The Artistic Side of Spirit Photography

The Artistic side of Spirit Photography

Spirit Photography has always been a highly controversial subject; however, skeptics claim that spirit photography cannot be seen as an art form, whether the spirit photo is real or not. Sure there are many con-artists out there that can double-expose a photograph to make it appear to be a ghost; but the question is, how does one really know? Spirit photography should be considered another facet of art because of its relation to religion, science, and the art world in general.

Religion is the fundamental basis of spirit photography. Spiritualism became a religious movement in the early 1880's; it was seen as a means to communicate with the dead. "In 1848, two sisters, Katie and Margaret Fox, claimed to have communicated with the spirit of a murdered peddler buried under their house" (Brown). This was the start of the spiritualism movement, many spectators became obsessed with the occult and many well- known historical figures and scientists deviled into the phenomena. Many people believed that they could communicate with the dead, and mediums or clairvoyants would perform séances to talk to the spirits. Spiritualism has played a huge role in Spirit photography, during the times of war and sorrow; people needed something to believe in. Spiritualism has given people the chance to see the other side and to understand that they will see their loved ones someday. Everyone wants to believe in a higher power, a new realm of existence, and to go where no eyes have seen. In 1861, William Mumler, was a part time photographer when "one day, while developing a self-portrait, he noticed the mysterious form of a young girl on the negative" (Case). This was the beginning of Spirit photography, and during the 1860's spiritualism was a big movement; thousands of people would go to these spirit photographers and request to have their picture taken with their loved ones who had passed on. These people wanted one last memory with their loved ones, and when the people had nothing but famine, war, pain, sickness, and hunger; all they could ask for was to believe, and why should anyone deny them of that privilege? To those photographers and dis-believers, why should you take away the one thing that people have to cling to happiness? It is wrong and un-just; and all people have the right to believe in something right? Is it not a free country, did the constitution not say "We the People", or all people just supposed to believe in nothing; spirit photography has given a new light of hope to see the other side, but one must believe in it first and foremost, one must accept the reality that goes along with it.

However, ones beliefs are not the same as others; one might ask why believe in something that one cannot see? Spirit photographers have a vision for seeing the hidden realm in-between life and death. Believing is seeing and seeing is believing; one photographer might see a shape of a woman's head but another might see it as a double-exposed negative. For this vital reason, people do not believe in that spirit photos are real. One might look at it as, "if one can touch it, then it is real"; if one cannot see it, then it is not real. People choose not believe in something that is not visible with their own eyes. A Photographer chooses to capture something that they can see, so one might think that spirit photography is fake because one cannot see it with their own eyes. However, if one was present in the darkroom or at the time of developing; then one might see that most spirit photographs are in fact real, and that there was no possible way to alter the way the photograph was taken in the presence of another.

Another big part that plays in the spirit photography movement is science. It all comes down to science; there have been many scientists, and historians that have passed through the spirit photography movement. "Each new feat was duly captured in photographic form in order to provide scientific and visual proof" (Brown). Photography was the only way that science could prove if spirit photography was real or not. The photographic technology was the scientific explanation of spirit photography. It explains how the "invisible is visible" and how one can alter time to perceive beyond the grave. Science proves that spirit photography can be thoroughly explained be the use of chemical and physical operations. Without the use of science, one could not explain the use of the camera or the photograph. Also, the chemical compounds are a major part of science; one needs the proper amounts of chemical levels in order to produce the film or negative. The technology itself is science. The camera can be seen as a scientific point of view; after all, it is a mechanical mechanism that features different mirrors and sensors, in order to capture the photograph. Furthermore, the use of science is essential to spirit photography; without science, there would be no cameras or photographs today. So, one can see how important science is, and how it can relate to spirit photography.

However, one might not see the connection of science to spirit photography. Of course, that person would have to be stupid; but not everyone is looking for a scientific explanation. One might just see a simple form of artistic expression. Another could see a resemblance of a loved one, but someone else may see just a photograph. In addition, someone might see less craftsmanship, and a fraudulent photograph. Whatever one chooses to see is thy