Ghost photo baffles experts
By HARRY HAYDON
Published: 26 Mar 2009
The scary shot was unearthed during the biggest ever investigation into photographic evidence of ghosts.
The picture, taken in May last year, shows a spectral figure in fifteenth century dress peering out of a barred window at Tantallon Castle in Fife.
Click to see other photos in the competition that have baffled experts:
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No mannequins or costumed guides are used at the castle and photo experts have confirmed that no digital trickery was used.
Even ghost sceptic Professor Richard Wiseman admitted to being puzzled.
“It is certainly very curious,” he said.
“We ran it by three photographic experts and they said it hadn’t been Photoshopped at all.
‘ We ran it by three photographic experts and they said it hadn’t been Photoshopped at all ’
“The figure appears to be in period costume, but we know 100 per cent that Tantallon Castle is not the sort of place that has dummies or costumed guides; they just don’t go in for that sort of thing.
“I suppose it could be a visitor looking a little bit strange. Perhaps someone will come forward. Another possibility is an odd reflection of sunlight, but it does look very like a person. The explanation is not obvious.”
Tantallon Castle, a ruined fortress dating back to the 14th century, stands on a remote rocky headland near North Berwick on the East coast of Scotland. It was badly damaged in an attack by Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1651.
Christopher Aitchison, who took the photo, said: “I was not aware of anyone, or anything, being present in my picture."
Psychologist Prof Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, who has made many studies of the supernatural, launched the investigation a month ago.
Members of the public were asked to submit ghostly images for experts to analyse, the best of which were posted on the website
www.scienceofhauntings.com.
More than 250 pictures were received from all over the world and more than a quarter of a million people voted for what they considered to be the most convincing photos.
