One of the most controversial sources of evidence for paranormal phenomena is photographic evidence. There are a huge number of 'paranormal' photographs out there, some taken by people who are looking for evidence of ghosts, most taken in normal every day situations which when developed show a ghostly extra which cannot be readily explained. Ghost photographs vary, in that the 'ghost' in the picture can appear in different forms, from small specks of light to 'mists' to full blown humanoid apparitions. Before looking at any photograph as evidence of ghosts, you have to remember that in the current day and age it is quite easy to create a ghost photograph in widely available photographic manipulation software. This does not mean however that every picture is a fake, and indeed the most convincing are those which at the very least show no signs of being tampered with. Some of the most well known pictures were taken before the time that such tools were available, or even before computers existed at all.

Some paranormal investigators like to take photographs in a haunted location in an attempt to capture something unusual. Digital cameras in particular seem to be good for this. Many photographic anomalies are well known, such as the infamous 'orbs' (see left), small circles of light which can appear on their own or in large numbers. There is extreme controversy over what 'orbs' actually are, whereas the believers may say that these anomalous circles are evidence of the initial stages of a ghost's manifestation, the more sceptical will say that orbs are little more than dust particles or insects. Indeed, photographs taken of actual dust particles being thrown up in front of the camera will produce a very similar effect, and for now 'orbs' alone cannot be considered evidence of anything paranormal.

For some examples of paranormal photographs, see our Ghost Pictures section. These images were taken and submitted by site visitors, and show a range of anomalies which may or may not be paranormal in nature. We also provide a selection of 'classic' ghost pictures, most of which are very old and have intrigued generations since they were originally taken. Do any of them show actual ghosts, or could there be another explanation ? You decide.