MARSHALL COUNTY PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY
The International Ghost Hunters Society(IGHS) has developed a set of standards and protocols for conducting field investigations based on experience and common sense. These standards and protocols establish a baseline to judge photos obtained by eliminating the common errors of most beginners. The IGHS Standards & Protocols provide guidelines that ensure professionalism during investigations. MCPRS follows these standards, and we encourage you to follow them as well.
- Ask the spirits of the dead for permission to take their photos or to record their voices.
- Respect posted property, ask permission, and do not trespass.
- Always conduct your investigations in a professional manner.
- Show reverence and respect in cemeteries, battlefields, historic sites, etc.
- No running or horse play in cemeteries or historical sites.
- Positive Mental Attitude is very important for all investigations
- Skeptical minds will generate negative energy during an investigation. Do not bring along skeptics or those who are negative or people who only want proof that ghosts exist.
- Follow the lunar cycles and solar storms for conducting investigations for best results. Paranormal events occur during peak geomagnetic field conditions.
- Do not take photographs during adverse weather conditions, such as rain, mist, fog, snow, windy, or dusty conditions.
- Remove or wear the camera strap so it does not hang loose.
- Take photos of dust particles, pollen, moisture droplets to see how your camera records these kinds of orbs.
- An orb is not special or unique. An orb is only a description of shape. Most common orbs are airborne dust particles. Multiple orbs in photos are almost always dust particles, never spirits.
- Do not take photos from moving vehicles on dusty roads.
- Do not take photos while walking on dusty roads.
- Remove all dust, spots, fingerprints from camera lens.
- Avoid shooting into the Sun for resulting lens flare.
- Avoid shooting with flash at reflective or shinny surfaces.
- Keep fingers away from the lens of the camera.
- Keep long hair away from the lens of the camera.
- Avoid shooting when foreign objects are floating near camera.
- Compare anomalous prints with negatives for confirmation.
- Flash is only good for 9-12 feet from camera so focus on that range.
- Always use fresh audio tapes for tape recordings.
- If digital, record in one or two minute tracks.
- After twenty minutes, the spirits will get bored, no need to record longer in one area.
- Do not rub the side of the recorder while recording nor walk while recording. Stand still to record.
- We do not consider Ouija boards, dowsing rods, pendants or séances valid investigation tools
- No smoking, drugs or drinking during an investigation.
- If someone is angry, they should not be involved with an investigation. They will draw angry spirits and the other spirits will avoid them.
