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Why are you doing larger/well known locations?
It’s Friday! That means tonight it’s an all new episode of Kindred Spirits on Travel Channel at 9/8c.! Make sure you check out our investigation of Sterling Hill Mine in New Jersey tonight! It’s a doozy.
Now, on to today’s question. I’ve answered this before in another blog, but thought I’d readdress it since we get it a lot!
Why are you doing larger/well-known locations?
When Adam and I created Kindred Spirits, our goal was to help families. Every investigation focused on a family who felt they were being haunted and they were desperate for answers.
As we started applying our thoughts and theories to these investigations (see my blog, “Why We Don’t Cross Things Over”), we began to realize that in addition to helping the living members of these families, the spirits seemed to want and need our assistance as well.
As the show began airing and gaining in popularity, more and more people from locations that weren’t residences began reaching out for help. Some of these places had been treated as novelties for quite some time and the owners were ready to treat their ghosts in a more humane way, to find out what they actually needed. It was time to stop looking at these spirits as something spooky that provided you with a scare and then you left, to actually finding out their stories, their names, their reasons for being where they are.
The other deciding factor was how many employees, volunteers and staff at these locations were having experiences that were actually hindering operations or scaring them. Or visitors having experiences that terrified them enough they either stayed away or it left them wondering what was really going on there.
So, we branched out. We feel like these entities in these larger spaces, as well as the living people trying to operate them, need our help too and it’s been extremely rewarding. Not only have we identified a number of potential spirits and found out why they linger, but we’ve also corrected SO much misinformation historically about some of these places, in addition to finding entirely new bits of history during our research. (Honestly, the research is my FAVORITE part.)
Our focus is and has always been, helping. The idea of someone’s loved one being trapped in an old infirmary, hospital, jail, etc fueled us to start taking those cases as well. Frankly, we’re incredibly glad we did. We also love our family cases and we’re glad to have a healthy mix of both each season for you.
Thanks so much for following along with these this week! I may do this again soon!
In the meantime, enjoy the show tonight! Make sure to tell your friends!
xoxo
Ghost Hunters Cameras: Why They Don’t Point at Spirits
Hello friends! Continuing my daily blog in anticipation of the all new episode of Kindred Spirits on Friday night at 9/8c on Travel Channel. This week we head deep into the Sterling Hill Mine in New Jersey, which if you’ve followed me for some time, you know I’m terrified of being underground. We don’t get to delve too deep into my claustrophobia issues on the episode, but it’s quite apparent by my body language and facial expressions that I am VERY uncomfortable, ha! Also, doesn’t help that the place is wicked haunted to boot and there were crazy sounds happening around us constantly.
Aaaaanyway, moving right along to today’s commonly asked question about the show…
“Why don’t the camera operators point at the ghosts instead of you? Why don’t you wear head/body cams so we can see what you see?”
There are many reasons for this, so let’s dive in.
First of all, it is the camera operators job to focus on us. They are making a show about us and our investigation process. It is imperative that they capture as much of us and what we’re doing as possible because we never know how the investigation is going to end, so every bit of what we say and do could play in to what needs to be edited to tell the “story” for you as viewers. If they miss a key moment – a facial expression, a bit of dialogue, an action we make – they can’t get that back. So their instruction is to stay on us AT ALL TIMES. Even then, if we see something obvious, they will try to sweep in that direction to see if they can pick anything up, or at the very least, give you an idea of the surroundings we’re in so you know what we’re looking at.
Secondly, their cameras are just not like ours. Their cameras are much more involved and require a few seconds to set up a shot. They can’t just point it in any direction and pick up everything. Some lenses are designed for close up range, some are more tilt shift, some are designed for wide angle, so when they change the shot, they need a few seconds to adjust their lighting settings and focus. (Sorry my crew friends, I know it’s SO much more involved than that, I’m trying, ha!) Even then, if we are seeing something at the end of a long dark hallway, if there’s no lighting, their cameras will just pick up darkness. Even with IR cameras from Ghost Hunters days, they require IR light, if there isn’t any, you don’t pick up a thing.
Yes, our DVR cameras are capable of reaching larger spaces, and we blanket every location with as many of them as we can. But the quality is just not there in a camera like that to shoot a show with. Not to mention, even those require large amounts of IR light to capture a space.
The same goes for body/head cameras. We’ve tried them on many occasions, and the reality is, the footage is unwatchable. Without someone monitoring lighting and positioning, you get a bouncy shot that would make you, as viewers, completely seasick.
All of this means that we all do our best. We all have our jobs. Adam and I reposition our cameras through out our multi day investigations and put a lot of thought and planning in to where we decide to put them. The crew works their butt off making sure they can keep up with our craziness. Sometimes we get a wild anomaly on camera and sometimes our cameras are pointed right at it and it still doesn’t pick up.
It’s all the nature of the beast when investigating the paranormal. It’s highly unpredictable, sometimes frustrating, but mostly, utterly fascinating to me.
Thanks for continuing along as viewers and readers and we’ll see you on Friday night in the mine! *gulp*
~ a
PS. Shout out to our phenomenal crew at Paper Route Productions who have become like family to us over the years. You all do an amazing job and we love you!
The Idea Behind Laser Grid Use in Paranormal Investigations
People often ask me how to employ the laser grid in paranormal investigation. Below is the write-up I did on them, which I include with every order of a grid. If you’d like to try them out in your investigations (or give your cat the toy of its life), they are available in my store on this website.
Like most tools used in paranormal investigation, the laser grid was not designed specifically for hunting ghosts. These were originally used in laser light shows but have been adapted for ghost hunting with a fairly simple theory in mind. Understanding the concept behind laser grid use can significantly enhance your investigations:
Creating a spray of lasers in an area where shadow figures or apparitions have been reported makes the shadow figures and/or apparitions more apparent if they do manifest. It virtually eliminates cases of your “eyes playing tricks on you.” This is one of the primary benefits of laser grid use.
Tips For Laser Grid Use
- The laser grid works best when set stationary somewhere. Adjust the “spray” according to the area you are trying to cover.
- Secure the on/off switch to “on” by taping it down with gaffer’s tape or using a rubber band (I use elastic hair ties). There are laser grid tripods on the market; I avoid them as they tend to damage the on/off switch over time.
- Ideally, have an IR or full-spectrum camera pointed in the same direction as the lasers, so if an anomaly is seen, you will have captured it as potential evidence.
- The lasers virtually eliminate instances of your “eyes playing tricks on you.” The most common report in the field is that shadow figures envelop the lasers, causing them to disappear or distort as they pass through. When a live person steps into the grid, it’s quite obvious. Proper laser grid use helps in distinguishing between real apparitions and optical illusions.
Troubleshooting Laser Grid Use
- My laser won’t turn on and the batteries are new. Check the spring inside the grid and make sure it’s stretched out a bit. Sometimes the connection inside just isn’t happening.
- My laser is dimming and the batteries are new. Make sure you’ve secured the button well enough. Also, if it’s cold, the grids tend to fade in and out. When we’ve used them in below-zero temperatures, we’ve had to wrap them in hand warmers.
- I have put new batteries in each laser. However, during shipping, they sometimes turn on and off, so apologies if the batteries are dead by the time they reach you!
CAUTION
These lasers are in the legal 5MW range, but looking directly at them or shining them in someone’s eyes can still cause headaches, injury, etc. They’re not toys.
Good luck and happy hunting with your laser grid use!
Spirit and “Ouija” Boards
As many of you know, I have a tremendous interest in spiritualism and how the whole field of paranormal investigation began here in the US. A very important part of that history was mediumship.
Mediums used many tools during the hey day of spiritualism – from tarot cards and spirit trumpets – to spirit boards.
Yes, spirit boards.
Ouija is a brand name, not the name of the board. The name ouija is trademarked by Hasbro. Spirit boards were introduced as a parlor game in 1890. It wasn’t until their use by mediums during WW1 that they were seen as being associated with the occult – and it wasn’t until a spirit board made an appearance in the Exorcist that it was associated with demonic possession.
I own many spirit boards. Personally, I have never had a run in of the paranormal nature using one. It is my opinion that if you are going to use ANY TOOL to communicate with the other side, you should be ready for any repercussions. Be it a K2 meter, a digital voice recorder, a camera, a dowsing rod, a pendulum – what ever you fancy.
That being said, the entire reason I’m writing this, is because one of the designs on t-shirts I sell is that of a spirit board. I am fascinated with their history, and I think many of them are beautiful. They are a large part of what we do and I recognize and appreciate that – hence the design. I feel like every time I post related to it, I get a few, (not many), overly zealous ouija board haters.
FYI, the few times I’ve met people who actually dealt with demonic possession – not one had toyed with a ouija board. In almost all the cases, they had a moment of weakness in their life and a “demon” took advantage, or they were investigating a place they had no business being in. Most of the people I’ve met who have experienced activity after using a spirit board, experienced typical haunt type activity from a entity who had learned to communicate and wanted more – as seen many times using many other methods of investigation.
I have a collection of vintage spirit boards of my own – as well as old spirit photos, tarot cards, etc. None of these things have brought any harm to me or my family. I know – some of you will say, “YET.” – But, I could get in a car accident driving to the post office tomorrow. I can’t dictate my entire life on very slim chances of danger, because they’re everywhere. Truthfully, I feel my space heater or a lit candle pose a greater threat to my safety at home than my collection of occult artifacts.
So, there you have it. My feelings on the Ouija. Expect to be referred to this if you ever question my merchandise designs. 😉