| GhostBreakers
Double Camera Outfit Idea... DIY Ghost
Hunting At It's Best!
We at GhostBreakers.com
try to use some new approaches as
well as the old in Ghost and Spirit
detection. We also will investigate
anything we deem of the paranormal
or the unknown in general.
We investigate in a manner relating
directly to the subject at hand. We
believe every haunting or experience
is unique and that is how we treat
them. Each one is handled differently
relating to it's unique circumstances.
We use some but not all the modern
electronic equipment you normally
see people use on TV. And also a few
Modified things we do on our own.
We like to think and hope to be one
of the Major Haunted or Paranormal
Investigation organizations that helps
bring credibility to all Paranormal
Investigation by employing our methods.
Some of our methods are just like
all the others and some are not. We
also help show people that they themselves
are very capable of determining if
there is a problem without help. But
we can also do a preliminary check
and do the determination for them.
And by using or own creative juices
we have come up with a great idea
for modifying your chances of catching
ghost on film and double checking
the results.
My idea behind this 2 camera set up
is to be able to take 2 identical
photos at the same moment. The reason
being, is that anomalies that are
captured like orbs, mist, etc., are
being explained away as smoke, breath,
dust, moisture, etc. I too believe
this is the case in most instances.
Then I got to thinking about how I
approach things. I feel that, just
because it could be these things,
doesn't mean it is these things! So
I came up with this idea.
Sort of like the guy that goes on
an investigation and finds a loose
pipe or squeaky floor board and attributes
all the clients experiences to those
things. That isn't good enough for
me.
So I figured that if I could take
2 photos at the exact same moment
then, if it were dust particles, moisture,
breath, etc. It would not show up
on both photos exactly the same.
Examples: One piece of dust, moisture
droplet, puff of smoke or breath vapor
pattern can't be in front of both
lenses in the exact same pattern or
at the same exact point. (see orb
photos below) Also, your breath pattern
will be different as it passes in
front of one lens and then the other.
If there is a drop of moisture, it
won't be on both lenses, and so on.
BUT, if you do get 2 identical orbs,
mist patterns, etc. Then it may be
worth looking into further.
The set up:
The first photo doesn't show the automatic
shutter release and it is on a Tripod
there for photographic purposes. It
is to be used on a Monopod with an
automatic shutter release like in
the second photo for ease of moving
around and taking photos on an investigation.
The outfit above was born from the
inexpensive PVC & mini tripod
prototype below that I had put together
before. This one would be inexpensive
for anyone or group to make. Although
it would be a little more difficult
to use as it has no automatic shutter
release. Making it a little difficult
to get two shots at exactly the same
moment.
The 2 photos below were taken at the
same time. Notice that the 2 cameras
are set slightly off on purpose. This
way it is even less likely to get
the same glare etc., on both camera
lenses. However, they both cover the
same area. Therefore capturing everything
the same if it is really there. Notice
the orb in the left photo but not
in the right. Proof to me it is the
flash reflecting off a dust particle.
Next, how many times have you seen
on TV or experienced yourself that
there was something behind you. Like
it was watching what you are doing.
These can be set to face in opposite
directions so while you are taking
that photo of what ever. You will
also be taking one at the same time
of what is behind you. You also don't
waste anything because if you catch
nothing you just delete them from
your camera.
Now to explain our 4 camera video
outfit that was born from this inexpensive
PVC & mini tripod prototype below.
The reason for this idea is for large
areas where you can't capture the
whole room with one camera. Or, somewhere
where you may be afraid of tampering
with the cameras, etc. You have seen
this happen on TV.
If you place this outfit in the center
of a large area (with each camera
adjusted so they face 4 different
directions) then nothing can go through
the area without being seen. Nothing
could be fabricated. (i.e. - someone
moving objects or rigging a hoax.)
Also, no one will be able to bother
the video cameras because they can't
get to them without being detected.
Especially if you use it for your
IR cameras wired to your DVR. No one
could get to them without being seen
and picked up on the monitor &
DVR.
Above is the final product for hand
held video units but can be used with
IR Cameras for your DVR also.
Note:
It is recommended that with these
outfits that you have your laptop
with you do download your photos to
it and continue on.
Now this may sound silly to some
but I am confident it will catch on
and it works for me. I also have been
promoting the idea a lot of places
other than my web site and so far
it has been received well by the people
in the paranormal community that I
have shared it with.
FINAL NOTE: The final product for
the 2 & 4 camera outfits shown
are not for the budget conscious person
or group. I plan to be doing this
a long time and it will pass down
to my older sons & the group.
So it was worth the investment for
me. However, for the bigger groups
out there that collect dues, etc.
Or the ones on TV with a larger budget
than the normal group. This might
be something they would want to look
into.
If someone likes the idea then look
at the photos for the inexpensive
ones I made from PVC and painted black.
They will work just fine and only
cost a few dollars, a little time
to put together and you can use the
cameras they have.
What
equipment you may want to use and
what WE Don't Use and Why.
Many people have different ideas of
what to use while doing an investigation.
Some you see on TV bring so much equipment
that it seems like they take most
of their time setting up and breaking
down, rather than investigating. Besides,
all their electrical equipment could
be causeing most of their paranormal
readings. We don't feel the need for
all the fancy equipment you see on
TV and other places. When you get
right down to what brought you to
the investigation you realize it was
from people that had personal experienceses.
These people didn't have any equipment,
yet they saw, heard or felt something
that we think is worth inestigating.
So why would we need any equipment
if they didn't need it? My personal
opinion (not the necessarily anyone
else's in the group or anyone at all
for that matter) is that all the equipment
you see used, actually interferes
with and prevents investigators from
obtaining any real evidence and why
you never see anything happen on TV
shows. However, we do employ IR cameras
when the building is large.
This is my opinion and not meant
to influence anyones ideas of what
and what not to use. You must do what
you feel works for you.
I don't think much equipment is
actually needed. The following is
what we feel may be necessary in most
investigating.
First and formost pen/pencil and
a spiral notebook. Your camera and
a audio recorder.
Recorders... You may use the recorder
instead of the pen and paper however
we feel the recorder is best when
used as back up for the pen and paper.
Also, unless you have a budget like
a TV show and can afford a high end
recorder. Your recordings will probably
not show any definate EVP. Most recordings
we have done that have resulted in
something being heard, have been interpreted
differently by each person who has
heard it. However, because of different
audio frequencies, and interference,
a good recording device that has different
speeds may reveal some interesting
results. I would just like to reference
the discovery in recent history of
the sounds emited by elephants that
are inaudible to humans. (You may
have heard the story) The discovery
was made by mistake. A researcher
made recordings of a heard of elephants.
While listening to the recording and
taking notes the researcher mistakenly
rewound the tape and palyed it back
at the wrong speed. Then they heard
a sound they hadn't noticed before.
They finally figured out what they
had done and then conducted the experiment
on purpose and found that elephants
do in fact make a sound that cannot
be heard by the human ear. (The story
may not be exact but it is close)
So if you can afford equipement that
you can change playback speeds etc.
You may get some interesting results.
Sony does make an affordable hand
held model in the photo above.
EMF meters, etc... I don't use EMF
detectors. You may use them if you
feel the need or you think it helps
you in your investigation. We have
done a little reading on the detectors
and thermometers etc. All this information
is readily available on the internet.
The EMF detector was designed and
it used for detecting ElectroMagnetic
Fields. Now a large number of Paranormal
investigators also believe that they
also detect the presence of ghosts.
We have found that these meters can
show a reading of 2 or 3 in the middle
of an open field. So a reading of
1.5 or more in a building with electricity
running through it almost everywhere
doesn't show us anything more than
that it is doing the job it was created
for. So you see that if it were designed
for only detecting ghosts it would
be great. But since there is no such
meter then trying to figure out what
it is detecting makes it not practical
for us. Although some believe when
an EMF meter spikes it reveals paranormal
activity. Then there are those who
believe that it shows electro magnetic
fields that ghosts feed on and could
show activity. They also believe that
when their batteries go dead it is
for the same reason. That spirits
draw the energy from the batteries
and electricity in the buildings.
My take on this is, Ghosts have been
reproted for thousands of years. What
did they feed on before electricity?
See what I mean.
Thermometers... I also don't use
thermometers like you see on TV. We
can physically feel changes in temperature
quicker than most thermometers I know
of. So it doesn't make sense for us
to use one. I suppose if we had an
unlimited budget we could probably
find a thermometer that could detect
sudden changes in temperature better
than we can. Now you are saying to
yourself... But they have them on
TV and they show sudden changes in
temp! Most of the thermometers I have
seen on TV are what are called non
contact thermometers. They shoot a
laser beam at an object and it detects
the temp of the object it is pointed
at. These are designed so that people
do not have to get too close to things
that are hot enough to harm them.
So when you see someone on TV pointing
one of these things and saying that
the temps are rapidly changing. The
temps are not changing where they
are standing but what they are pointing
at. So next time look at what they
are pointing AT not where they are
standing. Are they pointing back and
forth over a window, airconditioner
or something else that would have
a different temp than say the wall?
Many people make this mistake and
think there is something happening
when there isn't.
Cameras... Everyone uses cameras.
We do too and use the ones pictured
but, I am going to Pooh Pooh on the
camera idea briefly first. There is
one simple, grade school science reason
why cameras may not capture a ghost.
Ghosts are generally of no substance.
So something without substance would
not be able to reflect light. Therefore
being uable to be photographed. The
reason we see at all is because of
reflecting light. Now with that said,
lets move on and to why we do use
cameras.
We use cameras (video & still
) to record what we see during the
day so we can recreate the scene later
at home. This way we can continue
the investigation away from the actual
scene at our conveinence. Now remember
that your camera can and most likely
will pick up things you can't explain.
We aren't concerned with this. What
we are looking for is, picking up
something that we didn't see while
taking the photography but CAN identify
now. Then you know you have something.
Shadows, noises, smokey images and
Orbs just don't make the grade with
us. Now sorry to everyone else but
we do not believe an Orb has anything
to do with the paranormal. I will
leave it at that because a lot of
people take offense at those who say
orbs aren't paranormal.
One suggestion we have is to get
a good digital camera. They can be
expensive but you will also use them
for your personal use and for many
years to come. So we think it is probably
the best investment as far as equipment.
Since you have a good camera now,
don't use the flash. Even with a good
camera, flash will cause you to pick
up a lot of junk, dust, reflections
etc., that some will most certainly
and mistakenly attribute to the paranormal.
Now you have been saying to yourself...
They have been saying you may not
be able to photograph a ghost, so
how can people see them and why waste
time and money on a good camera etc?
Well, now without contridicting myself
(which I may do from time to time
trying to show both sides) and sounding
silly. We believethat there may be
certain circumstances that a ghost
will turn up on a photo but I don't
think it can be deliberately and always
done. We think that the reason you
can see a ghost may be not only because
you can see but because people hold
a special bond wtih ghosts. (Ghosts
being former people) Also remember
that a camera works like your eyes.
Your eyes don't work like a camera.
Cameras were fashioned from the idea
of howthe eye works not the other
way around. We believe your eyes can
pick up a lot more than a camera.
Here is my theory of how we may
be able to see ghosts. Look at a ghost
like a very clean window. Now if you
tried to take a photo of it all you
would get is what is on the other
side. But, if you look at the window
at just the right angle in just the
right light... you know it's there.
How? Well, first of all, you are sure
in your mind that it exists, even
though you can't actually see it.
Second, your eyes are working constantly.
Not taking individual still shots
but more like a video except your
field of view is much better than
a camera. So your eyes will catch
every minute detail. So unlike a photo,
your eyes see more and the connection
the living have with ghosts that an
inatimate object (camera) doesn't
makes it understandable why people
see more ghosts than cameras. I do
have many theories. Many may contridict
each other like I have said but we
must look at all angles if we are
to find what we are looking for. And
I can handle being wrong if someone
has proof of something contrary to
what I have said. I have no fear of
faliure, only of not trying.
Now here is something that you can
try with your photos at home for some
interesting results. Load all your
digital photos onto your computer.
Then make a separate folder and name
it whatever you want. Now open each
photo for editing. Go to the top on
the tool bar and click on "image".
Then click on "invert color".
This will change your photo to look
like a negative. Now "save as"
whatever the original was with 'neg'
designator and then save it to your
new folder. This will allow you to
go back later and look at them closely
at your lesiure. Why???
I have done this because it is a
known fact that we cannot see every
bit of the spectrum of light. Just
like we can't hear every level of
sound. This process allows us to adjust
that somewhat, revealing things that
you were unable to see while you were
taking the photos in the original
light spectrum. I have had interesting
results. You know the old saying?
My eyes are playing tricks on me...
Well, maybe they aren't. This may
help you find out. I have one more
piece of equipment we use.
Night Vision Scope... We do use
small night vision scopes. They prove
to be a valuable asset when traversing
dark cooridors etc. They work well
and are relativly inexpensive. You
can even get them cheap if you buy
one used. Try eBay.
Kim Kowalczyk
Kowalczyk
is a retired Criminal Investigator
with over 30 years experience and
a lifetime of paranormal experiences.
Kim has been a investigator for the
U.S. Army and worked for the Juvenile
Justice Commission also. Kim has also
worked cases from shoplifting to Murder
with many Local, State, Federal and
International Law enforcement agencies.
Being a Chief Investigator , Crime
Scene Evidence Collector and an Evidence
Custodian gives him an edge in investigating
& collecting evidence of the Paranormal.
Retiring at 46, he is now applying
his education, experience and skills
toward the paranormal. Kim has lived
all over the U.S. and Europe in his
life & career. He is married,
has 4 children and currently living
in New Jersey.
www.ghostbreakers.com
Ghost Breakers
A little history about GhostBreakers.com
The name and moniker of the GhostBreakers
has been around for near 100 years
as far as I can see. The actual name
has been in the Public Domain for
almost as long. It was actually a
play written in 1913 and performed
on stage for years. As seen in this
original photo that Kowalczyk owns.
GHOSTBREAKERS Advertizing... There
is nothing wrong with advertizing.
How else are you going to let people
know what you do? How else are you
going get people to contact you for
help? How much advertising is up to
you. But some inexpensive items are
available to everyone. Business cards,
etc, and the best is vehicle decals.
If it doesn't embarass you to drive
all over with your logo for everyone
to see. (If it does, maybe you should
look for something else to do.) Then
every where you go people see who
you are.
Also See: 20
Questions With Kim Kowalczyk
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