Picture of Ghost

[Michelle]

My boyfriend took this photo during our recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was supposed to be a photo of the Edinburgh town at night. Instead, there is what seems to be a big ghost looking for a photo op.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I would be happy for anything anyone can tell me about it. I find it rather exciting!

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[Akashic_Librarian]

It looks like smoke that has caught on the flash. BUT saying that I did see a face in there so...I don't know.

[Erin Pavlina]

Was anyone smoking around the photographer?

[Adam]

I don't 'feel' anything about that picture... (if that makes any sense at all...)

I'm voting for smoke caught in the flash... about three feet away.

[Michelle]

My boyfriend doesn't remember smoke in the area, but isn't completely sure. It is outside in town, so smoke is possible.

I considered smoke, I just thought it seemed to take up so much of the picture and I see "eyes" and face, etc ...

[Cron]

dirty lense?

[Michelle]

All the other pictures we took are fine.

[Susie]

That's hilarious...it totally looks like a skeletal face looking at the camera-- but it sure looks an awful lot like cigarette smoke, too.

[WanderingOak]

If this wasn't a link to your own website, I would have thought this to be one of those 'jack in the box' photos where after a set time somebody leaps out and screams at the top of her lungs. You know the kind I mean: "What is wrong with this picture? Look very closely. Some people can't see the ghost for a few minutes..."

Seriously, I would vote for a combination of glare from either the flash or oncoming headlights and smoke or perhaps steam/fog. It looks like the streets were wet that night. Do you know if it was cold out? Do you know if he was using a flash on the camera (useless outdoors, in most cases)? There is this one bright light at the vanishing point (in the center of the bus-stop). It seems to be brighter than the other lights, and might be causing some strange optical effects with the camera lens and (frosted?) windows of the bus stop.

[Michelle]

Well, maybe you are right. I had hoped it was a ghost, but it is perhaps really only a light distortion or something.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by Michelle

My boyfriend took this photo during our recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was supposed to be a photo of the Edinburgh town at night. Instead, there is what seems to be a big ghost looking for a photo op.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I would be happy for anything anyone can tell me about it. I find it rather exciting!

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Mmmmmm.....don't know what happened there....could be just a little condensation on the lens....if it was kept in a warm pocket then brought out on a cold night.

I live in Edinburgh and you tool the photograph on Princes Street....the main street by the Gardens and Under the Castle.....no ghost stories there I'm afraid. If you went over to the Royal mile, there are some ghost tours there.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to our lovely city. Did you come for 'Hogmany'?

G

[Michelle]

You're right, Gordon, it is Prince's Street. My boyfriend and I make an annual trip to Edinburgh for Christmas shopping and to visit some Scottish friends. We spent a week there between Dec. 15th and 22nd.

I would choose Edinburgh or Scotland over Paris anyday! It is a wonderful place!

[Kristoffer]

I do not know much about ghosts but something about photography.

This looks like smoke close to camera, reflected in the flash. Probably cigarette smoke.

The same effect can be done with snow, like this.