Fig. 18.—Photograph of Mr. Wm. Walker with message in the handwriting of Mr. W. T. Stead. (See p. [87].)
Fig. 19.—Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walker and two friends with psychic likeness of Mr. Walker’s father. Compare with [Fig. 18].
CHAPTER VIII
EVIDENTIAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY
By Fred Barlow
Hon. Sec. S.S.S.P., Hon. Sec. Birmingham and Midland S.P.R.
No phase of psychical research has been more adversely criticised in the past than psychic photography. This is undoubtedly due to the prevalence of many erroneous ideas on the whole subject.
It is a popular fallacy that it is the easiest thing in the world to fake a “spirit” photograph. Those few photographers who have tried to imitate a genuine psychic effect have usually made the discovery that it is by no means so easy a matter as it appears, even when no restriction is placed on the conditions under which the fake should be produced. When conditions are imposed, similar to those usually obtaining with, say, the Crewe Circle, the difficulty of producing a fraudulent result is enormously increased. Under certain conditions, where suitable precautions are employed and where the sitter has a thorough knowledge of photography, plus an acquaintance with trick methods, even the possibility of deception without detection can, for all practical purposes, be ruled out of court. Under these special conditions, investigators of repute have on many occasions secured successful psychic results.