The most common piece of claimed paranormal evidence that most groups and organizations utilize in their arsenal to judge paranormal existence as valid is that of photographs. From orbs to shadows and apparitions, the internet is filled with photographs and unexplained images that have been passed off as paranormal or even ghostly. Below you will find a listing of photographs that have been submitted for PSIRO to analyze and report on. If you would like to submit your paranormal evidence for review and analysis, please use the submit evidence button on the left menu.
Photographic Analysis Reports__________
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.







