These Vintage Photos of Spirit Photography Will Creep You Out
Long before the Paranormal Activity movies gave audiences their fair share of supernatural entertainment by supplying plenty of fuel for scary movie marathons everywhere, there was the vintage photography trend known as spirit photography to appease society's fascination with capturing "ghosts" on camera. And as these creepy vintage photos of spirit photography illustrate, the eerie movement provides a haunting look into the past.
According to History, spirit photography began in the 1860s. At that time, the United States was mourning the death of over 600,000 lives lost in the Civil War, and the country had an appetite to connect with those souls that had passed over. Spiritual seances became increasingly common during that time, and thus the manipulated photographic art form of spirit photography also found its place.
The grandfather of spirit photography, William Mumler, used various camera trickery – such as double exposure and superimposing camera negatives – to render translucent ghost-like apparitions on the prints, according to The Atlantic. But what's even more macabre is that sometimes the faces that were superimposed onto these ghostly photographs belonged to people who were truly among the dead.
Funeral Spirit (circa 1920)
As a woman mourns her deceased husband, his superimposed face looks over his lifeless body.
Not Napping Alone (circa 1900)
A bearded Massachusetts man naps in an armchair as the "spirits" of his children watch over him.
Floating Face (circa 1920)
The face of a female "spirit" donning a flowing cloak floats above an elderly couple posing for a photograph.
Empty Crib (1897)
A woman sits on a bed as a "ghostly apparition" floats above a nearby crib.
Husband and (Dead) Wife (1923)
The image of a man's deceased second wife floats above him in a photo taken shortly after performing a seance.
Guardian Angel (circa 1925)
The "spirit" of a woman peers over the shoulder of a seated woman reading a book.
Spirits and Seance (circa 1920)
A disembodied arm reaches up towards the table as a group of people attempt to perform a spiritual seance.
Seeing Double (1910)
Although it appears that there are three subjects in this photo, there are actually only two: one man and one woman. The double exposure effect was successfully utilized in order to duplicate the female subject.
A Ghostly Family Portrait (circa 1920)
A couple poses for the camera as the face of the man's sister floats above the female subject.
An Unknown Man (1920)
In the photo, captured by Walsh medium William Hope, a man sits in a chair as the distorted face of an unidentified "spirit" floats in the background.
Ghost in Car (1959)
A man is photographed sitting in the passenger seat of a car while the face of his deceased mother appears in the backseat behind him.
You Might Also Like
