Ghost Hunters 3.3: "Shadow People"
Case #1: Johnsons House, VT
Case #2: Moundsville Penitentiary, WV
This episode was loosely themed around the so-called “shadow people” phenomenon, which is a subject that I find quite interesting, largely because I have encountered it in the “real world”. Much like the second season, when they have these themed episodes, they tend to offer two investigations with differing results. This helps to provide a few interpretations of the actual phenomenon, but the ongoing decision to cram two investigations into one hour continues to undermine the intentions. There’s literally no time to focus on the unique aspects of each case.
It’s crystal clear, watching this episode, that the editing was brutal. There were some scene breaks that screamed “amateur hour”. Pilgrim Films could be doing a much better job of it, especially after a couple years of practice. The difference between the investigations, which have much higher production values this season, and the staged set-ups and transitions is jarring. Never mind the cuts in the conversations!
Case #1: Johnsons House, VT
It was good to see Mike Dion again. For those who are unaware, Steve started New England Paranormal a few years ago, after Jason initially denied his membership with TAPS. Why? Because Jason didn’t want Steve to have to drive from near Boston to Rhode Island. Now that Steve works primarily with TAPS, Mike runs NEP. Jason has referred to NEP as a “sister organization” to TAPS, and the non-TV TAPS team works with NEP regularly.
For all that, I’m not sure this episode demonstrated Mike’s experience and skill within the field. I imagine that was partly the nature of the investigation, but the editing didn’t help, either. I thought a lot of this investigation was chopped up. Steve’s staged conversation with Dave about EMF detectors, something that would have been covered ages ago when he first started working with them, really threw off the pacing.
I really love EVPs, because when they occur within context and above and background noise, it’s hard to debunk. In this case, I’m on the fence. The first one sounded more like “I’m Tracy” or “Who’s Tracy?”, and the second one was a little bit mocking. Both of them, in my opinion, sounded more like a grown man trying to imitate a young girl’s voice than an actual child’s voice, especially the second EVP. I have my suspicions as to a source, but there’s not enough evidence to prove it.
Otherwise, this one was full of fluff, especially the “personal experiences”. The editing always makes it look more active than it is. Look at their facial expressions, and you can tell how bored they are. I think that Jason approached it the way he did because he, too, had some suspicions.
Case #2: Moundsville Penitentiary, WV
This is another historical site seeking validation of “haunted” activity. I like penitentiaries, though, so I was looking forward to this one. It’s also nice that they had some evidence from other parties to examine. The bulk of the episode was spent debunking that evidence, and I thought they did a fairly good job. Since nothing was happening on their own investigation (despite the attempt by the editors to make it seem otherwise), it made sense.
I completely agree with the debunking of the “apparition”. I had the same reaction when they showed the video the first time around. The “shadow man” explanation, however, doesn’t quite work for me. I have to go back and look, but the “shadow man” didn’t show an origination point. In Jason and Grant’s version, the shadowing effect would show the legs coming from the direction of Jason’s position on the floor. Shadows, after all, have to come from somewhere. The picture shows the “shadow man” against the door, with the surrounding area bright and visible. If there was a light source behind the woman talking the picture, and that caused the shadow (IR or otherwise), wouldn’t there be a long stretch of shadow from her position up to the bottom of the figure at the door?
Chill Factor: 7/10
Case #2: Moundsville Penitentiary, WV
This episode was loosely themed around the so-called “shadow people” phenomenon, which is a subject that I find quite interesting, largely because I have encountered it in the “real world”. Much like the second season, when they have these themed episodes, they tend to offer two investigations with differing results. This helps to provide a few interpretations of the actual phenomenon, but the ongoing decision to cram two investigations into one hour continues to undermine the intentions. There’s literally no time to focus on the unique aspects of each case.
It’s crystal clear, watching this episode, that the editing was brutal. There were some scene breaks that screamed “amateur hour”. Pilgrim Films could be doing a much better job of it, especially after a couple years of practice. The difference between the investigations, which have much higher production values this season, and the staged set-ups and transitions is jarring. Never mind the cuts in the conversations!
Case #1: Johnsons House, VT
It was good to see Mike Dion again. For those who are unaware, Steve started New England Paranormal a few years ago, after Jason initially denied his membership with TAPS. Why? Because Jason didn’t want Steve to have to drive from near Boston to Rhode Island. Now that Steve works primarily with TAPS, Mike runs NEP. Jason has referred to NEP as a “sister organization” to TAPS, and the non-TV TAPS team works with NEP regularly.
For all that, I’m not sure this episode demonstrated Mike’s experience and skill within the field. I imagine that was partly the nature of the investigation, but the editing didn’t help, either. I thought a lot of this investigation was chopped up. Steve’s staged conversation with Dave about EMF detectors, something that would have been covered ages ago when he first started working with them, really threw off the pacing.
I really love EVPs, because when they occur within context and above and background noise, it’s hard to debunk. In this case, I’m on the fence. The first one sounded more like “I’m Tracy” or “Who’s Tracy?”, and the second one was a little bit mocking. Both of them, in my opinion, sounded more like a grown man trying to imitate a young girl’s voice than an actual child’s voice, especially the second EVP. I have my suspicions as to a source, but there’s not enough evidence to prove it.
Otherwise, this one was full of fluff, especially the “personal experiences”. The editing always makes it look more active than it is. Look at their facial expressions, and you can tell how bored they are. I think that Jason approached it the way he did because he, too, had some suspicions.
Case #2: Moundsville Penitentiary, WV
This is another historical site seeking validation of “haunted” activity. I like penitentiaries, though, so I was looking forward to this one. It’s also nice that they had some evidence from other parties to examine. The bulk of the episode was spent debunking that evidence, and I thought they did a fairly good job. Since nothing was happening on their own investigation (despite the attempt by the editors to make it seem otherwise), it made sense.
I completely agree with the debunking of the “apparition”. I had the same reaction when they showed the video the first time around. The “shadow man” explanation, however, doesn’t quite work for me. I have to go back and look, but the “shadow man” didn’t show an origination point. In Jason and Grant’s version, the shadowing effect would show the legs coming from the direction of Jason’s position on the floor. Shadows, after all, have to come from somewhere. The picture shows the “shadow man” against the door, with the surrounding area bright and visible. If there was a light source behind the woman talking the picture, and that caused the shadow (IR or otherwise), wouldn’t there be a long stretch of shadow from her position up to the bottom of the figure at the door?
Chill Factor: 7/10
posted by John Keegan | 15:33
1 Comments:
Nice article.
Here's my thoughts regarding the episode at the Moundsville Pen: TAPS should not claim to debunk something, unless they use the same equipment, lighting, set-up, etc. The TAPS team basically discredited a very nice paranormal photograph without using the same equipment, conditions, etc. They didn't even know if someone was standing behind the lady who took the photograph to begin with...and there wasn't. Had they used a similar camera, lighting, conditions, etc., and re-produced a similar effect, then I would applaud them. I like the fact that the TAPS team takes a skeptical approach, but feel they should not have buried their guests whom they interviewed, then later make them look bad. Who would want to present the producers with an interview and evidence after that episode? BTW, their guests had no idea they were going to be discredited.
We are looking at the original shadow man photograph, and it was taken from about 50 feet away from the door (by our initial estimation). No one can cast a shadow that far, and if they did, it would be present on the floor for a good distance in front of the door. There is no shadow present from the photographer to the door.
Here's my point: I could reproduce the same shadow man image in PhotoShop; but would that make the original photograph a fake?
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