Ghost photo puzzle

If that interpretation is correct, by sheer chance the low ruined wall has a couple of high points in exactly the right places to produce the illusion of the floating monk's feet poking out from under his habit!

As Eynsford isn't too far away, I paid the castle a visit yesterday and photographed the low ruined wall that was in front of the "monk" and produced the illusion that the figure was floating. Below is a copy of the "ghost" photo with the wall added below. Obviously my photo of the wall was taken from a slightly higher angle, but the main features aren't hard to match up, and the peaks in the wall that produced the "monk's feet" are clearly visible (marked with red spots).

[Image: ghost6.jpg]

As Eynsford isn't too far away, I paid the castle a visit yesterday and photographed the low ruined wall that was in front of the "monk" and produced the illusion that the figure was floating. Below is a copy of the "ghost" photo with the wall added below. Obviously my photo of the wall was taken from a slightly higher angle, but the main features aren't hard to match up, and the peaks in the wall that produced the "monk's feet" are clearly visible (marked with red spots).

Thanks.

Did you get a picture of the larger wall (the main part of the picture)?

Just in case anyone still thinks there's mileage in the "hole in the wall" theory, here's the original "ghost" photo together with one taken from about the same position yesterday for comparison.

[Image: ghost.jpg]

[Image: ghost7.jpg]

That's very interesting, Chris. If you made the effort to get that new photo, well done !

Thanks.

Did you get a picture of the larger wall (the main part of the picture)?

I only photographed the part of the wall visible from the viewpoint of the "ghost" photo, but here's a closer view of that:

[Image: ghost8.jpg]

So what are the possibilities now in your opinion ? I'm open to  a photograph of a "ghost" but naturally the sceptics on here must now say it's either a camera forgery or a bloke dressed up, having us on ?

So what are the possibilities now in your opinion ? I'm open to the possibility that it is a photograph of a "ghost" but naturally the sceptics on here must now say it's either a camera forgery or a bloke having us on ?

I think Kenny Biddle's suggestion seems plausible - that it's just someone with their back to the camera, wearing a coat with a hood, and with a bag on a shoulder strap. The only odd thing is that the man who took the photograph said he was certain the figure hadn't been there when he took the photo. But I can believe he might just not have noticed it. 

If ghosts exist, I should think they're more likely to be seen by people than cameras, rather than the other way round.

I think Kenny Biddle's suggestion seems plausible - that it's just someone with their back to the camera, wearing a coat with a hood, and with a bag on a shoulder strap. The only odd thing is that the man who took the photograph said he was certain the figure hadn't been there when he took the photo. But I can believe he might just not have noticed it. 

If ghosts exist, I should think they're more likely to be seen by people than cameras, rather than the other way round.

I think Kenny Biddle's suggestion seems plausible - that it's just someone with their back to the camera, wearing a coat with a hood, and with a bag on a shoulder strap.

Particularly these days. A 'Muslim woman' seems likely. Or maybe more likely, a nun.

If ghosts exist, I should think they're more likely to be seen by people than cameras, rather than the other way round.

I agree, yes.

Thanks for the photos Chris. You did pretty well in identifying the original shooting position.

I'm left with nothing much to add to what has already been said. A person appears in a picture in a position where one might very reasonably expect to see a person.

The only remaining question is why the original photographer didn't notice anyone there at the time. It doesn't seem such a great mystery. I take photos a lot and am often surprised by people, objects, things of all kinds appearing in the pictures when I view them later. But I don't tend to reach for any special or unusual explanations.

Consider this. If you are squinting at a tiny screen on the back of a camera, and see an image like this, your view is likely to be much poorer than viewing directly with the naked eye, especially as many camera screens are hard to see in daylight.
   

Particularly these days. A 'Muslim woman' seems likely. Or maybe more likely, a nun.

Or just a dark-haired girl wearing dark clothing. That would be pretty average, wouldn't it, at least in certain circles? I know people who wear nothing but black (or so they tell me).