FINAL ANALYSIS - HOAX

It is not often that we get an easy analysis like this. Typically our analysis' take hours, as we sift through EXIF data, get background information on the photo, photographer, etc. This particular image happened to be sent to us by a tour group where a guest sent them the image claiming to capture a ghostly image while on a tour. The original image was cropped short and we were unable to conduct a thorough analysis, so our team requested more information and the original, un-cropped photo, if possible. We received a reply by the group with the new photograph and some basic background information.

Read more: Photographic Analysis P09-0004

Click photo to enlarge Submitted Information on Photo:

Temperature: Mean Temperature 55 °F - Max Temperature 73 °F 69 °F 85 °F (1986) Min Temperature 37 °F 44 °F 27 °F (1959)

Degree Days: Heating Degree Days 10 Growing Degree Days 5 (Base 50)

Moisture: Dew Point 47 °F Average Humidity 77 Maximum Humidity 97 Minimum Humidity 40

Precipitation: Precipitation 0.00 in - - ()

Sea Level Pressure: Sea Level Pressure 30.25 in

Wind: Wind Speed 0 mph (SE) Max Wind Speed 9 mph Max Gust Speed - Visibility 8 miles

Events Averages and records for this station are not official NWS values.

T = Trace of Precipitation, MM = Missing Value

I took this photo nov 7 /8 ,2009 at Johnson Cemetery.no one was smoking. I held my breath several seconds before during and after. Also oddly I went back Feb 1 2010 took area shots during the day to find out that the night i took the wispy photo was the deceased birthday also here is the other part of photo that went with this http://ghosthauntings.org/Johnson_Cemetery_In_Alabama.aspx

DIGITAL EXIF DATA:

PSIRO ANALYSIS

This photo is interesting to analyze. Giving the person submitting the photograph the benefit of the doubt and there was no one smoking, and that she held her breath prior to taking the photograph, the logical causation's for the photograph begin to dwindle. At first look at the photograph, I immediately thought to myself that they captured smoke of some kind, looking at the EXIF data, only one person was present and they claim that they were not smoking. 

The EXIF data reveals a couple things, mostly that the cause of the anomaly seems to be more environmental (meaning that the camera error was not a cause) and that the flash was fired which seemed to capture the image which may have gone unnoticed in the dark.

Given the details submitted, my only possible explanation is moisture or fog. Both of which can go unnoticed in the dark if the density of the fog is low, only being seen by illumination, in this case a flash being fired. I am suspecting this due to the lower density of what appears to be mist or fog around the more dense wisps as well as the transparent globules or "orbs" which are the cause of either moisture in the air, dust, or particles on the lens. Given the nature of the photograph, the weather conditions, the likelihood for it being moisture is pretty good. The interesting point to note is the wisp-like effect that is seen. This alone still leaves me scratching my head a little. 

I look forward to hearing some responses on this one that can either confirm or deny my suspicions of moisture or fog. Please leave your responses in the comments below.

UPDATE: 3/25/2010

After much discussion with other individuals concerning this photograph, we can neither confirm nor deny the nature of the photograph, but we believe strongly that this is due to environmental stimuli, whether it be moisture, fog, or even smoke. However, given new information and evidence submitted by the individual, we have reason to believe that submitted information regarding the photo was inaccurate. In photographs submitted to us yesterday, we discovered that more than one person was present during the "investigation" which we were told only one person was present. Photographic evidence along with corroborating EXIF data shows that there were at least 4 people present during that time. We also discovered that there were large amounts of moisture condensation on the ground, as the grass in multiple other photos appeared wet. This may be an indicator that there was higher amounts of moisture in the air. There is still not enough information to make a clear conclusion, but given the weight of this new evidence, we believe very strongly that environmental factors were the cause.

Click to enlarge - Photo Property of Samantha Harris Submitted Information on Photo:

This picture is what started it all for me; motivated me to take my curiosity to actual research when I was about 11-12 years old. Finally put it up on the web/showed copies around 2001 so I made sure to put ownership/credit on it. It was taken with a simple Kodak point and shoot disposable camera. This is the photograph that I had experts analysis; they have worked at the Huron Camera in my hometown for over 30 years. They couldn't explain it as its not a double exposure or reflection, its in the negative, etc. Ironically, they began telling some ghost stories, haha.
  

The only people in the building (its a small theater/meeting building at the camp) were the girls on the couch and myself who was taking the picture. Its not my reflection otherwise there'd be a camera in my face (nor do I look like that) and its corkboard that this woman is appearing over. Its interesting that she only shows on the corkboard as this truly isn't a fake or edited but I'm sure it'd give skeptics reason to doubt; I just personally know the truth and that's why I share this with others. There was no coating or shiney cover over the corkboard; we used to use it as a bulletin board and post news/letters on there. I had an odd feeling while taking the picture and there had been rumors of a woman dieing on the property.

PSIRO ANALYSIS

Since this photo is a 35mm photograph, no EXIF data could be pulled on the technical aspects of the camera. This is truly an interesting photo regardless of the actual nature of the photograph. Without resorting to simple assumption, the photograph cannot be verifiable of an exact explanation.

We do believe that a plausible explanation is due to pareidolia, the human ability to create familiar patterns in seemingly random data. We do know that the flash was fired in the case of this photograph. We also notice that the figure in question is only in monotone format, meaning that there is no clear indication of any other colors other than the tonality placed on the cork board. There also seems to be what appears to be random whitish patterns on the left side of the cork board, away from the figure in question, that could possibly be due to the illumination of the flash. The figure may actually be nothing more than the result of illumination from the cameras flash that looks strikingly like a human figure. 

Since we do not have access to the cork board to attempt to recreate the image and there is not enough evidence to substantiate any assumption, we must label this photo unverifiable. 

Submitted Information on Photo:

Close to five years ago I asked my friend to take a picture of the beautiful sunset while I was driving on 208 towards Ringwood, NJ.  She did and it wasn't at all the sunset.  It's the scariest picture that I've ever seen. I didn't believe in ghosts and I just wanted to forget about the picture but I found it on my old camera.  In the middle of the picture it looks like a skull, it also has clusters of those neon things , and finally the scariest thing about the picture is the 3 faces on the left. Two of the people look like the kid from the movie the Grudge and the third one is a real boy..Like I took a picture of him, he's looking straight at the camera.  I'm not making this up this is what happened when we took the picture of the sunset.  Everyone told me to contact somebody years ago but I was afraid and just wanted to forget about it but now I'm interested in it. I think its real because I didn't fabricate anything but I want to learn more about it.

PSIRO ANALYSIS

Based off the initial response about the photograph we were actually a little stunned to see the actual photograph that was submitted. Quickly we realized that the most probable explanation for this photograph was not of a supernatural nature, but rather the result of misuse of the camera itself. First, we see that the entire photograph is blurry, this is most likely caused because the person is in a moving vehicle attempting to take a photo of the sunset.You will notice that in the middle of the photograph is a very blurry outline of a green highway sign. This helps confirm that the car is actually moving. Also, based off the photograph, we believed that the flash had not been used and the shutter speed was set to a slower speed (most likely default or automatic) causing the light streaks and the extreme blur of the camera. After reviewing the EXIF Data from the digital photograph, we confirmed our assumptions that the camera and the image that was taken is most likely the result of the settings of the camera itself and not the cause of paranormal or supernatural entities.

We have included a copy of the EXIF Data below and highlighted the specific areas of interest that helped to determine our analysis of the photograph.

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Camera Make = EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY

Camera Model = KODAK C330 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA

Picture Orientation = normal (1)

X-Resolution = 230/1 ===> 230

Y-Resolution = 230/1 ===> 230

X/Y-Resolution Unit = inch (2)

Software / Firmware Version = Version 1.0700

Y/Cb/Cr Positioning (Subsampling) = co-sited / datum point (2)

Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 2000000/1000000 second ===> 2 second

Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 870/100 ===> ƒ/8.7

Exposure Program = normal program (2)

ISO Speed Ratings = 80

Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr

Compressed Bits per Pixel = 320/100 ===> 3.2

Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = -100/100

Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/0.5 second

Aperture Value (APEX) = 624/100

Aperture = ƒ/8.69

Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/10 ===> 0

Max Aperture Value (APEX) = 440/100 ===> 4.4

Max Aperture = ƒ/4.59

Metering Mode = center weighted average (2)

Focal Length = 1680/100 mm ===> 16.8 mm

FlashPix Version = 0100

Colour Space = sRGB (1)

Image Width = 2304 pixels

Image Height = 1728 pixels

Exposure Index = 80/1

Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)

Image Source = digital still camera (DSC)

Scene Type = directly photographed image

Custom Rendered = normal process (0)

Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)

White Balance = manual (1)

Digital Zoom Ratio = 22/10 ===> 2.2

Focal Length in 35mm Film = 102

Scene Capture Type = standard (0)

Gain Control = n/a (0)

Contrast = normal (0)

Saturation = normal (0)

Sharpness = normal (0)

Subject Distance Range = distant view (3)

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In regards to the photograph and the claims of a skull and other strange entities in the photograph, we concluded that they are nothing more than pareidolia and the human ability to spot patterns and faces in random shapes and environments, much like looking at the clouds and seeing rabbits, dragons, or any other familiar looking shape. Overall, we do not believe that this photograph has anything supernatural or paranormal taking place. Just simple user error.