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The Haunted Librarian

~ Researching, investigating, and writing about the paranormal.

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Category Archives: Photography

Water Scrying as Art

26 Monday Jul 2021

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Book Review, Books, Photography, Scrying, Water Scrying

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Tags

pareidolia, Philip R. Wyatt

Image on page 66.

In Spirit Reflections: Water Scrying Spirit Images (2020), Evidential Medium Philip R. Wyatt captures thought provoking images using a stainless-steel bowl or ordinary Mason jar. Containing 101 images, the book serves more as a coffee table art book. The images are incredible!

Cover of Philip’s latest book; Philip presenting; Definition of “scry.”

Water scrying, also called hydromancy, has been performed since Ancient Greek times. The technique of using water as a form of divination transcends cultures and religions. Even Nostradamus wrote of using it to predict the future. In Wyatt’s book, the images become compelling works of art.

Images are scrutinized for possible pareidolia, where the viewer assigns meaning to an image when there is no meaning. Photos shared by paranormal investigators are often criticized as being pareidolia, which is fair. Wyatt makes no assertion. Instead, he allows the viewer to interpret the images as he or she sees fit. He does, however, encourage the viewer to turn the book upside down and spin to view at different angles. I prefer to flip through the book and randomly select an image and view from all angles, as well, as close up.

Page 15; Page 15 upside down; Page 78, side view.

My personal favorite is on page 66. (The images are untitled) I’m drawn to the colors. Looking at it, I see a female face with red lipstick wearing a blue with red flowers/embellishments and collar. The piece of clothing reminds me of a pajama top. The hair looks to be blonde and styled in an older hairstyle. I realize my mind is filling in gaps, and I am totally applying pareidolia to make sense of the image. However, isn’t that what we do when looking at fine art?

Wyatt provides instruction on how he took the pictures. Before beginning, Wyatt meditates and calls upon his spirit guides and higher beings. First, he gets a bowl and fills with tap water. He shines colored artificial light or uses sunlight onto the water. He videotapes his sessions, which last between 30-90 seconds. Then he swirls the water with his hand. He has begun experimenting with scrying with a glass jar filled ¾ with tap water. Afterwards, Wyatt views the footage, frame-by-frame.

This is Philip’s third book. He lectures online and in person with Ghost Education 101, which he co-founded during the pandemic. Find his books online, offered as ebooks and print at https://www.amazon.com/Philip-R-Wyatt/e/B081287K9P?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1627265830&sr=8-1. If interested in purchasing prints of his images, contact Philip directly.  

Police Clarify: Photo Is an Actual Human

04 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Hoaxes, In the News, Photography, Uncategorized

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Tags

faked photographs, probolinggo police

Fake

Police Clarify: Photo Is an Actual Human

Police departments rarely issue statements regarding photographs that have gone viral. Instead, they usually wait for social media users to state the obvious: It’s fake. However, one police department felt the need to release a statement on a photograph taken on December 29, 2017. After conducting an investigation, the Probolinggo Police Station stated on December 31st that the image seen in the photograph is not a jinn or a vampire but merely a song guide covering his face from surveillance cameras.

There’s a lesson here. Rule out the obvious before claiming the extraordinary.

“Ghosts” Captured on Film at The Stanley Hotel?

07 Saturday Oct 2017

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Famous Locations, Photography, Uncategorized

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ghost pictures, girl in nightgown on stairs, slow shutter speed, the stanley hotel

Ghosts

“Ghosts” Captured on Film at The Stanley Hotel?

The Huffington Post reported yesterday of two ghosts appearing in the same photograph taken at the Stanley Hotel. Ben Hansen, former FBI agent and host of Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, stated there weren’t any obvious signs of trickery. However, that doesn’t mean the images taken with the digital camera are real. In fact, there are several issues with these “ghosts.”

The first “ghost” is obvious. It’s a little girl wearing a nightgown or dress while standing on the top stair before the landing. Her back is turned away from the photographer. She is partially transparent.

  1. Honestly, I’ve never seen such a clear and crisp photograph of a ghost. That’s not to say there aren’t any out there; however, they don’t seem to pop up often. A light is reflected toward the image.
  2. The light doesn’t pass through the girl. It looks like the light bounces off of her head. Light bounces off of solids not transparent objects. Instead, lights go through transparent things.
  3. The girl appears to be walking up the stairs; however, neither leg is lifted. Her gown hangs without movement. Granted, she may be a residual ghost who remains stationary. I just find the top step an odd place for her to appear. I would have expected her to be on the landing.
  4. There are parts of her that are more solid than transparent. Becoming a solid means taking a physical form. I really think that if she was materializing, then someone would have noticed her, especially the kids sitting across from her.

The second image is a little bit easier to dismiss. On the left staircase, a figure appears to be walking upstairs. The photographer doesn’t remember a person standing there. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t someone there. The article states that there were 11 in his party on the larger tour. This person on the stairs is moving quickly. The camera shutter speed was slow in taking the photograph. We know that by looking at one of the boys sitting on the bench. He, too, is moving faster than the others. He is blurred just like the image on the staircase. Therefore, this image was created, intentionally or unintentionally, with a slow shutter speed.

Additional photographs taken right before and immediately after would help authenticate this picture. These pictures would serve as baseline images to show whether something or someone was in one photo but not the next one in succession. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. We get only one image to discuss.

The blurry person on the staircase is a person who was moving too quickly for the shutter speed on the camera. Honest mistake. The second semi-transparent image is not a ghost either. Is it trickery on the part of the photographer? Who knows. But it made for an interesting discussion.

 

Frida Kahlo’s The Deceased Dimas Rosas at 3 Years Old

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Artwork, Catholic Church, Famous People, Memento Mori, Museums, Painting, Photography, Uncategorized

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death bed portraits, deceased dimas rosas, frida kahlo, memento mori, postmortem photography, victorian mounring photography

frida

Frida Kahlo’s The Deceased Dimas Rosas at 3 Years Old

Death bed portraitures were a Mexican tradition. These works of art predisposed postmortem photography. The “Angelitos” were dead children who were free of sin. Paintings of these deceased children, usually between the ages of 1-5, were posed to appear alive. The memorial portrait survived the child; it was the only visual memory remaining. Celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo also painted “Angelitos,” death portraits of children.

Painting death portraits seems fitting for Frida, as she suffered physically and mentally throughout her life. At the age of 6, Frida contracted polio, a horrible disease causing her to walk with a limb. Further, at the age of 19, Frida suffered permanent damage to her torso from a bus collision. This accident precluded her from having children. In addition to these physical maladies, Frida endured an open marriage to famed artist, Diego Rivera; political upheaval; and periodic confinement in her home “Casa Azul.” Frida was well aware of death—possibly her own impending death at the age of 47.

frida2

Memento mori were paintings or photographs depicting dead people as if they were alive. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “memento mori” as literally meaning “remember you must die.” Although these “Angelitos,” or Little Angels, paintings celebrated the life of a child by capturing his or her death, the tradition is not related “Day of the Dead.” It is merely another reminder of how life and death are celebrated in Mexico.

The Mexican tradition goes back to the 16th century. It blends the Mexican tradition with Catholicism. Wealthy families would hire an artist to paint the dead children sleeping. It was popular; however, it was costly. Once photography became more widespread and cheaper, it replaced portraiture paintings.

dimas

In 1937, 3 year old child Dimas Rosas became ill. His mother, Delfina, was the housekeeper for Diego and occasionally modeled for him. Diego was the child’s godfather. When Dimas’ condition worsened, Diego tried to persuade the mother and father to take him to a doctor. Instead, they took him to a village witch doctor. Unfortunately, he died. Frida posed the boy in clothing to honor St. Joseph. He is surrounded by flowers, especially marigolds which are a popular “Day of the Dead” bloom. A picture of Jesus Christ as “Lord of the Column” lays on the lace white pillow. He holds a gladiola while resting on a palm leaf mat. All of the things mean something—they represent religious and cultural iconography. A lot of thought went into this painting.

Frida completed the 18 ¾ x 12” oil painting on Masonite, a favorite medium of hers. For some unknown reason, the painting was not given to the family. Instead, it was named “Dressed Up for Paradise” and exhibited in the Julien Levy Gallery in 1938. Next it went to the Art Museum of Philadelphia as “Boy King.” Then owner Somerset Maugham found out about the subject matter and gave it back to Frida. The painting was then given to Frida’s main benefactor, Eduardo Morillo Safa. He, in turn, gave it to Dolores Olmedo where it sits in the Dolores Olmedo Museum in Mexico City. Currently, it is on loan to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is unknown when the name changed; however, it is based on the inscription Frida left on the painting. While Victorian mourning photography is plentiful online and in private collections, these postmortem paintings are difficult to locate. If given the chance, head to The Dali. It is worth visiting and seeing this incredible piece of art.

Evidence Ghosts Exist

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Ghost Stories, Media, Odd News, Paranormal, Paranormal History, Photography, Research, The Haunted Librarian, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

duke parapsychology lab, evidence, paranormal research, university of virginia division of perpetual studies

Duke
UVA

Evidence Ghosts Exist

Last week, I tweeted this link, http://whatculture.com/science/10-compelling-pieces-evidence-prove-ghosts-real.php. I previewed the slideshow and was fascinated by what I read. Contributor Tom Baker assembled a lot of compelling evidence. The topics ran the gamut: how haunted real estate affects prices, the Stone Tape Theory, the prevalence of ghosts in popular culture, the vast number of ghost sightings, and a fake photograph with a couple that make you pause. There are 10 slides, each offering a separate reason why ghosts may really, really be real.

I would love to expand on the reasons; however, I would do the article an injustice. You should scroll through them on your own. If I had to pick one reason I would write about how scientists, ones who have advanced college degrees, have studied and are still studying paranormal activity. This is encouraging! More paranormal investigators should participate. Remember: Amateur astronomers have discovered planets. Think of what you can contribute.

 

Related Articles:

This article lists 13 colleges and universities that studied paranormal activity, http://mentalfloss.com/article/54450/13-university-sanctioned-paranormal-research-projects.

Article discussing what happened to parapsychology research, http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/whatever-happened-to-parasychology-130624.htm.

Research continues at the University of Virginia, http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/02/there-is-a-paranormal-activity-lab-at-the-university-of-virginia/283584/.

 

Hampton Court Palace “Ghost” Is Great Trickery

27 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Breaking the News, Castles, Ghost Stories, In the News, Photography, Urban Legends

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Tags

dame sybil penn, Ghosts, hampton court palace, king henry viii, photography, the grey lady

Hampton Court Ghost

Hampton Court “Ghost”

Hampton Court Palace “Ghost” Is Great Trickery

The Internet was abuzz this week and not just with renegade llamas. Twelve-year-old schoolgirl Holly Hampsheir was touring Hampton Court Palace with her cousin Brook McGee. With her smartphone, Holly snapped a picture of her cousin’s backside and low and behold a ghost appeared. The girls claim that they did not immediately notice the ghost until they reviewed the pictures. News of a possible image of the Dame Sybil Penn, a.k.a. The Grey Lady, quickly spread. Unfortunately, the picture is a fake.

Hampton Court Palace is plagued with sadness. Anne Boleyn resided at the palace before her beheading in 1536. Another wife of King Henry VIII Jane Seymour died weeks after childbirth at the palace in 1537. Another wife Catherine Howard was imprisoned at the palace prior to her beheading in 1542. All three supposedly haunt the palace. Hampton Court has a lot of reasons for activity.

The latest claim involves Dame Sybil Penn. Dame Sybil was a servant to four Tudor monarchs. She lived at Hampton Court. She died in the late 1500s from smallpox. Rumors of her haunting began shortly after her tomb was disturbed around 1829. However, no one has ever taken a picture of Dame Sybil, or any of King Henry VIII’s former wives, until now.

The image is a fake. Although a “photography expert” was consulted and claimed not to find tampering, the image has several tale-tell signs. First, the image is too colorful. The “ghost” appears in the center of the image. Noticeably, the spirit looks elongated. Further, the figure is either hovering or incredibly tall. Finally, there is simply too much hair. Never has a piece of evidence been so clear. Nor has there been any evidence of this type found at Hampton Court. This is just too good to be true.

See for yourself  and feel free to comment.

Update: Seems another true expert on photography Mick West debunked this image as a panorama glitch in the iPhone. Please read his incredibly interesting article Debunked: Hampton Court Ghost Photo [iPhone Panorama Glitch]. Huge thanks to Mick for clarifying!

1976 Historic Image Captures “Ghost” and Goes Viral

14 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Breaking the News, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, In the News, Photography, Real Estate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

cass gilbert, cedarhurst mansion, cordenio severance, cottage grove. charles o. fanning, ghost images, mary frances harriman severance

Cedarhurst "Ghost"

Cedarhurst “Ghost”

1976 Historic Image Captures “Ghost” and Goes Viral

In 1976, Charles W. Nelson took a photograph from the rear of “Cedarhurst” for the Minnesota Historical Society. Thirty-eight years later, the image went viral on the Internet.

Originally a farmhouse, the home was converted into a summer retreat in 1886. Mary Frances Harriman inherited the property from her grandfather, Charles Oramel Fanning (1800-1888). Celebrated architect Cass Gilbert expanded the retreat designing the mansion for Cordenio Arnold and Mary Frances Harriman Severance. He called the house “Cedarhurst.” Construction covered the years 1911-1917. In the end, the home totaled 12,000 square feet. The 26-room mansion was built in the Neoclassical Revival style and included twin classical columned porticoes, formal ball room, and rose garden.

Cordenio A. Severance

Cordenio A. Severance

Severance was a corporate litigator who served as the 44th President of the American Bar Association. Severance and his wife hosted 4 presidents at “Cedarhurst.” This mansion was opulent. He and his wife lived in the home until 1925, when they died with no surviving heir. The mansion stood abandoned for many, many years. The house changed hands and fell into disarray. Located at 6940 Keats Avenue South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, “Cedarhurst” was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on June 3, 1976.

In 2001, the Thao family purchased the property for $900,000. Investing another $250,000, the family restored the massive home and now runs it as an entertainment venue. But the story continues.

According to Examiner.Com writer John Albrecht, Jr. a member on Reddit posted this image this past Saturday, November 8th, claiming that a ghost is standing on the back patio (http://www.examiner.com/article/ghostly-figure-found-on-national-register-of-historic-places-photo). “Midwester” discovered the image while going through historic images (http://www.reddit.com/r/Ghosts/comments/2lmyvw/i_was_looking_through_photos_on_the_national/). Posters were polite and offered various explanations. Most felt it was a statue. However, one felt that it looked out-of-place. One was confused because the yard was overgrown and asked if the home was inhabited. Although this is a great image of an aging mansion, the “figure” is not a ghost.

The image is too solid and too consistent to be an apparition. Few have captured a full-length figure of an apparition. These are rare. Moreover, apparitions do not present whole or complete like the one here. This figure is too solid looking. Finally, the figure seems to be draped in a cloth.

Let me provide some historical context. This home was an opulent mansion. It was built in a style that incorporated statues, draperies, and lots of ornate items. Presidents visited. This mansion oozed high society. Large statues may have stood beside the classical columned porticos. Since it is winter, the statues may have been relocated inside for preservation.

By the time the photograph was taken, the home changed hands several times. It was deteriorating. The interior contents may have been packaged up.

Finally, I cannot locate any stories proclaiming “Cedarhurst” as haunted. The Internet is quiet on this. Even “Midwester” conceded that this was the only image with the anomaly. Unfortunately, this image does not contain a ghost.

Highly Anticipated Dead Still Delivers October 6th

05 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in In the News, Memento Mori, Movies, Paranormal, Photography, SyFy Channel

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archer paranormal radio, booth brothers, dead still, memento mori, syfy channel

Dead Still

Dead Still

Highly Anticipated Dead Still Delivers October 6th

The Booth Brothers’ new movie Dead Still focuses on the Victorian practice of taking mourning portraits. Main character Brandon Davis, played by Ben Browder, inherits the antique camera previously owned by his great-grandfather who took photographs of recently deceased people. Popular in America and Europe, postmortem photography were a form of memento mori.

Translated as “remember thy death,” memento mori is artwork capturing death, either literally or figuratively. Drawing, carvings, paintings, and eventually photography depicted dead people or the personification of death through symbols. Death is unavoidable. By remembering we ultimately die, we live.

Around 1840, wealthy families were able to hire photographers to capture the deaths of loved ones. Popular from 1840-1860, daguerreotypes provided developed images on thin sheets of silver-plated copper. Within the next two decades, advances in photographic development made personal photography affordable. By the 1860s, tintypes replaced daguerreotypes. Middle-class families were able to summon photographers to their homes to take mourning photographs. These pictures were often the only tangible reminders of their family members. These pictures were meant to be private and viewed only by the family.

Photographers portrayed the dead person as if still alive. These “postures of life” incorporated symbols of death. Roses held downward, flowers with stems broken, morning glories, pocket watches, and children’s toys were some of the items staged with the dead person. The photographer took photos close-up or full-length capturing either the profile or full-face of the dead person. Often the eyes were closed; however, some photographers painted “eyes” on top of the eyelids. The viewer was directly confronted with the dead person. Later, large floral arrangements were used to lessen the impact. Children and infants comprised the bulk of the work because of high mortality rates. Most of the surviving postmortem photographs are of infants and children.

The popularity of postmortem photography declined as morticians and funeral homes undertook more of the burial duties. However, small ethnic communities still partake in this practice.

The Booth Brothers purchased an antique camera and decided to make it the focal point of their next film. The camera is a gorgeous prop—and still operational. The camera sits atop a beautifully crafted stand. In the movie, the camera is passed down through a family and eventually being used for wedding portraits. However, members of bridal parties start dying soon after their photography was taken. Ultimately, Brandon’s son becomes trapped inside the camera taken to an alternate dimension. This area is home to “The Negative” and “The Hidden Mother.” Set your DVR and TiVo to record Dead Still, Monday, October 6th at 9 pm EST. Then tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio as the API Gals discuss the movie and their favorite Booth Brothers’ productions.

Dead Still Creatures

Dead Still Creatures

Booth Brother Domination

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Movies, Photography, Radio Show, Reviews, SyFy Channel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

archer paranormal radio, booth brothers, christopher saint booth, dead still, syfy channel

Dead Still

Dead Still

Booth Brother Domination

Statistically documentary films outperform other genres. Documentaries are low-budget, require few actors, and utilize a lot of public domain materials. Filmmakers can produce a quality documentary for little expense. Comparing all genre films, horror movies come in a distant second. Consider the horror documentary. Gold mine potential! The Booth Brothers write, produce, and direct some of the best horror documentaries out there.

The Booth Brothers have found their niche. Start with a popular haunted locale or famous possession case. Conduct extensive research. Combine newspaper articles, interviews, investigative footage, and re-enactments. Finalize by laying a music score. The end product is an educational and entertaining documentary. I especially enjoy the music. Haunting and unique to each production, the music score weaves the various pieces together. Perfection.

The Booth Brothers now seek to tackle mainstream moviemaking. Dead Still, an original SyFy movie, premieres on October 6th at 9 pm EST. I can’t wait to see their transition from non-fiction material to fiction. The story revolves around an antique Victorian camera previously used to take mourning portraits, or memento mori. Before cameras became affordable, photographers came to houses to photograph the recently deceased. The purpose was to provide the grieving family one image of their loved one. This practice has stopped, but the camera was passed down through a family.

Antique Victorian Camera

Antique Victorian Camera

The camera’s new owner takes wedding portraits. He decides to use the old camera. Bad idea! Tune in to the SyFy Channel on October 6th at 9 pm EST to see how bad it gets. In the meantime, listen to Archer Paranormal Radio on Thursday, October 2nd as Christopher Saint Booth discusses the movie.

Booth Brothers

Booth Brothers

Sneak Peak: Christopher Saint Booth October 2nd

23 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Demonic Possession, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Live Paranormal, Media, Photography, Radio Show, SyFy Channel

≈ Comments Off on Sneak Peak: Christopher Saint Booth October 2nd

Tags

archer paranormal radio, booth brothers, christopher saint booth, dead still, memento mori, syfy

Booth Brothers

Booth Brothers

The Archer Paranormal Investigation (API) Gals will be chatting with Christopher Saint Booth on Archer Paranormal Radio on October 2nd at 7 pm EST. Tune in and find out about the new Booth Brothers’ film Dead Still, an original SyFy movie premiering on October 6th at 9 pm EST.

Can you sense my excitement?? Oh YEAH!

Dead Still

Dead Still

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