One question related to ghost hunting that I am asked more than any other is: Why do ghost hunters investigate in the dark?
Not all of us do.
Despite the popularity of Ghost Hunters and shows like it, not all of us ‘go lights out’. The goal is to recreate the same circumstances that occurred when a person claimed that they experienced the paranormal phenomena. If the paranormal activity occurred at 2:00 pm, then the team should be on the scene, documenting at 2:00 pm. If the activity occurred at 3:00 am, then the team should be at the location at 3:00 am.
If lights were on at the time of the activity, the same lights will be on.
It is not to say that paranormal investigators should always keep the lights on. There are exceptions that include (but are not limited to) the following:
- To reduce false EMF readings, when applicable
- To use an infared camera, when applicable
- To use low light photography, when applicable
- To attempt to duplicate conditions when an instance of paranormal activity was reported to occur
Most members involved with paranormal investigation teams do have day jobs, which is why many of them only investigate at night. Conducting a nighttime investigation when reports of activity are reported during daylight hours will not allow an investigator to properly document a case. The majority of claims that I have worked with have taken place in the daytime hours, or while lights were on in the home.
Some teams will find a way to investigate the home during the time frames that paranormal activity was reported.
Additionally, one overnight investigation should not be the norm. An overnight investigation is not likely to allow an investigator to adequately document paranormal phenomena. An investigation can be ongoing for several months.
Myself, as well as most other investigators I know, do it with the lights on.
Copyright © 2010 Cherlyn Gardner Strong
Read more of Cherlyn’s posts at Tucson Citizen’s Paranormal Old Pueblo, or Cherlyn’s Paranormal Old Pueblo website
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gerald Benton, The Oracle, Paranormal Phenomena, conspiracy theo, C. Strong and others. C. Strong said: http://paranormalutopia.com/2010/11/doing-it-in-the-dark-is-lights-out-really-beneficial-to-ghost-hunters/ [...]
[...] this subject, I wrote a short article on Paranormal Utopia a couple weeks ago called, “Doing it in the dark: Is lights out really beneficial to ghost hunters?“. The answer to that question, if you don’t click through, is:”No, it’s [...]