Concerning "Globules" and Misty figures

Of all the questions I get on this site, the most frequent are ones concerning "globules" and Misty Figures in photo's. How can I explain such things? Actually, to those who really do not take a lot of pictures, its quite easy. Additionally, for those who usually do not take photo's in wooded areas---its even easier.

Rather than an over generalized explanation, let us focus on the Cornwall/Dudleytown area. This area is (as most of New England is) very humid. That Dudleytown lies is a heavily forested area is also significant. Both of these things add to conditions that are ripe for photographic anomalies. Ask ANY photographer--a person taking a picture on a humid day is asking for problems. Let's look at why.

First, humidity is heavy moisture in the air. If you smoke (yes, I do--and no, you should NOT), to get an idea of what happens, simply blow smoke on a humid day. It "clumps", that is, the smoke does NOT dissipate as it usually does, but hangs together--all condensed, and by that alone you can get some pretty weird effects in a picture. No, I am not saying that the weird pictures are simply faked using smoke, but I do sometimes wonder if an innocent smoker or two may have caused some of them.

To move on, since the atmosphere is thick, light also can get distorted and do some really strange things--especially at night (and notice that 95% of these strange pictures are taken AT NIGHT!) I have seen pictures where a person lighting a cigarette up to 100 yards away had its reflection in a photograph! For real. Here's an experiment for you--(try it, you can really have a ball doing it!) take your camera (one of the small, one click types or a Polaroid is best) outside on a VERY humid night. (test it with some kind of smoke to make sure the smoke "clumps") and have a friend stand a distance from you with 1)a match, 2)a flashlight, and 3) a small glass of water. Have your friend light the match and hold it away from him so he is not in the picture. Take a picture of the light. Next, shine the flashlight on the glass of water. Take a picture of it. Experiment with different combo's and distances, and I guarantee some strange results.

As for misty figures, log them out to fog. Again, on humid nights, since smoke will "clump", so will fog. Ever seen fog hanging in one spot? So have I! As it can hang--then depending on the humidity it can also be "moved" into odd shapes. I was with a group of Boy Scouts over in Germany (I admit it! I was a Scout Master!) and saw one strange fog formation---and I went up and walked right into it! Blew the kids minds! They were sure they had seen a ghost! But, you see, they WANTED to see it---I was to tired to be bothered! I have done the same here in Texas also.

What all this adds up to is that the camera can only record light. That is all it does. If an odd light source pops up--it will get that to. Most cameras have curved lenses---curved differently that your eye. It can pick up images and light sources and reflections that your eye sometimes does not see. I have spoken to photographers that even get strange images and lights in their studios. Shall we say that the studio is haunted? No. Be aware that even a leaf, with a small drop of water on it, can cast a reflection that YOU may never see--but the camera might..

As I tend to believe in the Paranormal, I would not say that ALL of the pictures of ghosts and strange things are the result of light reflections and humidity. But the area around Dudleytown terribly lends itself to it. Considering the facts as presented on this site have disproved any "curse" theory, and the history of the town disproves any evidence of prior hauntings, this does tend to explain the strange things you see in photos of "globules" and misty figures in D-town. Compare what you see in pics of Dudleytown to pics of, say, Union Cemetery. Notice the difference? Again---there is nothing in Dudleytown to be afraid of---except injury if you try the hike at night!