Need Advice Regarding Ghost Or Mist-Like Entity Caught On Camera

Hi,

I'm a new member here and have posted a little, mainly on the UFO threads. Anyway, I'll cut to the chase. On the afternoon of the 25th December 2009 I was out for an afternoon stroll with my partner. We took a hike through rambling countryside near to where we live here in Wales. I took the camera as there was some snow around and it was nice to have for the memories.

We walked downhill through some woodland until we found a path that was reminiscent of something out of The Lord Of The Rings. I decided it was atmospheric and beautiful enough to warrant a picture. I grabbed my SLR and took one picture. I always check the LCD to review any photographs I take and what was staring back at me made me jump out of my skin. Where there had been nothing visible before, I could see a mist-like apparition in the picture. Bizzarely, unlike what you would consider to be normal mist, this had an unusual structure to it, and, when I showed it to my partner, we both agreed it almost resembled a face. I took another picture again to see if I could catch whatever it was again but there was nothing there in the second picture.

Here's my question;

If, as I suspect I may have, I have caught something truly unexplainable, what should I do with the raw data image? Should I copyright it? If I have managed to capture something incredible, (possible, but I don't know about these things), then surely I have a right to its value?

I would love to post the image for you all to see, but if, as I suspect, it may be of value and importance, then I need advice please on possibly copyrighting it.

reply to post by the.lights


look in the T&C. I think that anything you post here is still your property, but I am not sure. You could also U2U a mod. The cost and trouble of copy writing something is large. You need to be sure it's worth it to you. I would love to see the image.

reply to post by the.lights


Put the picture in photoshop and watermark it with something you know is yours, that way anyone who wants to use it knows it is yours .. make sure the watermak is BIG but does not overshadow the image its self "that you are showing"

Having seen a ghost my self, Smoke and mist.. is the only way to describe what it is your are seeing.. yet it HAS outlines..

I for one would like to to see this picture

reply to post by Sorcha Faal


Thanks for the advice. I will read the T&C's and maybe contact a Mod.

Unfortunately, you seem to be caught in a catch-22 here at ATS, as I suspect most of our great analysts will require the raw data image to tell you if you have something or not. I would suggest physically bringing the original image to a specialist for analysis if you fear sharing it here - I have a feeling not many members will be able to help you verify something even with a 2nd or 3rd generation copy. Mayhaps someone here can point you in the right direction.

However -

There are a few members here that I deem trustworthy enough to share the image with, as they have demonstrated significant integrity in similar situations. I will leave it to senior members to name these gents.

Good luck

reply to post by 13579


Hey, great idea!
I'll consider that!

I'm wondering whether to approach some national news outlets or perhaps Fortean Times?

reply to post by Cole DeSteele


That's definitely worth considering. Perhaps printing the image at home and taking it to a professional in the field. Although I've no idea who would be the best paranormal photograph analyst in the UK?

reply to post by the.lights


as long as you have the data on your pc.. it is dated on the camra and on the pc.. It is Yours no matter what.

It already belongs to you.. as the raw data is on ur camra and pc.. so dont worry about posting the image so much , but i would still watermark it in photoshop so no one can say they took it.

And i have done lots of photoshop and 3d animation and would be happy to look at it.

its not hard to spot fakes when you work with the tools

reply to post by 13579


OK, thanks.

I would love to show it to you, and I will once I am sure I have the rights. Of course I know it is genuine. But it would be interesting to get other people's thoughts on what it might be. I mean, if the picture is worth something, it would be a shame to lose out.

I think the watermarking idea is a good start.

reply to post by 13579


Actually, I just thought, maybe I could do a before and after comparison of the two pictures on my PC screen using my video cam and then upload it to Youtube. To show people that way. Would that be a more fail safe way do you think?

Originally posted by the.lights
Hi,

If, as I suspect I may have, I have caught something truly unexplainable, what should I do with the raw data image? Should I copyright it? If I have managed to capture something incredible, (possible, but I don't know about these things), then surely I have a right to its value?

Thats overkill. the only way your going to make money off of a picture is if its of tom cruise's baby or something; stupid, I know, but whatever.

We need the picture so we can ascertain whats happening in it. the media server isnt great, but its simple and with one line of code you can post the picture right to the page. plus, your ATS media account and normal account are linked together. Lastly, you must Own the rights to your image/media in the first place to even upload it. no one is going to mod it or claim it as their own, unless it really is revolutionary, and if that's the case, then you REALLY need to share it,

reply to post by the.lights


Well if your in for profit "ie selling it" thats a bad idea.. if its worth anything for someone to value "forteen times" or something they would prob just pay you 20 quid or something unless that thing is special i wouldnt fear copyrigt infringement unless people use it and sell it, then you can sue.

you are the only holder of the original so if it is used by law you can sue them.. You have the intelictual copy rights as YOU took it. its not a patent so its an image..

If I create an image in photoshop its MINE by law in england and most other places..

If you create something you are going to SELL you will need to pay 80 pounds for that as its against the law in england to sell something without the rights to it (c)

Selling a picture that does not belong to you is copyright infringement..

Selling a picture you created reqires you get it "insured" so to speak at the local patent office brance.

or just make your own company and put your logo on it. same price 80 quid

I'm curious to know if anyone has ever heard of any picture like this ever being sold for any great amount of money, I haven't.

reply to post by the.lights


I would say post it here with the watermark, and if you don't get laughed away by the second page of a new thread, then send it to ArMaP or someone else of that level on integrity an knowledge and see what happens. Either way, it's no good to anyone if you don't share it.

Just post it online with a watermark and your copyright information embedded in the file as well as the corner. By posting your original creation online you are already being given a copyright and the fact that this thread has a date/time stamp on it gives a time of virtual creation.

If someone did indeed exploit your image you could easily prove it was yours, and the date/time and online location that you posted it.

If you require the protection of a physical copyright, then you can indeed pursue that in order to strengthen your legal protection, but it is most likely unnecessary, especially with the DMCA on your side.

[edit on 28-1-2010 by DJM8507]

It would only be worth anything if it were used by some TV show or something, but they'll never use it unless you post it somewhere.

It had better be the 'smoking gun', though, or this whole thread is a bust. If we've gone through pages of telling you how to copyright and watermark etc. and it's another camera strap or matrixing in a bush, it will be just sad.

reply to post by the.lights


Rather than ending up with egg on your face (should this likely be nothing), it may be worth googling 'ghost images' ... I guarantee there will be many that look just like or very similar to what you have.

If I'm wrong and your picture is the 'one in a million' that is truly original and unique ... something that will make people gasp at the very sight ... then I'd suggest contacting magazines/newspapers for their professional opinion.

But remember ... it would have to be something VERY, VERY special to be of any monetary value.

However, before going to these lengths I would suggest you contact 'Internos' via u2u. He is a trusted member of ATS and is an expert in all things photographic ... he will tell you what you have caught in the picture and how ... what you had for breakfast ... and what colour underwear you have on.

But seriously he's very approachable and very good at what he does ... give him a try ... if you really do want to know what caused the anomoly on the photograph you took ... you never know it may well be something exciting ... but we'll see.

Woody

Originally posted by woodwytch
reply to post by the.lights

 

Rather than ending up with egg on your face (should this likely be nothing), it may be worth googling 'ghost images' ... I guarantee there will be many that look just like or very similar to what you have.

If I'm wrong and your picture is the 'one in a million' that is truly original and unique ... something that will make people gasp at the very sight ... then I'd suggest contacting magazines/newspapers for their professional opinion.

But remember ... it would have to be something VERY, VERY special to be of any monetary value.

However, before going to these lengths I would suggest you contact 'Internos' via u2u. He is a trusted member of ATS and is an expert in all things photographic ... he will tell you what you have caught in the picture and how ... what you had for breakfast ... and what colour underwear you have on.

But seriously he's very approachable and very good at what he does ... give him a try ... if you really do want to know what caused the anomoly on the photograph you took ... you never know it may well be something exciting ... but we'll see.

Woody

That's brilliant!
Thanks very much!



I will contact him and hopefully get some positive feedback. Once I'm sure it is, (or isn't), something of interest, I'll post it here.

BTW, I walked through the same woodland earlier this morning with my partner, who saw a small figure darting out from then back behind a tree. I was losing my contact lense but saw a black shape that definitely moved. We've also been seeing orange orbs high up in the trees there, and I've filmed these too. When I took the picture of the mist entity, it was also unnaturally cold in that very spot.

Anyway, I'll get this guy to check the picture then post it here once I've got feedback.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Please do post the image regardless of what you find out. As we are all in suspense to see what caused such a commotion.

Originally posted by DJM8507
Please do post the image regardless of what you find out. As we are all in suspense to see what caused such a commotion.

I PROMISE I will...!!



Bear in mind I took a before and after shot and any expert will be able to tell this by the angles of the light in the trees as there was sunshine. I'm dying to know what this guys take on it is. It's important to note that there was no mist and this is clear in the second shot, taken less than a minute after the first. What's really interesting is that the mist captured definitely has form, structure almost.

I google image searched 'ghost images' and having seen those, I can say for sure, mine is most definitely interesting...