My Adventure in Spirit Photography

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Thank you for your compliments, Ibraar. Photography has led me into several adventures over the years, Franklin Castle being one of them. Maybe I'll relate more adventures in the future. BTW, when you mentioned Dunwich, at first I thought you were referring to "The Dunwich Horror," a ghost story by H.P. Lovecraft. His Dunwich was in New England (USA), not your England.

Dave Powell replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Hey thanks for the plug Ibraar! A very interesting article Tom. I've experienced more "in your face" paranormal incidents than most of the so-called "ghost hunters" I used to see on cable TV before I cut the cable. But I always look for explanations... and found an interesting one shortly after I installed an IR security cam behind our condo unit. I soon spotted literally hundreds of seemingly intelligent "ghost orbs" flying around our back yard. And it re-occurs every night that the humidity and dew point close ranks. When that happens, invisible, pre-fog, micro condensations register as fast-moving orbs. Just like the ones on TV. But that's in IR. My article about it is here [ https://www.35mmc.com/21/05/2025/a-heads-up-for-ghost-hunters-one-shot-story/ ]. But lest one think I poo-poo all haunts, an article about the most haunted place I've lived to date is here [ https://www.35mmc.com/31/10/2025/a-haunted-house-for-halloween/ ]. Here's an experience shared with others in a haunted antiques shop [ https://www.35mmc.com/31/10/2024/in-a-haunted-antiques-shop-one-shot-story/ ]. And my most terrifying experience occurred here [ https://www.35mmc.com/26/04/2023/the-haunting-on-sunset-hill-a-one-shot-story/ ]. Though I never seek these things, they continue happening around me. And I can't predict when or know why!

Geoff Chaplin replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Ha, ha! I thought you'd be here Dave! My mother-in-law hates coming to my house. She says it's full of ghosts. Admittedly there are lots of noises in the evening when no-one is moving around: I just put it down to changing temperature causing minor movement in the (timber frames) house. My mother-in-law thinks it's ghosts. Interesting article and thoughtfully illustrated, Thanks Tom.

Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Thank you Tom! The name Dunwich always reminds me of Lovecraf! I believe Lovecraft named his town Dunwich in honour of M.R James as he was a fan of the Ghost writer. Arthur Machen is another favourite of mine (and of Lovecraft) I've spent a lot of time exploring and savouring the country around Caerleon in Gwent, Wales, which gave Machen his experience. Again, would love to see more and read more of your work, as you can imagine, since childhood I've been a reader of Poe, Machen, Blackwood, Lovecraft and James, so naturally an article on Ghosts and Photography is always something I'd love to read.

Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

hehe!! Geoff, wondering if you have a cat? Would be interesting to see the cats reaction to your house!

Geoff Chaplin replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

I think it's not the cat's reaction to the house, it's a reaction to the people's moods and behaviour. I was watching together with my family a very good and tense ghost story on the box many years ago, and the cat we had at the time went berserk, racing back and forth through the house. So I guess if I was in my current house alone, the cat wouldn't be bothered, if alone with my mother-in-law it would be stressed.

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

You may be right about water marks. I developed this film in 1980 before I refined my wash-and-dry technique. Later, after the usual wash in tap water, I began rinsing my film in distilled water for one minute with vigorous agitation. This step removes any oddities in the tap water. Then soak the film for 30 seconds with very gentle agitation in Kodak Photo-Flo mixed with distilled water, not tap water. Finally, hang the film to dry, without wiping. Using this technique, my negatives are always sparkling clean without water marks or scratches from sponges or squeegees.

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Doyle participated in séances. I vaguely remember something similar happening when we started our ghost hunt in the basement of Franklin Castle. Several people were seated around a table and didn't appreciate being interrupted my me and my ghost hunter. But I can't remember if they were conducting a séance or reading fortune cards. It was something like that.

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 28/06/2026

Yeah, I don't believe in ectoplasm either. Just having fun with it. I didn't know that fireplace was configured to burn coal. Thanks for the insight. Franklin Castle has amazing interior features and decoration. Some rooms have steam-heat radiators attached to the ceiling, which I've never seen before or since. But as I mentioned in my story, the house was in terrible shape during my ghost hunt in 1980. Now it's under new ownership and open for tours. The next time I'm in Cleveland, I'll schedule a visit. I'm eager to see how it has changed -- and to get another chance to photograph ghosts!

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 29/06/2026

Thanks, Jeffery. Yes, it's too bad I didn't experience anything truly weird in Franklin Castle. It was interesting, though. You teach college-level photography? It was a similar course that inspired me to shoot the roll of infrared film in Franklin Castle. A few years before, I was a journalism student taking a course titled "Basic Black-and-White Photography." Before then I already had a basement darkroom and was doing my own processing, so I didn't really need the course, but it was required. As part of our final exam, we had to display our best prints for the whole class to view. I wanted something that would make my prints distinctive. So I shot a roll of Kodak High-Speed Infrared of various subjects, including an old church and a crucifix in the graveyard. My spooky prints were a hit and I earned an A-grade. A few years later when the ghost-hunt opportunity arose, I figured it called for another roll of infrared. Who knew what those pictures might show? They turned out to be the best ones.

Tom Halfhill replied:

Comment posted: 29/06/2026

Thanks for your compliments, Omar. I moved away from Cleveland in the 1980s, but I returned for a visit in 2022 and stopped by Franklin Castle to shoot the exterior color photo at the top of this story. I briefly met the new owner but didn't have time to tour inside. If I return again, I'll definitely take the tour. Although Kodak High-Speed Infrared film is long gone, a few years ago I converted an old Nikon D80 to infrared, so I can try to duplicate the experience.