Spirit photography has existed since the first camera. Today there are plenty of hazy images people claim holds a spirit within the frame. Have a look at some of the more well known photos people believe prove the existence of ghosts.
A picture says more than a thousand words. What do they say about the existence of ghosts? What is a spirit photograph really? These intriguing images often capture more than just a moment in time; they reveal the mysteries and beliefs surrounding the supernatural. Historically, spirit photography emerged in the 19th century, captivating the public’s imagination and sparking debates about life after death.
Here are some of the more famous photographs showing ghosts allegedly, presenting not only the eerie visuals but also the captivating stories behind them. Each of these images tells a tale filled with profound emotions and unanswered questions, inviting viewers to ponder the thin veil between this world and the next. Whether through ghostly figures captured in old family portraits or spectral images appearing unexpectedly in scenic landscapes, these photographs challenge our perception of reality and beckon us to explore the unknown.
Boot Hill Cemetery Ghost
Boot Hill Ghost is a captivating picture taken in 1996 by Ike Canton in Boot Hill Cemetery, a historically rich site located in Tombstone, Arizona, USA. This iconic cemetery is known for its storied past, which includes the final resting places of many infamous figures from the Wild West era.
In the photograph, Canton and his friend Kelly from Southern California are dressed up in classic cowboy gear, donning wide-brimmed cowboy hats and gripping authentic six-shooters, which lend an air of authenticity to their old-timey appearance. As the camera clicked, only Ike Canton’s friend was clearly visible in the frame, while the mysterious man wearing a hat lurking behind him was not.
This shadowy figure has sparked numerous theories and debates among enthusiasts, who speculate about the possibility of capturing a ghostly presence in such a significant location steeped in legend and lore. Although digital manipulation was possible in 1996, software’s like photoshop was still in the early days, and most would agree that the image looks untouched when talking about editing like that. So then, what happened that day in the cemetery?
Read More: The Haunting Mystery of Boot Hill Cemetery Ghost
Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Chicago, USA
The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove: This picture of what appears to be a ghost sitting on a grave in Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery became quite famous after it was taken in 1991 by Judy Felz, and so did the legend of the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove. The image showcases a figure dressed in white. Since its emergence, this photograph has sparked numerous discussions and investigations into the supernatural, drawing people from various backgrounds who seek to understand the mystery behind the haunting. Many believe that the figure represents the spirit of a grieving mother, vigilantly watching over her child’s grave, while others ponder the cemetery’s tragic history as a possible source of paranormal activity.
Read more: The Haunting of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: Chicago’s Most Infamous Graveyard
The Falling Body in the Cooper Family’s Photograph
The mystery of the infamous Cooper Family Falling Body photo, long circulated in paranormal communities as one of the most haunted images, has been debunked. Originally believed to show a ghostly figure falling behind a family in their new Texas home during the 1950s, the photo’s eerie backstory evolved over time, with tales of haunted houses, tragic pasts, and even lingering spirits. However, in 2020, Richard Ramsdell, an artist and editor, revealed that he created the photo in 1981 using darkroom techniques.
Read More: The Mystery of the Cooper Family Falling Body Photo is Solved
The Woman in White in Château de Bonaguil in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, France
Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a photo of his wedding to the Chateau de Bonaguil and claims that a ghost appeared (outlined in red) at the time the photo was developed. © Photo credit: source
Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a captivating photo of his wedding to the picturesque Château de Bonaguil, renowned for its rich history and enchanting beauty as well as its haunted rumors. He claims that an otherworldly presence, a ghost, appeared when the photo was developed, adding a mysterious element to his cherished memory. The Château de Bonaguil:, steeped in legends and tales of hauntings, has long been a subject of fascination for both historians and ghost enthusiasts alike.
Read More: The November Ghost in Château de Bonaguil
The Chinnery Backseat Driver Ghost
March 22, 1959, 44 year old Mrs. Mable Chinnery from in Ipswich in Suffolk, England packed up their car and took off to visit Mable’s mother at the cemetery with her husband, Jim. When they arrived, Mr. Chinnery stayed in the Hillman Minx car as his wife went to the grave of her mother.
Mable had just gotten a new camera, some saying it was an Eastman-Kodak Brownie. She had brought it on her trip to take some pictures of her mother’s gravestone who had died a week prior. After taking several photos, Mrs. Chinnery saw that she had one picture left. So, she pointed the camera at her husband in the car and took the picture.
When they got the film developed though, she saw it was more than her gravestone Mrs. Chinnery had taken a picture off. Sitting in the backseat of the car was the clear image of a person. When Mrs. Chinnery showed the pictures to her friends they pointed out the figure in the backseat saying: “But there’s your mother in the back!”
Read More: The True Story of The Chinnery Backseat Driver Ghost
The Amityville Horror Ghost Boy
The haunting caught the attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and two months after the Lutz family fled, the Warrens and a local TV crew did a segment on the house, bringing in so-called “ghost hunters” and paranormal experts to evaluate the couple’s claims. The Warrens visited the house on the night of March 6, 1976, and declared it infested with a dark, demonic presence.
Among other things, they snapped the now famed photo of the ‘ghost boy’, thought to be one of the DeFeo children. But was it? The picture has gone through a lot of investigations and mostly debunked by those who had a closer look. they claim it was It’s Paul Bartz, an investigator working with the Warrens on his knees and wearing glasses.
Read More: The Amityville Horror: A Ghost Story That Refuses to Die
The Man in Kilt at Stirling Castle
There have also been spotted a male ghost wearing a traditional Highland kilt. Many have mistaken him for a tour guide working at Stirling Castle and are shocked when he just turns and passes through the wall. The ghost of the man in the kilt is often seen walking around the corner and disappearing through the wall near a dungeon of Stirling Castle. Back in the day, there used to be a door there, but today it is bricked up and just a solid wall.
The ghost has been talked about in the more modern times as it was allegedly caught in a photograph. In 1935 the Highland ghost is said to have been pictured by an architect, when he was planning for some upcoming building work of the castle.
It must be said that many of the people that owned the picture of the supposed ghost that they claimed could be seen in the picture and passed it around as a ghost picture, was known to be fond of practical jokes. Still, the mystery and intrigue of the picture has kept the story of the lonely man in kilt alive at Stirling Castle.
Read More: The Colorful Ghosts at Stirling Castle
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
Brown Lady of Raynham Hall: This is the picture taken in the staircase that is now perhaps one of the most famous ghost photos.
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the most famous spirit photographs ever taken, capturing what many believe to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole. The image, taken in 1936 by photographers Captain Hubert C. Provand and Indre Shira for Country Life magazine, shows a ghostly, veiled figure descending the staircase of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England. According to legend, Lady Dorothy was imprisoned in the hall by her husband and died there under mysterious circumstances. Reports of her ghostly apparition date back to the early 19th century, with witnesses describing a woman in a brown brocade dress with empty eye sockets. While skeptics argue the photograph may be a trick of light or an accidental double exposure, believers see it as compelling evidence of the paranormal, solidifying The Brown Lady as an enduring icon of ghost photography.
Read More: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
The Tulip Staircase Ghost: A Haunting at the Queen’s House in Greenwich
A retired Canadian reverend, R.W. Hardy, and his wife were visiting the Queen’s House on a casual tourist outing. While there, they took a picture of the staircase. When the film was developed, what should have been a simple snapshot became one of the most famous paranormal images in history. The photo clearly shows a shrouded, shadowy figure ascending the staircase, gripping the railing with an almost skeletal hand. Not one, but two hands, in fact, as if someone—or something—was climbing upward.
Experts—including Kodak in their laboratory—examined the negative, ruling out tampering or double exposure. The eerie, translucent figure remained unexplained, solidifying its place in ghost-hunting lore.
Read More: The Tulip Staircase Ghost: A Haunting at the Queen’s House in Greenwich
The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo
The legend behind the picture is that it happened in Eastwood City in Manila in the Philippines sometime in 2003. Two girls out in the city at night asked a stranger to take a picture of them. The camera was with a smartphone, or as smart as a phone could be back then and being a Nokia 7250. At the time the picture was taken, none of the girls noticed anything strange or the hand that showed up in the picture, grabbing one of the girl’s arms.
Some have pointed to the trend of “adding ghost templates” into pictures on apps and websites. But despite the similarity with many pictures from these apps, did something like this in 2003 that would be an exact match? Even though things look similar, there has yet to be found this. Besides, what came first, the apps doing this or the fame of the ghost picture?
Read More: The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo
The Watcher of Corroboree Rock in Australia
In 1959, sometimes it says 1956, this famous ghost photo was taken by Reverend R.S. Blance at Corroboree Rock near Alice Springs, Australia. The Presbyterian priest was visiting the area for a spiritual retreat and claimed that nothing was present when he took the picture, emphasizing that he was completely alone in the rugged and remote landscape. When it was developed though, a strange apparition appeared and has sparked debate to this day.
People see different things in this photo and even this debate is still not finalized. Some see an aboriginal woman in traditional clothing stands among the bushes. Some see a woman wearing a night dress from a different time period. Moreover, some viewers have described the image as resembling an ancient priest.
One possibility is that this is a double exposure of a living person, which is an intriguing photographic technique that combines multiple images into a single frame, creating a unique artistic effect.
Read More: The Watcher of Corroboree Rock in Australia and the Mystery it holds
This was just a small collection of famous photographs that claim to prove the existence of ghosts
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