What is happening in these photos?

[eelozano]

I am having an argument with friends. They seem to want to believe these are ghosts (or at least want me to be open the the possibility). The first image is the one that was presented to me as proof of the 'ghost'. The second was an image that I used to prove that it was in fact not a ghost since it was replicated.

I'm really just curious as to what is happening to cause these pictures to come out this way.

Image #1 (Her image)




Image #1 (My Image)




I am not sure what equipment she was using, but mine was taken using a Canon SD300 Digital Camera (I believe that is it, but it may be a 330 or something).

[eelozano]

fingers on the flash?

[Peter_AUS]

Ghost Busters

[freygr]

The first image looks like finger prints on a filter being illuminated. The second could be smoke or mist beening illuminated by the flash.

????

[photophorous]

I've had a similar arguement about a ghost that was actually sun flare. Some people watched too many horror movies growing up, I guess.

Your image looks like the flash illuminating smoke or steam, and maybe that could be the cause for hers too. Hers also looks like an underexposed image that someone did a horrible job trying to burn in. Finger over the flash is a possibility too.

Any info on what kind of camera was used? Any smokers present? Was it cold outside?

Paul

[another view]

Did anybody see Penn & Teller's show Bullsh** last night? It was about ghost hunters, pretty entertaining!

I don't know what caused these, but someone blowing smoke or just breathing outside when it's cold between the camera and subject could do this. That's why it's so bright - it's closer to the flash than the subject. Call me a pessimist, but why would someone take a picture of trees like this at night - without the effect, I can't see this being something to really point a camera at...