Photographs can offer valuable additional insights. They may be taken during a site visit or provided by witnesses and other third parties.

Best Practices for Analyzing Paranormal Photographs

Always begin by creating a copy of the original photograph. This copy will be used for all subsequent analysis. The original image should be preserved and securely archived without any modifications.

Avoid simply loading the photo into editing software and making random changes to settings such as exposure, contrast, or brightness in the hope that something will reveal itself.

Use a method similar to forensic image analysis. Create a dedicated folder for each photo under examination and store an unaltered copy of the image there as your reference point. Within the same folder, create a plain text file with the same name as the image to document your analysis process.

When editing, make only one adjustment at a time (e.g., exposure, contrast). After each change, save a new version of the image with a unique and descriptive filename, such as locationpicture1.jpg. Use the accompanying text file to log the change, for example: “locationpicture1 – exposure increased by 50%”.

Repeat this process for every new alteration. This systematic approach allows you to track and verify each step of your analysis and provides a clear, traceable method for reaching your conclusions.

Maintaining this level of documentation enables both you and others to review your work, validate your findings, and ensure objectivity in your analysis.