com

8th October 2009, 09:12 PM	#4
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	Originally Posted by Blackwell It's a great photo. You should post it on some ghost hunting forums and see if you get any skeptical feedback. For your viewing pleasure: http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com...owtopic=165790

8th October 2009, 09:30 PM	#6
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	Originally Posted by jasonpatterson We usually wait until the last minute since they go moldy so quickly in the fall weather. Yeah, next year we'll probably wait until the weekend before, the bigger ones are already starting to mold and have soft spots, but the smaller ones are holding up pretty good.

8th October 2009, 11:02 PM	#8
Andrew Wiggin Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: A small planet named for it's dirt. You'll find it filed under 'mostly harmless' Posts: 578	Originally Posted by shawmutt For your viewing pleasure: http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com...owtopic=165790 Actually looks like you're getting pretty accurate feedback there, at least so far. A
	__________________ "Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world." - Arthur Schopenhauer "New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled, the humiliating question arises, 'Why then are you not taking part in them?' " - H. G. Wells

8th October 2009, 11:05 PM	#9
JoeTheJuggler Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Louis Posts: 10,998	It says right on the label on the bottle what proof the spirits are. Oh wait. . . .nevermind.
	__________________ "That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way." —Ponder Stibbons

9th October 2009, 01:54 AM	#10
devnull Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,075	wow - they nailed it
	__________________ (13:36:54) Becket: no conspiracy, its more a group seeking to overthrow America from within

9th October 2009, 05:49 AM	#11
imjohn Critical Thinker Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 266	There are usually some fairly sharp, skeptical people on those type forums. They want to believe in the paranormal but they catch BS pretty well.
imjohn Critical Thinker Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 266

9th October 2009, 06:16 AM	#12
Careyp74 Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Trevose, PA Posts: 1,656	They seem to be nicer over there too. This thread would be a lot harsher if it wasn't presented as a joke.

9th October 2009, 06:45 AM	#13
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford Australia Posts: 6,286	You people put these delightful-looking gargoyle things about the place to 'entertain' children? I don't know about the pumpkins, but YOU are scaring me. And you reckon we're fruitcakes.
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon

9th October 2009, 08:20 AM	#14
Careyp74 Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Trevose, PA Posts: 1,656	Originally Posted by Akhenaten You people put these delightful-looking gargoyle things about the place to 'entertain' children? I don't know about the pumpkins, but YOU are scaring me. And you reckon we're fruitcakes. You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all. What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits?

9th October 2009, 08:30 AM	#15
EHocking Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,250	Originally Posted by shawmutt ... I'm sure most of you got it right away, but if you didn't, I had the camera set to 10 second exposure, and my son wandered into the frame during the second shot. There's definitely something spooky going on - camera EXIF info says that the exposure was for 15 seconds. That ghost has stolen 5 sec of your life dude.
EHocking Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,250	__________________ "A closed mouth gathers no feet" "Ignorance is a renewable resource" P.J.O'Rourke Prayer: "a sophisticated way of pleading with thunderstorms." T.Pratchett "It's all god's handiwork, there's little quality control applied", Fox26 reporter on Texas granite Forum Birdwatching Webpage

9th October 2009, 10:28 AM	#16
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford Australia Posts: 6,286	Originally Posted by Careyp74 You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all. What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits?
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon

9th October 2009, 10:54 AM	#17
Blackwell Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,071	Originally Posted by Andrew Wiggin Actually looks like you're getting pretty accurate feedback there, at least so far. A Yeah, agreed. I expected worse. (I like the guy who says it's either Photoshopped, OR a picture of a shadow apparition. Really? Those are our only 2 choices?)
	__________________ One can't break the laws of physics, but you can be civilly disobedient towards them. - Dr. Tiki And yea, the Lord did text unto the Philistines... U guys have to stop s1nnig. I totaly <3 U guys 4ever but I will pwn U when I CUL8ER and U will be all OMG! and WTF! and I be LOL!!! - Psiload

9th October 2009, 10:59 AM	#18
Biscuit Muse Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 745	Was your kid carrying an action figure of some kind in his right hand? I noticed that the blown up pic on the other forum showed it quite clearly but none of them had commented on it. This could bring up the very real possibility of ghosts and ghost toys!!!
Biscuit Muse Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 745	__________________ "The only people more wrong, proudly call themselves skeptics. Skeptics exist to screw with your mind and display socially disfunctional behavior." - historian "I dont have it but you can look if you would like I dont have to defend myself to you your googler is not broke." - creekfreak

9th October 2009, 12:37 PM	#19
Safe-Keeper Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 4,374	Originally Posted by Careyp74 You said it yourself, they are delightful. Kids like carving them, other kids like kicking them in after they are put out on the stoop. Fun had by all. What do YOU do to keep away the evil spirits? He's just saying there's more than one way to celebrate Halloween...
	__________________ "Then my war dogs joined the fray. I have to say I'm a bit afraid of them. One of the bitches actually gave birth while she was attacking, and her puppies joined in on the carnage." --the awesomeness that is Boatmurdered

9th October 2009, 02:29 PM	#20
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	Originally Posted by EHocking There's definitely something spooky going on - camera EXIF info says that the exposure was for 15 seconds. That ghost has stolen 5 sec of your life dude. You are correct. In order to limit shaky stuff on camera, I set it on a 10 second timer, push the button, and let the camera work. The exposure time was actually 15 seconds.

10th October 2009, 10:54 AM	#21
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	Alright, I let the cat out of the bag at that other site I posted at. It was pretty cool to see people get it right from the get go...I wonder if there's some undercover skeptics on that site

10th October 2009, 10:18 PM	#22
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 908	From the other site: InfraredCow: "No, he was lying. They're all ghost -- his entire family." I realize it was a joke, I just thought it was a good one. I'm kind of amazed at how many of them initially said, "It's probably some sort of fake/photo error," but then went on to say, "But I really think it looks eerie, maybe you have a shadow apparition." They had the right idea immediately but discarded it in favor of the supernatural.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

11th October 2009, 09:27 AM	#23
Azrael 5 Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 4,220	Looks like a cat has run down steps during long exposure.
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here

15th October 2009, 08:24 PM	#24
kaigiteki New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3	EXIFViewer is a cool add-on for Firefox. It's not difficult to figure out what happened when you know that it was a 15sec. exposure.
kaigiteki New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3

17th October 2009, 12:56 PM	#25
shawmutt Squirrel Murderer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,209	I was hunting for two things today, squirrels and a new desktop. When I got this picture home, further proof of spirits--orbs, are obvious in the upper center and upper right of the frame, with a few more a bit harder to see but there. The spirits follow me everywhere. It's a digital camera, so don't try saying there was something wrong from the film. I had to take the picture quickly so my camera wouldn't get too wet from the rain
	Last edited by shawmutt; 17th October 2009 at 12:57 PM.

18th October 2009, 12:37 PM	#26
makaya325 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: It's ok, im a limo driver! Posts: 4,655	Originally Posted by imjohn There are usually some fairly sharp, skeptical people on those type forums. They want to believe in the paranormal but they catch BS pretty well. I can attest to that, due to the fact that I was ONCE a legend over there! Regardless of disagreements, UM members loved me!