Photography – We use photographs in an attempt to capture paranormal activity. In general, we will take photographs where our other instruments show an anomaly (EMF hit, or temperature drop). Paranormal researchers look for the following:

• Orbs – Some paranormal investigators claim an orb is evidence of a haunting.  Orbs are round shapes that are brighter than the surrounding area. Some claim that orbs are present in locations with a heavy level of paranormal activity and that the orb itself is an area of energy. Unfortunately, most orbs are in actuality, dust, pollen, bugs, sediment in the air, or any little object that naturally floats. The flash of the camera reflects off of these items and produces an “orb”. Because there are so many real-life conditions that cause orbs, Manchester Paranormal Investigations will not submit orbs as evidence – there are far too many natural explanations and can be easily duplicated in experiments.    
• Vortex – The most common paranormal evidence (not counting orbs) that is photographed. Vortices are usually located in the area of the highest activity at a haunted location. A vortex can remain motionless, change shape, enlarge, or contract.
• Smoky/Misty Forms – This type of evidence is not common. The smoky or misty form is in fact a photograph of the actual spirit. Sometimes within the smoky/misty form a face or body part begins to form. 
• Shadow Figure – This type of evidence is difficult to capture as shadow figures can move extremely quick.
• Apparition – The holy grail of evidence – also very rare – the form of a person caught on a photograph. 

Video – Video evidence of the paranormal is very rare to obtain. However, the use of video equipment will record EMF hits, severe temperature changes, and by chance the movement of an object or visual of an apparition. We are more likely to receive photographic evidence since the video camera records images as we see them. A camera is more likely to pick up the paranormal because cameras can have a short exposure time and paranormal entities have the ability to move quicker than the human eye can process.  However, we will use video evidence when a cooperative spirit communicates via EMF detector, by manipulating objects, or by making noises. 

EVPs – Electronic Voice Phenomenon is the audio recording of disembodied sounds and voices not heard by the human ear at the time of the recording. EVPs can be audio recordings of residual and intelligent hauntings. In the case of a residual haunting, it is a recording of a conversation or a noise that has taken place years ago and replays itself over and over again. In the case of an intelligent haunting, the spirit can actually answer questions you pose to it. 

Disembodied Voice – A disembodied voice is the audio of a haunt that can actually be heard through human ears. The disembodied voice can be residual or intelligent in nature. Disembodied voices can be recorded on digital recorders. 

Ghost Box Technology – We are late arrivals to this device, but by utilizing one we realize that it can be a powerful tool. Some spirits can use white noise as a way of putting together sentences. We sometimes use this after an EVP session as some spirits can find this device easier to use. We record the session and analyze the data. This tool is exciting as we can communicate in “real time” – which allows us to cater our questions to the responses we hear.  

EMF Anomalies – We will use an Electromagnetic Field (EMF) meter to detect anomalies in the Electromagnetic Field. The device will pick up an abrupt change in the energy of a location. Since paranormal phenomenon is energy, the EMF will detect these changes. We will document these changes and attempt to back up these hits with photographs, audio recordings, and temperature readings in order to substantiate the EMF recordings. 

Temperature Changes – Manchester Paranormal Investigations will use a temperature sensing device to pick up cold spots or hot spots that may be indicative of paranormal activity. In general, cold spots are highly indicative that a spirit or ghost is nearby.  The cold spot is formed when the ghost or spirit uses ambient energy to manifest. The use of the ambient energy creates a cold spot. In most cases, a cold spot will correlate to an EMF anomaly. We will document any cold spots and if any are found, other devices will be used to capture any evidence of the paranormal. Hot spots are uncommon and are thought to be present in an area where someone may have died as a result of a fire.  

Personal Experiences - We will document any experience that was not/can not be captured on video, audio, or photos. We will place less emphasis on personal experiences since we are seeking actual evidence that you can see and hear. We will document any occurrence of a touch by a paranormal entity, a figure not caught by camera (they can be quick), sounds not picked up by recorder and feelings of dread, sadness that can not be documented. These experiences will be presented as personal experiences to help back up any actual physical evidence gathered. 

Any evidence will be provided to you as part of a comprehensive findings report that will follow an investigation.