I thought it would be cool to have a thread that was user friendly to people who maybe totally new to the field of investigation and maybe can't afford a ton of expensive scientific equipment. I thought this would also be a good thread to post peoples own investigative approaches, like what to do, what not to do, what seems to work well etc.

So what would an amateur ghost hunter take on their first vigil?

I open the floor!

Gigan

OK, I will get the ball rolling. Ghost hunting on a budget? try this for starters:

Disposible camera
thermometers (preferably more than one)
tape recorder
video camera (at least one person in the family usually has one, borrow it! lol)
notebook and pen/pencil
something to eat or drink, depending on how long your vigil is

I think this is a good starter, and aside from the disposible camera, everything else can usually be borrowed from friends or family members.

Also, make sure you do your research, find out where the 'hotspots' are, maybe even go to your location a few days before to look around, get your bearings, make notes as to any hazards, interesting features, general layout etc. Maybe even ask a few locals about whether they know about anything.

Important note: ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION! don't just assume that your presence will be welcome by the living, let alone the dead. If you need to go on private property of any kind, always ask. You will find that most people are very accommodating, as long as you're not being a nuisance and you clear up after yourself

Also, as an aside, always dress appropriately, especially if doing an all-nighter, the temperature can change quickly, and you dont want to be freezing your proverbials off...

I always recommended taking at least one other person, not too many people mind you, as that can detract from the situation at hand. Not only does it help to verify anything that may happen, but also you have help if there is an accident etc etc etc.

Good for a start???

Gigan

If your doing it on the cheap i would take a baking tray some flour and a bag of marbles for setting up trigger objects or for dusting things that have been known to move.
A4 paper so you can draw round things for triggers too.

First aid kit and someone who knows how to use it.

Just remember to note everything that happens no matter how small the event.

Also make sure all present refrain from covering themselves in aftershave/perfume as odd smells can often be found in "Haunted" locations.

There are some more things but i cant think of them at the moment. The problem is that i take a hell of a lot of stuff with me on investigations that its been a while since i did one bareback as it where

nice one, excellent suggestions Crosis!

oh yes if you want to go down the spiritual avenue (not for me personally) you could try automatic writing and if you take a mirror you could spook yourself trying a bit of Transfiguration. not that i would recomend it unless you very stable mentaly and you know what your doing. most of the phenomena that can be caught using these methods can be explained quite easily though.

We have even tried putting taped up cardboard boxes in a location with an old chalkboard and chalk inside just to see if anything happens.

Use your imagination but it has to be fully documented.

Going back to gigans post audio and video are really a must on any investigation, do your best to get your hands on any form of media recorders you can but stay away from mobile phone cameras for two reasons.

The first is that the quality is still quite rubbish at night and the second is that mobiles should be carried but OFF during investigations. They can interfere with equipment both analogue and digital and noone wants to have a heart attack in a dark cellar beceause someones phone went off during a vigil.

Fantastic!, could'nt have said it better!

I've been interested in ghosts for awhile now, I've been asked to join many groups, even a T.A.P.S famaly member group. I think the best thing to do is research, research on hauntings and common things that people think are hauntings that are not. but learning is key. being sceptical but open minded is also very important.

indeed, a healthy slice of scepticism is a good thing, after all we need to approach the subject with a somewhat scientific angle!

LOL that would be tuff, you see many of the topics involved in the paranormal I belive would involve a new scientific method.

Learn as much as possible. Go to websites and read what others are doing or thinking. You can look at any book list and find some good books to read.
Practice good protocol and standards when you are ghost hunting. You always want to make sure that your investigations are as flawless as possible. Document everything.
Get some equipment and make sure it works before you head out. You only need the most basic of things:
a 35 mm camera with 400 speed film
a flashlight with fresh extra batteries
a notebook with a pen
Find places that are near you to investigate. Most areas have haunted places. Check cemeteries, old buildings, and old homes only with permission. Remember: NO TRESPASSING! Always get permission before going onto private property.
from friends who haunts the the haunted place

Great points, darkknight. also respect the dead, always remember that your the guest and never take things home with you.

Not just respect for the dead. respect for property it owner, and other people in your group. I have had dealings with groups who have no respect for anything and quite frankly they disgust me.
They also give other groups a bad name.

oh yes and no drinking at all before investigations. thats just stupid and it can get messy.

caeser and crosis....well said.
Keep a clear head. This means no alcohol consumption or use of any controlled dangerous substances.
No smoking. The possibility of it being photographed and mistaken for ectoplasm is high. In addition, if you're too busy inhaling that acrid tobacco smoke, your nose is dead to any paranormal smells you might encounter.
Don't trespass. Always have permission to conduct an investigation.
Don't jump to conclusions. You always want to make sure you consider all possible explanations, natural or otherwise.
Be open-minded. If you think there are no ghosts, then obviously for you, there won't be. Skeptics bring negative energy that could compromise an investigation.

I never though of trying that^

These are going to come in handy for me since I've agreed to start recording some of the stuff that's happening at my place. Thanks guys. One thing though. What's with the chalk board in the box? Some form of automatic writing?

... gotta ask Crosis. still it takes bit of common sense about all.

Yeah, I figure it's some way for them to communicate without being observed or something.

ghost dont like to communicate..

We shall see.........

interesting...the same can be said of those ghost hunters...still no sign of any communication.

So has anyone on here attended an all night vigil? was there anything you thouht went well, or anything you would advise against for the novice's?

yep..in haunted cemeteries... the coffee went cold other then that few footsteps heard by friends, sounds of crying, but couldn't record even tho the recorder was working fine.
SAFETY.. thats the word.

Research. Always make sure you try to find some information on the place you are investigating before you investigate. The history of a place, be it a town or a single home, can shed some light on why a place may be having paranormal activity.
Either remove the camera strap or wear it around your neck. It's amazing how many times camera straps have been mistaken for ghostly photos. In keeping with that theme, make sure long hair is pulled back, and all fingers are away from the camera lens. Simple, but important.

Make sure all of your equipment is in perfect working condition. Dust and dirt buildup can cause problems. It saves you money overall to maintain clean equipment.

Never go alone. Having more than one person insures that nothing will (hopefully) go unnoticed. It is also good to compare notes on an investigation and because you have more to fear from the living, there is safety in numbers.

Yes your right but two many people can also spoil it. I alway's had group's of ten but then we could not tell if people were messing around when thing's were happening or if it was spirit's.

ten...thats army... sill its safety in numbers.

Do not take photos while walking or driving along a dirt road or path. This can lead to photos of dust particles and not orbs.
Do not take photos in rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or fog. It may also be a good idea to keep track of the pollen count in spring and summer and avoid photos when the count is high.

i stayed up all night for two days when this first started happining. after the first day my mind was doing all the sightings, if they were there or not

I wouldn't recommend taking a photo while driving in any case, usually best to stop before taking a picture, not only for safety reasons but because the picture will probably be clearer if you are not moving at the time.

excellent point... saruman

I hope you will pardon my saying this, but I don't know any Ghosts or Spirits of the dead who hang around Cemeteries.

You may however on your expeditions see Spirits in the Cemetery but if you do I think they are Spirits of people you know, like Relatives or friends who have passed over who are visiting you and watching your preparation to go on the Ghost Hunt and they may decide to become actors in your production.

I am very serious about what I am writing.

I personally think if you want to see and perhaps record Spirits of those you have known who have passed over you might like to get some friends together and have a Sience at your home with the lights out and perhaps some of your departed relatives and friends who want to help you will make an appearance.

I know where all of you are coming from because before I began communicating with Spirits and doing automatic writing with them I used to do things the way you are talking but then I began to communicate with them every day and talk with them just like I did when they Walked the Earth.

I just thought I should share some of my Knowledge with you.

I have Ghosts or Spirits as you would call them scouting stores and telling me where all the Good Sales are and they scout the thrift shops for me and tell me where I should go the next day to find a collectible.

I don't tell you this to sound like a Pompous ass but to just to tell you how it really is.

Well, i heard that if you talk to the haunted place and ask for permission so that they know that there are visitors so that the spirits don't get mad or something...
Is this a good thing? and for second, is this correct?

I'm curious to ask if anyone here has ever actually recorded the voice of a Spirit, or Ghost on a Recorder.
Its something I would like to try but thought I'd ask before I go out and buy a recorder.

a small cheep digital themometer...those can be gotten for a few bucks
dowsing rods are easy to make yourself and fun to use


oh to add to that...

-make sure your hair is pulled back from your forehead...cap or clipped up
-no camera straps on camera to ensure there is no accidental camera strap 'anomolies'
-HOLD YOUR BREATH when you take a photograph...so there is no 'ectomist BREATH' and it helps with a nice steady shot.
-DO NOT SMOKE when you're taking a photo or in the vacinity of someone taking a photo



We've gotten a few...you can check out the link in the sig in the mountain view cemetery 'investigation' (although it really wasn't...the GG partner just wanted to show me this teeny tiny country cemetery on a nice wonderful day and she took her recorder around just for kicks...)...anyways we picked up some of the loudest clearest EVP's I've ever heard...

(hopefully it's working...it's working for other people...but for whatever reason it's not playing on MY comp)

My first posting here, this appears to be an excellent BBS.

Question: Do digital dictation recorders work as well as tape recorders?

When snapping photos, is it a good idea to say something like "Flash coming?" So not to startle or momentarily blind team members?

Are modern SLR digital cameras worthy?

Thank you!

Hi and welcome

Yes digital recorders do work but you have to make sure the audio isnt compressed into a lossy format which usually mean spending a little more than you would on a basic digital dictaphone. I also use a tape recorder as i like to cover all bases.
As a side note, i have also built small faraday cages for my recorders to cut out any RF interference.

I always announce "Flash" before taking photos as do the rest of my group, i like to try to preserve peoples nightvision as much as possible, you get less walking into wall or falling down stairs that way

As for modern digital SLRs i know one photographer who has gone completely digital and he raves about his kit, but then i think he's loaded so he can afford the top end of digital SLRs

When making recordings, how does one know if EVPs have been made on the tape or digital recorder? Is there software to determine this, or must you listen in real time? Thanks.

Its a case of long boring hours of listening to all your audio and watching all your video.

For example. on a normal 8 hour investigation we can generate over 100 hours of video and at least 32 hours of audio. plus all the other stuff like digital stills, data from EMF,temp sensors,negative ion readings and captures from our infrasound sensors spectrum analyser.

Then there is trawling through 10 to 20 peoples reports.

The list goes on

This is such a good topic... I think its really good that people are being suggested the chance to take control of their own lives and beliefs and go and find out for themeselves...

I always endorse and encourage people to find the truth for themselves... its so easy to have someone state that this is the way things are, or thats the way things go but its about time we all got the chance (it is available to us all) to go forth and discover for ourselves...

Keep hunting people and let us know what the results are...

Has anyone gone on a vigil for the first time and had anything out of the ordinary happen or make them question anything???

C
x

Amen

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned taking along a few flashlights

I didn't mention it as i thought that anyone who goes into a "haunted" location at night without a torch deserves to fall down a stairwell. personally i carry a mini maglite everywhere with me, just in case

Its the little things like flashlights that people would forget...I know that I have done it in the past. You get so worked up in making sure that you have everything you need you miss little things like batteries and such.

Good point but i just keep my kit packed all the time so i dont forget anything, and its helpfull if you get a panicy phone call from someone and have to attend a location at short notice.

Thats an excellent Idea... I mean you can never be prepared enough... and if you do recieve this short notice phone call then you will impress the people you're visiting with your fast response!!!! ... and good organisation skills