I am looking to get started in ghost hunting/investigation?

Question

Looking for help from other people who do this, just need some pointers e.g. what equipment is the best, where to get started, times of the day or moon cycle etc.

Answer 1

NO.

Answer 2

Ghosts? Yeah, good luck with that.

Answer 3

The important thing to rememvber is that YOU are the best piece of equipment.  You will determine when something is or isn't unusual.  Other than that, invest in a good digital camera, a digital voice recorder (make sure it is compatible with your computer) and if you want, an EMF Meter.

Have fun and grow your equipment as your desire and commitment requires.  Oh- and a GOOD flashlight!

Answer 4

i agree with gsi_joe  ....find a group near you, and work with them, learn as much as you can, then branch off if you feel you want to......

Answer 5

I have been doing it for a while now and its fun.  First you need to read everything you can about ghosts and hauntings.  Not fiction but facts, pro and con.  Don't call everything paranormal, because most things have a logical explanation.  Get a few good cameras, I like Canon digitals for still and Sony video with Night shot for videos.  Also extra battery's for both.  An EMF meter is handy to see if there any stray electric fields around.

Other equipment I have:

5 high resolution CCTV cameras

4 infrared CCTV cameras

2 digital recorder systems, one computer based, one stand alone DVR.

2 trail cams.

6 thermometers

4 voice recorders

2 Geiger counters

400 feet of power cords

400 feet of video cable

lots of adapters

lots of tripods

lots of tapes

lots of memory cards

And worsted of all, thousands of hours of free time to watch all of those videos with nothing on them just to find one thing that people will say you faked anyway !

Answer 6

I don't understand why any of you would go out looking for them.

Answer 7

You are best not to start on your own.  Find an existing group in your area.  The amount of work involved in starting a group from scratch is huge!  Also, wait until you see the amount of work that goes on for an investigation.  You may only be at the location for 4 to 6 hours but then you have 8 to 12 hours of video to go over, another 8 to 12 of audio, research can run you  another 12 hours or more.  

If you start a group you need to be in a position of being able to train everyone that joins, from would be investigators to researchers.  Your question pretty clearly says you are not able to do this yet.

Find an established group and learn the ropes.  Then you can branch out if you want.

EDIT:

I can't believe anyone would suggest the International Ghost Hunters Society.  A team I am familiar with sent them several pictures that they had purposely faked, and not even faked well.  They asked IGHS if they were ghosts and received a reply that those were in fact real ghosts and to keep up the good work.  Heck, if you want a diploma in ghost hunting I can print one up for you.  I have publisher, just like them.  I won't even charge you $150+ for a CD full of stuff that is free on the web.

Answer 8

a.) Make up your mind which you want to be.  A ghost hunter looks for evidence supporting the existence of ghosts.  This is not impartial and this is not investigation.  (Nor is it scientific.)  Investigators examine a setting objectively and attempt to find an explanation for events that have been reported to occur.  Ghost busters operate under the preconceived notion that ghosts exist and all that needs to be done is to find the evidence that is there.  Investigators operate under no such notion.

b.) The only equipment you will need is a flashlight,  a hardhat, a video camera and a still camera.  EMF detectors are unnecesary because there is no reason to believe ghosts emit electromagnetic fields.  Temperature gauges are unnecesary because there is no reason to think ghosts affect the temperature in any way.  Sound recorders are unnecesary because ghosts don't have voice boxes.

c.) You can investigate paranormal claims any time of day.  Don't be fooled by the TV shows that investigate only at night.  They don't do this because ghosts are more active at night.  The only reason they do this is for the "spook factor".  Logically, the ghosts are dead, so why do they care whether it's day or night?  Some might say because we tend to notice ghosts more at night.  I would say because it's dark out we're more likely to misinterpret normal things as having paranormal causes.  Investigate with the lights on.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.  Whatever you do, please do it in a subjective, impartial and scientific manner.  Enjoy!

Answer 9

This field needs more good investigators. You can start with a camera, any digital will do and a voice recorder. Voice recorders are like anything else, usually the more you spend, the better the quality and performance. Never investigate alone. Pictures of Orbs are not evidence. I would recommend you google ghost hunters and read from many paranormal sites. Some of them list a "how to investigate" section. Ours does. Find it at www.tricitiesparanormal.org.

Don't run when you find something, move in and continue investigating.

Have Fun!

Tim

Co-Founder

ETPRS Tri-Cities Division

East Tennessee Paranormal Research Society

Answer 10

Sorry I work alone. Dead people contact me, I don't really have to do anything, it just comes through, I chart it in the dead journal and go on about the day until the next one comes through.

I cannot contact them so it is random people and random dates and countries.

I doubt the existence of visible apparitions. I hear from many dead people each day and have never ever seen a single one.

Answer 11

if u investigate someting,first eliminate/exclude/look for mundane explanations,like people who lie,are on drugs,defective physical objects,natural phenomena caused by MOTHER NATURE,,animals,houses settling,hoaxes etc when u eliminate said things,then un can b certain,whatever is,must be of the paranormal

Answer 12

there is no bettr time of day or the month. The equipment you need to get will be expensive. I use a Sony Digital Hard Drive camcorder with infrared. about 700.00. I use a Nikon SLR Digital camera, about 650.00. Type 2 EMF about 40.00. 2 Digital recorders one Sony one Olympus, about 200.00. a dedicated HP Laptop, 1000.00, 2 types of thermometers, both infrared, one ambient, one point and shoot, about 110.00 several rechargable flashlights, mine are Maglites about 300.00, tripod for camcorder, 75.00. and other misc. equipment. not to mention, your gonna have to spend for travel expenses where ever you go. My advice is to join up with a reputable group, and learn from them. be serious, your often in other peoples property or on hallowed ground. Dont be afraid of every bump and niose you hear.

Answer 13

Wherever you go, go at night. That's all I know. And if you find out anything freakish email me, =D I love this kinda stuff.

Answer 14

The web site http://www.haunted-places.com lists reportedly haunted locations by state. They also list by state several groups that you could possibly look into joining.

Answer 15

Ghost hunting works best for people who have an unusually acute sense of their environment including an awareness of things both conscious and subconscious.

Answer 16

Ghost hunting takes guts and an open mind, which is why a strong and willing team is an added asset. Most people 'hunt ghosts' for kicks. Be clear about what your intentions, perceptions and limits are.

Mark up a scouring area known for hauntings. Your local tour guide might have ideas on this, but researching history on the Internet is a better option. Look up case studies and other people's experiences hunting ghosts -- specially sites like the International Ghost Hunters Society and Ghost Hunting 101.

If possible, you can join them (or get them to join you) based on mutual interests and common goals. Always start with your local area (a place you know) before fanning out to unfamiliar grounds.