# U. K teen snaps a ghost ?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2008, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001 "2008-05-29T12:50:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/21 "2008-05-29T14:31:55Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] Can a digital camera double-expose? I thought that was a film trick when the film didn’t advance? [/QUOTE] I played around with double exposures in high school photography class. This would have been easy to do: Just take a picture of the stairwell with your sister holding the handrail, then take another with nobody in the stair well. For best results, use a tripod. Back in the lab, you expose your paper with the sister photo for a second or two, and then expose with the empty stairwell for 6 or 7 seconds. Viola: faint ghost image. There’s no reason you couldn’t do the same thing on the computer with even low-end software. Just adjust the brightness or transparency of the sister photo and paste it over the empty one. Take about 10 minutes, tops. Sounds like fun actually. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/22 "2008-05-29T14:38:21Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] _Leci n’est pas une pipe_ [/QUOTE] Qu’est-ce que **leci**? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/23 "2008-05-29T14:45:14Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] It’s still very obviously not a real ghost photo, though. [/QUOTE] Can you point us to an example of a real ghost photo for comparison purposes? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/24 "2008-05-29T14:51:26Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Qu’est-ce que **leci**? [/QUOTE] An _image_ of one as opposed to the real McCoy (or in this case, _Tulloch_). ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/25 "2008-05-29T14:53:40Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] For the same reason it shouldn’t be a flying spaghetti monster, a unicorn or a talking carnivorous plant from outer space: **these things do not exist in the real world.** [/QUOTE] No, those things don’t exist. But ghosts? As persuasive as your post is, no one’s ever really put forth a convincing argument as to why the occasional spirit isn’t hanging out among us. There are arguments why they _shouldn’t_ exist, but none that prove there really aren’t any. Not that I think young Connor actually snapped one- the fingers are a little too well defined, for one thing- but that doesn’t disprove the possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/26 "2008-05-29T14:57:24Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] An _image_ of one as opposed to the real McCoy (or in this case, _Tulloch_). [/QUOTE] I think you meant _ceci_, not _leci_. AFAIK, \*leci \*is not a French word. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/27 "2008-05-29T14:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=corkboard] No, those things don’t exist. But ghosts? As persuasive as your post is, no one’s ever really put forth a convincing argument as to why the occasional spirit isn’t hanging out among us. There are arguments why they _shouldn’t_ exist, but none that prove there really aren’t any. Not that I think young Connor actually snapped one- the fingers are a little too well defined, for one thing- but that doesn’t disprove the possibility. [/QUOTE] What disproves the flying spaghetti monster? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/28 "2008-05-29T15:00:59Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] I think you meant _ceci_, not _leci_. AFAIK, \*leci \*is not a French word. [/QUOTE] It’s a _new_ French word. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/29 "2008-05-29T15:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] So I’ve run rings around you logically. [/QUOTE] No, not really. While I’ve seen neither Moon walks nor ghosts with my own eyes, there is a ton of evidence that the former has occurred, and zero for the latter. And while I don’t know of everything that exists in the world, there is no reason to assume that just because I’ve never seen that it therefore must exist. I’ve never seen the tyrannosaur in your outhouse. Is that reason to assume that there probably is one? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/30 "2008-05-29T15:02:30Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] It’s a _new_ French word. [/QUOTE] The Magritte quotation uses _ceci._ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/31 "2008-05-29T15:05:31Z")
The image seems really bright over all. I’m thinking a long expousure. Or digital manipulation. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/32 "2008-05-29T15:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] Can a digital camera double-expose? I thought that was a film trick when the film didn’t advance? [/QUOTE] I think you can sort of do that trick with a digital camera by doing a long exposure in low light. You then have your “ghost” step into frame, hit them with a flash and then step out. Or you could just do it in photoshop or The Gimp as others have said. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/33 "2008-05-29T15:07:54Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] The Magritte quotation uses _ceci._ [/QUOTE] Of course he does. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/34 "2008-05-29T15:22:15Z")
You can easily place one image on top of another one with digital cameras. Not really a ‘double expousure’ but the effect is similar, or widely different if you choose. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/35 "2008-05-29T15:24:54Z")
What do Dopers think? I read the article with an open mind, really I did. I’d love for someone to come up with a credible image of a ghost. And I was doing fine, until I got to this part: > [@](#): > > “Being a sceptical person I thought Connor had done something to the picture but he says not and I believe him.” Having raised three teenagers, one of whom was male, this avowed expression of belief from the teenager’s dad cuts no ice with me. At all. And it puts me in mind of this bit from Mark Twain’s _Roughing It_, on the provenance of the Mormon golden plates. He is reading the Mormon account of the discovery of the golden plates, and commenting (sarcastically) on it: > [@](#): > > Next comes: > > > [@](#): > > > > _THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES. > > Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto > > whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the > > Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which > > contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and > > also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of > > Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we > > also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of > > God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a > > surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen > > the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown > > unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with > > words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and > > he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the > > plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the > > grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld > > and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvellous in > > our eyes; nevertheless the voice of the Lord commanded us that we > > should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the > > commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know > > that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the > > blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of > > Christ, and shall dwell with Him eternally in the heavens. And the > > honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which > > is one God. Amen. > > OLIVER COWDERY, > > DAVID WHITMER, > > MARTIN HARRIS._ > > Some people have to have a world of evidence before they can come > anywhere in the neighborhood of believing anything; but for me, when a > man tells me that he has “seen the engravings which are upon the plates,” > and not only that, but an angel was there at the time, and saw him see > them, and probably took his receipt for it, I am very far on the road to > conviction, no matter whether I ever heard of that man before or not, and > even if I do not know the name of the angel, or his nationality either. > > Next is this: > > > [@](#): > > > > _AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES. > > Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto > > whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of > > this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, > > which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the > > said Smith has translated, we did handle with our hands; and we also > > saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of > > ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record > > with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for > > we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith > > has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names > > unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen; > > and we lie not, God bearing witness of it. > > CHRISTIAN WHITMER, > > JACOB WHITMER, > > PETER WHITMER, JR., > > JOHN WHITMER, > > HIRAM PAGE, > > JOSEPH SMITH, SR., > > HYRUM SMITH, > > SAMUEL H. SMITH._ > > And when I am far on the road to conviction, and eight men, be they > grammatical or otherwise, come forward and tell me that they have seen > the plates too; and not only seen those plates but “hefted” them, I am > convinced. I could not feel more satisfied and at rest if the entire > Whitmer family had testified. I could not be more satisfied if the entire Bond family had testified that Connor hadn’t done anything to the picture between the time he sat down at the computer to upload his trip photos, and the time he called his dad’s attention to the one with the “ghost”. And I too would want to know why a ghost needed a railing. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/36 "2008-05-29T15:31:13Z")
Railing hell. Why should a ghost need _stairs?_ ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/37 "2008-05-29T15:31:18Z")
I’ll bet he’s a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/38 "2008-05-29T15:31:29Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] For the same reason it shouldn’t be a flying spaghetti monster, a unicorn or a talking carnivorous plant from outer space: these things do not exist in the real world. [/QUOTE] Burn him, burn the unbeliever ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/39 "2008-05-29T15:32:12Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Railing hell. Why should a ghost need _stairs?_ [/QUOTE] Oh come on. Do you really think that a ghost would wait for the elevator? ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001/40 "2008-05-29T16:16:08Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] What disproves the flying spaghetti monster? [/QUOTE] the hell IS a flying spaghetti monster? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-k-teen-snaps-a-ghost/451001.md?page=3)