Photographic Protocol

 

Purpose:

Photography is used to capture activity which may be of a paranormal nature during an investigation; to record investigational components or experiments; to capture specific phenomena or cause for purposes of validation.

 

Materials:

For digital photography: digital camera 3.0 megapixel or better, batteries and at least 3 sets of spare batteries, memory card
For film photography: 35MM camera,  film, batteries and at least 3 sets of spare batteries

 

Methods:

To take a picture - be in a comfortable position; hold your camera in such a way that your fingers, clothing and camera strap are away from the lens and flash; take a breath in and hold; depress the shutter button to take the picture.

Each investigative team should have at least one photographer/digital camera. A photograph set (photo and control) should be taken immediately upon entering the specified location. The designated photographer should take successive photos of the entire area with control shots. Pictures should be taken frequently throughout an investigation and should capture an entire area, all investigators present. Photographs should be taken anytime an unusual reading is captured from another piece of equipment or an investigator reports a personal experience, or paranormal activity occurs, or because the photographer is feeling like s/he should. Digital or Film cameras may be used with neither having preference.

Cameras which are able to capture date and time information are to be synchronized with all other time devices in the investigation including watches, video cameras, temperature devices, etc.

Cameras which make sound: Sound effects should be turned off.

Cameras with automatic red eye reduction feature: This should be turned off.

 

Controls:

All photographs should have a control shot (your camera is set a particular way or set to auto and there are no report anomalies at the time). Do not change the camera settings after taking control shots. Any photograph without an accompanying control shot will not be considered in the evidence. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All photographs will remain unaltered and MUST CONTAIN EXIF INFORMATION. If one must alter a photograph, he/she must save a copy of the original and alter the copy only because even renaming a photograph can get rid of the EXIF information that is needed to verify many things about the picture.  Once the EXIF information is gone as far as I know there is no way of getting it back. When providing an altered photo it is ALWAYS required that the original also be provided with no alterations.

 

Data Interpretation:

• All photographic data will be immediately transferred to a pre-determined location within 48 hours after an investigation.
• All photographic data will be reviewed by the investigator who took the photo as well as the entire team. EVERY member, whether in attendance at the investigation or not, will review all photographic evidence collected at the investigation.
• If a photograph is brought into question: It will be posted at Sonoran Paranormal Investigations Forums in the Investigators section,
  • The subject of the post will be be: "photo file name/name of investigator who took the photo"
  • The content of the post will be the photo in question and the control shot and a brief summary of what you are seeing (nothing too detailed).
  • Discussion will be had until either an answer is found or it is deemed no reasonable answer can be determined.
• If no reasonable answer can be determined the data may be provided for outside analysis for further evaluation and consultation - identifying information related to the source of the data (names of clients, location of investigation) will be withheld from the consultant.
• After consultative review - if an satisfactory explanation is not achieved - the data will be copied for client and stored for either: publishing, or for future review in our records.