This research tested the hypothesis that anomalous images on film can be attributed to the specific recording medium. Using five different film media, a total of 96 photogtaphs and 8 min. of 8-mm motion picture film were obtained during a field study of a reported haunting. Multiple covariates were also recorded including electromagnetic field fluctuations, time of day, and geographic position. No anomalous images were obtained, although approximately half of the frames on both the infrared and black and white films were unexposed. The results are discussed in terms of ambiguous events being interpreted as meaningful due to paranormal contexts.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BinghamJ.RiccioD. (1991) More haunted houses. New York: Pocket Books.
2.
BozzanoE. (1948) Dei fenomeni di telecinesia in rapporta con eventi di morte. Verona: Casa Editrice Europa.
3.
EasthamP. (1988) Ticking off a poltergeist. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 55, 80–83.
4.
EisenbudJ. (1977) Paranormal photography. In WolmanB. B. (Ed.), Handbook of parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Pp. 414–432.
5.
GuileyR. E. (1992) The encyclopedia of ghosts and spirits. New York: Facts on File.
6.
HattersleyR. (1981) Beginning photography. New York: Double Day.
7.
HauckD. W. (1996) Haunted places: The national directory: A guidebook to ghostly abodes, sacred sites, UFO landings, and other supernatural locations. New York: Penguin.
8.
HouranJ. (1997) Ambiguous origins and indications of “poltergeists.”Perceptual and Motor Skills, 84, 339–344.
9.
HouranJ.LangeR. (1996) Diary of events in a thoroughly unhaunted house. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 83, 499–502.
10.
LangeR.HouranJ. (In press) Fortean phenomena on film: Evidence or artifact?Journal of Scientific Exploration.
11.
MillerP. R. (1990) Chicago: The world's biggest ghost town. Fate, November, 53–68.
12.
NelsonR.RadinD. I. (1989) Evidence for consciousness-related anomalies in random physical systems. Foundations of Physics, 19, 1499–1514.
13.
NicholsA. (1994) Phantoms on film. Fate, 47(11), 48–51.
14.
NickellJ. (1994) Camera clues: A handbook for photographic investigation. Lexington, KY: Univer. Press of Kentucky.
OsisK.HaraldssonE. (1977) At the hour of death. New York: Avon Books.
18.
PermuttC. (1983) The Bournemouth poltergeist. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 52, 45–51.
19.
PersingerM. A.CameronR. A. (1986) Are earth faults at fault in some poltergeist-like episodes?Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 80, 49–73.
20.
PersingerM. A.HartB.ThomasA. W. (1996) Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXX. Periodicities and energetic characteristics of a strobe-light luminosity during a geomagnetic storm. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 82, 683–688.
21.
PlayfairG. L.GrosseM. (1988) Enfield revisited: The evaporation of positive evidence. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 55, 208–219.
22.
RandiJ. (1975) The truth about Uri Geller. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.
23.
RhineL. E. (1970) Mind over matter. New York: Macmillan.
24.
RollW. G. (1972) The poltergeist. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
25.
ScottB.NormanM. (1985) Haunted heartland. New York: Warner Books.
26.
SteigerB. (1976) Psychic city Chicago: Doorway to another dimension. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
27.
UnderwoodP. (1993) Ghosts and how to see them. London: Anaya Publ. Ltd.
