Ghost In My PHoto? (My first thread)

reply to post by mysteryskeptic


Lol, that is just as big of a mystery - she was a gorgeous blonde wearing knee-high boots and a skirt working in a granite warehouse.

I will take some photos this weekend to try and duplicate this result, but I will surely not take a picture of a random attractive woman, haha.

If the second image [was] a shot of you and your reflection, then why isn't the reflection's camera-holding arm bent too? Mind you, the white rectangle near the obscure figure seems to be the information tag of the slab.
Also, if you consider that it is your reflection then it should not have [a] long coat...furthermore, the idea of there being a coat seems to be an illusion; it looks more like a shadow was produced because a slab was standing at an angle.

Excellent post! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures. These posts are the reason I joined ATS - love it! S&F!

As for the mystery of photo #2. I can't quite work out any configuration of reflections where that mystery image would be you. However, I do wonder if that is the attractive blonde. (I'm sure your wife loves that this lady is being referred to as the "attractive blonde" on your thread...) You mentioned she was wearing knee high boots and a skirt. Well, to me I can see a slender figure - more likely a woman than a man, and it wouldn't take much imagination to make out silhouettes of knee-high boots and a skirt. I think it looks like a slender woman in form-fitting clothes. I don't see the hat others have referred to.

What was her hair like? Long or short? Was it up in a bun or ponytail? To me it looks like a woman with either short hair or her hair up - ponytail, bun, or one of those loose numbers when your pin your hair up with office supplies (like a pencil) just to keep it out of your face.)

Was this photo taken early, before she went back to the front? Or did she ever come back and check on you guys to see if you had any questions?

That's my best guess... I think the mystery figure was the attractive blonde.


Looking forward to more pictures on your return trip. Are you going to ask them if the warehouse has any history of hauntings or deaths?

reply to post by VegHead


Thanks for the reply.

I am quite confident that the mystery figure in image 2 is not the "attractive blonde". That is the main reason that I even mentioned her in my post because the figure looks nothing like her. She had shoulder length straight blonde hair. I guess I could see the argument for the boots and skirt / form-fitting clothes, but I am also sure that the woman never came back into the warehouse. This photo was the second-last one I took that day. It is likely that there was at least one other employee in the building, but my wife and I both agree that nobody else was seen in the warehouse while we were in there.

I was satisfied with the "it's my own reflection of my reflection from a slab of granite behind me" theory, but the more I look at it, the less I agree with it. The right elbow does appear to be at the same 90 degree angle as my arm holding my coffee, but it doesn't appear that the mystery figure's left arm is up in front of its face like mine is with the camera/iPhone.

I'll take some experimental photos tomorrow when I am there, and maybe even a video so I can capture every angle.

I doubt I'll have the courage to embarrass myself and ask the attractive blonde about any strange things that might go on there..

Ps. This isn't an old dingy warehouse that you'd think would have a history. It is in a newer area of the industrial area of town, and it's bright and new looking.

Stay tuned.

reply to post by Mikey923




Thanks for responding to my post!

Well, if her hair was long and not up, then the figure doesn't sound like it fits her description. But even more importantly, if you are certain that when it took it she wasn't there (as you remembered it was the second to last picture and I'm sure you'd remember if she was there when you were finishing up... especially since you seem like you'd definitely notice if she were, being all attractive and blonde and whatnot) then it sounds like she can be ruled out.

I really don't think is your reflection. There have to be some craaaaazy bends of light to make that happen. It's possible, but I doubt it.

If it is paranormal, which would be shocking for sure, I wonder if the granite itself might have a role in all of this. I've heard that quartz can attract/retain paranormal energy. (Not sure where I heard this, hopefully someone more versed in such things can help me out...) I wonder if granite has some similar properties?? Just throwing it out there.

Good luck - looking forward to your updates.



ETA: Another thought in the "reflection camp"... do you see how the top of the figure's head touches the underside of a line that goes from the head all the way through the left side of the picture? It is as if that line is the top of another slab that is being reflected in the granite that you are taking a picture of. I am convinced the figure is not you. However, it does look like a reflection... of a person... or something else.

reply to post by VegHead


Regarding the reflection theory, it may not have been made clear, but there was a row of other granite slabs behind me. Like the very first reply mentioned, at these granite warehouses, they are set up as rows or isles of slabs of granite standing on-edge. I just wanted to make that clear that there is a good chance of it being a double reflection from granite behind me.

Thanks for the posts.

The first picture I think is a reflection of you, only reason I believe that is the hand positions and the red thing in the photo I believe says fire hose, But you can see whatever that figure to your right is it's solid because it's blocking out some of the box. So I think it's a reflection of you.

(I shouldn't say a solid object but it's definately something in front of the fire hose box)

the second one I think is your wife, I can tell in the first picture the figure is definitely a man, the second one is definitely a female figure. Not sure why everything on the second picture is black, it may have been the color of the slab that was behind you and it's kind of a reflection of a reflection those things look very shiny almost like a mirror.

reply to post by 1Learner


I too thought the figure had a long coat on but if you look carefully you will see there is a slab of granite leaning there and the shadow of the slab makes it appear to be a long coat.
I can't answer the OP's questions but I don't see how it could be his reflection about 10 feet to his left IN FRONT of the slabs,

Nice find, keep us updated!. First person from the left the hat kinda resembles the "reflection" or spirit of sorts. Other than that it seems to be it's own. It's features look like that of the descriptive shadow person, black shade human shaped with the hat and a coat.

I find the photos interesting.

Has the thought of a Shadow Person been considered versus that of a ghost? Thats what I first thought of when I looked at them.

With regards the query to the staff there.. No need to say anything paranormal, perhaps start by asking how long the business has been there and what was it before the Granite business etc. It might look shiny and new, but perhaps it was something entirely else before it was built. Then at least in a non-nonchalant way you can get some info..

Depending on the answers, you could even maybe have information volunteered to you that could lead you to the questions you really want to ask (but feel uncomfortable with). You could always do the old reverse bit.. "I've got a friend that swears up and down that when they were in here they saw a ghost.. isn't that silly?"

Creativity can get you a lot of info..

quartzreply to post by VegHead


Out of interest, granite is composed mainly of feldspar, mica and quartz! So if quartz really had those properties...

JohnnyAnonymous
I find the photos interesting.

Has the thought of a Shadow Person been considered versus that of a ghost? Thats what I first thought of when I looked at them.

I agree with JohnnyAnonymous ... there is definately something there and if it's not 'ghosts' (if the historical records don't hold up), then 'shadow person' is another possibility ... and under those conditions you could also consider the possibility of 'Hat Man'.

If you put 'Hat Man' in the ATS search bar you should find a couple of really good threads that we had on here a couple of years ago about this phenomena.

All options should be considered ... including the non-paranormal suggestions.

Woody )O(

reply to post by Mikey923


Taking the entire back story into account, and looking at the figure in #2, I'm pretty impressed with what you have here. That's definitely not the same figure in #1 standing beside you, and from what I can see in the reflection, this figure in #2 is in the same visual "plane" as you, relative to that reflection in that granite surface. If that figure was a reflection of a reflection of you in a slab behind you, it'd be really easy to see the plane separation between the two figures in the primary reflection.

I don't know what you have there, but it's pretty cool.

Yep, looks like Mr. Hatman paid you a visit. The clothing and opacity does suggest Shadow People. And I don't see how this could be a reflection, neither the silhouette nor the position seems to fit.

Fantastic first thread, by the way.

reply to post by Mikey923


As promised, here is my update after my second visit to the granite warehouse this weekend:

I found the exact same slab of granite that was in image 2 (the one with the mysterious figure/person). A lot of the granite slabs look similar, but this one was unique due to the two distinguished lines that cross to make an X, so I remembered it. I took several photos from different angles to see if I could duplicate some sort of strange double-reflection effect, but I had no luck. I put my hand above my head in one just so that I would know it was me in any reflections that showed up in the photo. I also made sure to have a coffee in hand to be really consistent.

Below, I will post the original "image 2", followed by a couple of my new photos from my second visit - just so it is easy for people to compare them.

"Image 2" with the mysterious person


Images from second visit



Also, I located the fire hose which can now be 100% proven as the cause of the red figure in my "image 1"


I guess my return trip didn't really answer any questions regarding the reflection theory since I couldn't duplicate it (i tried visually to look at the glossy slab and move around to different angles, but got no results). And my new photos also don't show anything out of the ordinary.

Just for the record, the "attractive blonde" was there again, and i can confirm she is still very attractive. There was another staff member there this time as well, but he definitely didn't fit the criteria for the mystery reflection - he was a tall heavy man. I also didn't have the guts to try and talk to either of the staff members to probe for any info - plus my wife wasn't really into solving this mystery, and was just wanting to get our granite chosen.

If anyone has anything to add as a result of my update, please post and I will definitely be participating any any discussions.

Thanks for following my first post!

Mikey

reply to post by Mikey923


Whenever i open a thread like this i always think...please don't let it be hat man...i hate that guy...! I'm pretty sure that's him...i was paid many hat man visits as a kid...he's the only thing that really scares me!
It's awesome you took the time to try and rereate the image....i hoped that it would work and we wouldn't be left hat man as an explanation....

reply to post by Mikey923




Thank you SO MUCH for this follow-up. Seriously, props for that.


On the first picture you posted from your second trip (follow that?) I swear I can see the shadow of something that looks similar to the figure you caught on your first trip. Just the bottom of it - the peg-like legs (or legs being held tightly together). I think maybe I've just stared at it so long that my eyes crossed, though... I might be seeing things.

Did you pick out your granite? Did you go with the haunted one?


ETA: These are some of the best re-creation shots I've seen a while. Nice work trying to debunk it.

Ack! Now wait... I think I just creeped myself out... but...

Look in that first picture. Look to your right (the left side of the picture) there is a little "hallway" between the slabs of granite. I see a tall figure there. I it isn't in the second picture.




Was that one of the employees? Or just me seeing things? It looks creepily like the figure from the first visit... And the figure isn't there in your second picture.

reply to post by VegHead


Ok, that is pretty creepy. When I first read your post, when I first scrolled down to the photo that you circled, I was expecting something that was going to be a real stretch. But I am pretty sure I can make out a person - or at least their legs.

Now, when I took this photo, I know my wife was standing to my left, but she was definitely right beside me, and not down the "hallway" of slabs. So i know that wouldn't be her this time. Now, this time at the warehouse, there were two other groups of customers there - one was a man, woman and kid, and the others were a man and woman. I really can't remember exactly what they looked like, but also, in this reflection, there isn't as much to identify anyhow; just some legs maybe.

So I am going to tell myself that it must've been another customer this time, just so I am not so creeped out.

We did pick our granite, and we are NOT going with the "haunted" one, lol.

Thanks so much for following all this and finding that figure in the image.

Cheers

From the X in that slab from the first and second picture, they sold the haunted slab or they did something with it because the X is different in the pictures.

Also interesting is that in the hallway where somebody saw the feet, if you look at the new first picture and then the new second picture, the lantern is moved. In the first picture you can see the lantern and a light bulb, but in the new second picture it's just the lantern and it looks like it was moved/being held where the light was.

I still think it's your wife in the second picture, but I do like the pictures, there is so much going on, The first few times I looked at it, I was like why did he take that picture in a snow storm?