Find a book on Ghost photography


Ghosts in photography are both, an intriguing subject and a natural phenomenon. Obviously, ghosts in photographs do exist and the field is much wider as illustrated in the "ghost effect" image above. Ghost were a normal occurrence in early 19^th. Century photographs due to long exposure times.

Elements in a photographical composition that were moving during these long exposures became only partly visible, or not visible at all. For this reason, we see many early street scenes, completely desolated. Where are all those people?

People who left the camera's viewing field before the end of a long exposure were only partly registered on the light sensitive emulsion, due to this they appeared only as transparent "ghosts".

The image on the right shows a detail of "Alexandrië - Place des Consuls", an early view by Félix Bonfils. Two "ghost carriages" with horse are slightly visible. One is more faint than the other, we see twice the same carriage in one image exposed during different time intervals.

Alexandrië - Place des Consuls

Woman with Daisies and Spirit (circa 1875)

The ghostly appearance of partly exposed details in a composition was soon recognized and exploited to produce "proof" of the existence of ghosts in the real world among the living.
The new medium of photography became misused by spiritists to prove the existence of ghosts.

The subject of the supernatural was very popular in the 19^th. Century and many 'charlatan mediums' used this effect to convince their easy manipulated believers of the existence of life after death. For many people, the appearance of a ghost in a photograph was the ultimate proof of their existence. Of course, the photographers in the 19^th. Century already new better.

A lot of "real" ghost photographs were produced in the 19^th. Century to prove the supernatural forces of popular mediums. A good selection of suchlike views can be seen on the web site of the American Museum of photography. There you can visit the online exhibition "Do you believe?"

These images are know as spirit photographs and caused a lot of controversy, even until today because some people just like to believe the impossible. The Sixth-plate tintype on the left, "Woman with Daisies and Spirit"* is published here with the kind permission of the American Museum of photography. Click on the image to view a larger version on the original "Do you believe?" web pages.

It was obvious that inventive minds in the 19^th. Century exploited this technique to produce popular series of collectable ghost images for home entertainment in the stereoscope. Especially stereoscopic ghost photographs are a most thankful subject to exploit this long exposure technique. In the latter, the 3-dimensinal scene is showing a transparent ghost situated in a realistic decor when viewed true a stereoscope or stereoviewer.

A wonderful series of suchlike images is titled:
"THE GHOST IN THE STEREOSCOPE" (kindly suggested by Sir David Brewster) Brewster.
Brewster improved the handheld stereoscope. His type of stereoscope is known as the Brewster type stereo viewer.

On this page you will find one example of an accidental natural ghost images, typical for early 19^th. Century images but mainly Brewster type trickery views. Further, as suggested above, you can visit the spirit photographs mentioned to be REAL for easy believers on "Do you believe?"

The main reason for this page is showing the collectable ghost images that were made just for fun and amusement in the popular stereoscope, an optical 3-D viewer or, the "television" of the 19^th. Century, since stereo images, no matter what subject, were extremely popular and widespread in the Victorian era.

The Ghost in the Stereoscope..

Read more about Spirit Photography & the Ghost in Photography:
"Do you believe?", "Beyond the Grave", "The haunted museum", "Museum of Hoaxes", "Spirit History", "Photographing Heaven",
"Jack & Beverly's spirit photographs" "Photographic evidence", "Memento Mori"

See More Ghostly Subjects on Visual Media

• Phantasmagoria introduction Part I
• Phantasmagoria introduction Part II
• Phantasmagoria slide projection Part I
• Phantasmagoria slide projection Part II
• Phantasmagoria Opaque projection Part I
• Phantasmagoria Opaque projection Part II
• Phantasmagoria White Shadow projection
• Phantasmagoria slide examples A
• Phantasmagoria slide examples B
• Phantasmagoria opaque projection accessories
• Phantascope prints
• Le Garde d' Honneur