The Basics of Ghost Hunting

To be a novice ghost hunter, one that goes on hunts whenever time allows, does not mean you have to go out and buy thousands of dollars of equipment. You're ghost hunting bag only needs a few items and most can be found around the home.

First, get some friends together that have the same interest and begin researching your area for local stories and well known haunts. If that isn't your thing, try researching more well known ghost hot spots and make a weekend out of it. However, the most important thing needed for this trip is permission. Make sure the area you are going to visit allows visitors, especially at night. Nothing ruins a hunt more than having the cops kick you out of the area because you are trespassing or worrying the neighbors. Most cemeteries have posted hours and you are not allowed in after them. So please, check before you begin!

Now, onto all the basic items a novice ghost hunter needs.

Flashlight. This will come in handy when you need to see where you are going, or whenever you need to get into tight spaces. To make sure this doesn't interfere with any photographs, a bit of red cellophane can be placed on the lens and held in place with a rubber band.

Camera; digital or otherwise. Digital cameras are great; they offer instant evidence of what is going on around you. If you do not have a digital, a regular old 35 mm camera will work just fine. Just make sure you have plenty of film on hand.

Video camera. Also great for live action, or to go back and see what you may have missed.

Some sort of recorder to check for EVP (electronic voice phenomena). These can be purchased just about anywhere for pretty cheap.

Before you are at your investigation site, you should already have specific jobs lined up for certain people, that way, when you arrive, equipment can be handed out and things can be quickly.

There really is no specific time to take a picture. Take one when the moment strikes you. It's important however to make sure your lens is clean, and that no one smokes at any time during the investigation so the smoke does not interfere with the picture and the evidence.

Video cameras should be running at all times to keep track of what goes on. If something happens, it's important not to tell someone else exactly what you see. Doing so sometimes will make someone believe the same thing is happening. Discuss everything after the event is over with so you are not in any way, encouraging another's ideas about an event. Having a watch, pen and paper on hand to document when an event occurred is nice for reference.

Keeping track of the weather conditions (if you are investigating outside) is important because fog can skew photographic and video evidence. If it's cold, someone breathing while a picture is taking can be viewed as a ghostly presence. Check all of this a few hours before the hunt.

To make sure nothing is embellished when an event occurs, always go in pairs. Having two people to a team helps keep those who may be a bit scared more calm because they are not alone in strange surroundings. Two way radios are nice to have on hand so you can keep track of all teams as they are out doing their thing. If two way radios are not an option, a cell phone is always a second option.

To achieve any possible EVP results, walk around the area asking questions. It's important to know where all crew members are at the time, so when the evidence for this is checked, their voices aren't mistaken for something else. Also taking note of the sounds going on at the time is a good idea. Did a car drive by at a certain time? What about animals? Were any making noises at the time a specific question was asked that may have been interpreted as something else?

The next day after the hunt, examine your evidence, keeping in mind any notes a team member may have made about any event that occurred at the time. Always approach your evidence with a skeptical mind until you know for sure what caused the event. If you are sure no outside forces caused said event, congratulations, you've caught a ghost!