For what it is worth, I thought I would pass along a few points on investigating that help me with analysis, especially photos, as this is something we all do at one time or another.

The first step is preparation, get the physical stuff out of the way, downloading, etc.  Then I try to prep my mind at ALL levels, almost a whole book unto itself.  Most of us, as our mind is composed of 3 parts, assume they all know how to work together naturally.  They do to a certain extent, but can be trained/enhanced, even by simple conscious effort to include all three at one time.  Investigations seek truth, knowledge, the realm of the "higher self", or super-ego.  The ego, or "middle self" does reasoning, but has no long-term memory.  The "lower self" or subconscious, which never sleeps, contains memory (long term) and emotions.  Get all three alert and working.

Then before analyzing photos, I take a short, quick mental journey, eyes closed, same path.  I crest a hill, looking down into a valley.  It's filled with mist, and trees.  I've found my forest.  I began searching the trees, which fill 95%+, of my mental photo.  Somewhere, there is a stately oak, majestic pine, etc.  I find it, and examine it closely.  I think: Most people will assume this is the principal subject of my photo.  It is beautiful, unique and worthy of praise.  I know, even though trees fill 95%+ of my image, there may be something else here worthy.  I look for other trees, then I began to search limbs for items of interest, and from there, began to look at leaves, moving beyond my stately oak.  There in one tree, I brush the leaves back (gently), and find acorns, hidden behind the leaves.  The mist has left moisture on several of the acorns.  On one of the acorns is a tiny water drop, about to fall, pure and clear.  Nature's own perfect little lens, showing the entire valley in microscopic beauty.  That 1 water drop is what I passed up 99% of the image to find.  (Usually in real life, about now is when someone tells me how ugly all those trees are, and what a waste of time to have driven miles to see them.  Or to photograph and entire valley needlessly when ANYONE could see that there is only one stately oak, visible from the parking lot!  I generally just look up and agree.)

I've taken this same journey so many times, I can make it rather quickly, but try not to rush, to allow time to set my real goals.  Whatever works for you, but don't quit when you see the ugly trees.  Also, remember reading a dull book and getting sleepy?  No excitement?  The subconscious runs on emotion, and controls the body.  No emotion, it gets bored an releases those chemicals to make you sleepy, in order that you will put that book down!  Or, stay up all night reading an exciting book?  The subconscious gets excited, but never sleeps!  It sometimes ignores the conscious mind's need for sleep.  If everything isn't working together, QUIT!  You WILL miss that water drop.....How many images do you have with "trees"?

paranormalis

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IAH wire services reports today that a snowstorm has hit the Shreveport and northern Caddo Parish areas of Louisiana today.  This freaky, unprecedented weather phenomenon began its terrible onslaught at about 1:37 P.M.,Central Standard Time, finally subsiding in its fury, releasing the Ark-La-Tex area from its icy grip about 1:42 P.M., Central Standard Time.  Visibilty on some areas of Interstate 20 was reduced to less than a mile.  Accumulations were nearly.  Concerned citizens interviewed indicated they were glad accumulations were not greater, which could have resulted in the plague which has been reported in many northern areas.  In these areas where snow has accumulated several inches, there have been reports of strange, plump, white apparitions with branch-like limbs, coal black eyes, orange noses, and in period costume of black top hat.  These have been reported in many neighborhoods, seen stalking and cavorting with small children.  In addition, strange, angel-like forms have appeared in the snow, in conjunction with this activity.  IAH reporters also interviewed the owner of Paranormal Investigation Services of North Louisiana.  He commented:  "Thank goodness the accumulations were not worse.  The citizens of Shreveport do not need this type of activity.  They are already upset enough with these late-night reports of pirate ships on Cross Lake, our city's main water supply."

Your IAH reporter,

I. Dunn Gotcha

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For those of you who may have visited my gallery, I've posted 2 images that have stirred some controversey.  I recently, on a lark, did some photography in an old abandoned house on Bellview Road, near my home, in Haughton, LA.  When I do this type of "investigation", I really consider it preliminary, to see layout, and get basic information.  I generally photograph all walls in all rooms as routine, giving me usually 100+ images.  These are reviewed, generally zooming in to catch intimate detail.  I found very little in the first 98%, deleting files.  In one of the last four I found a figure through a window with female shape.  This is still subject to healthy debate, which is good. 

When viewing the walls up close, there is a great deal of water staining, which is normal, and AS EXPECETED, were reminiscent of familiar shapes.  We see this in clouds, puddles of water, and images of the Virgin Mary on potato skins every day, no disrespect intended.  I was viewing this staining up close.  In reviewing the last two or three images, I found 1, photographed at a distance and is quite sophisticated.  See mother/child.  It also contains an illusion.  View the image small, at about 30" from the screen, and there is a woman facing away from the viewer, hair tied over her shoulder.  Viewed closely, say 8", and viewed small as posted, a face appears, looking at the viewer.  Also, a childs right arm appreas as visible through the torso.

I don't claim to know how all paranormal activity can manifest itself.  We see many strange things and claims, with various theories.  I don't know if a female spirit(?) could fixate on a lost child, or memories of children, and cause strange, impressionistic images on the walls??  I do know this staining is common and always catches our imagination.  This house, with subsequent checking, may have 15 or 20 of these, most not as sophisticated as mother/child, but some in strange colors for water staining (1 w/ only red/bright yellow).  Its shape, formation is obviously staining.  At the risk of sounding foolish, I publish as I consider I Am Haunted a site for ideas and healthy debate.  I am familiar with the philosophical argument, given enough monkeys, enough typewriters, and infinite time, one will eventually type out the complete works of William Shakespeare.  Doesn't make the monkey intelligent, or a great author.  The Bellview house may be the monkey with its impressionistic art.  I intend to find out.  Will EMF/EVP/Thermal Image, IR, and more, and do each more than once.  May take months.  the time WON"T be wasted.  I'll have something, or I won't.  I'll have a spirit or a monkey.  For thoses interested, I will post findings, positive or not, as well as images to my gallery, if interesting.  All comments, the good, the bad, and the ugly are welcomed.  Debate is always healthy: it causes us to think and analyze, as opposed to being complacent and idle-ized. 

For the record, as this house is close to me, I know this house has been adandoned 15 - 20 years.  Remarkably, the walls remain relatively grafitti-free.  Almost.  The living room walls have basic math equations, 6 + 4 = 10, scratched into the sheetrock.  One bedroom still has left-behind children's toys on the floor. There is an old dresser and mirror against one wall.  Next to the mirror on the wall is a silvery, spray-painted single word, about 6" high letters.  That word is "help".

paranormalis

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I just found the site today, through a link!  Seems like the best group and site I've been to.  Joined immediately.  I've been doing investigations myself here in the Ark-La-Tex area for a while under the name Paranormal Investigation Services of North Louisiana, and am a member also of the Ghost Hunters of North Louisiana.  I can also be found at: www.paranormalinvestigationservices.com and the group at www.theghosthunters.org. In my real job, I do investigating, testing, interviewing, de-bunking (fraud investigations), and actually love my job, so I developed this as a serious hobby. Much of the equipment I use daily, can also be used "nightly". In addition, I've been around a lot of paranormal activity throughout my life, Louisiana is full of it.  I also am within an hour's drive of the most haunted small town in America, Jefferson, Texas. For about the last  two years, my wife and I have had the pleasure to share our home with a paranormal prankster.  Keeps life interesting.  It DOESN'T happen very often, but when he starts, he won't quit for a while.  Don't know what I'll do if he ever decides to leave.  Well, thanks for letting me be boring for a while, I'm going to bed.  Good hunting.

Paranormalis

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