All Yours

Ghost photo from The Deep- Analysis

by MikeCovell about 1 year ago in group Haunted Hull
Last updated about 1 year ago.

On Thursday October 9th 2008 I read with great interest an article in Hull Daily Mail regarding a group of tourists, who had captured something on camera, at the Deep. The report states,

“A visitor has discovered the mysterious reflection of a man appearing on a photograph taken inside a tunnel, even though she and her family were the only ones inside at the time.”

My initial reaction was that another guest at The Deep had been captured on camera, as the “Face” appears to be looking up, much like a tourist would in this stretch of tunnel. I know, having visited the attraction myself with my family, that I could sit for hours just looking up at the vast array of aquatic sea life on display. Having said that, the article mentions that,

“A study of CCTV footage around the time of the visit confirms the woman and her family were alone at the time in the tunnel, which overlooks one of The Deep’s tanks.”

So could the image be of someone about to enter the tunnel? Further down my questions were answered,

“It also fails to show the man on subsequent or previous images around the popular tourist attraction.”

It also mentions,

“Staff have tried to recreate conditions in the tunnel where the reflection could appear, but without success.”

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MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

A number of variants have to be taken into account when taking a photo such as this, such as, Lighting conditions, reflection off glass, water, sediment within the water, surface texture of rocks, type of camera used, position of tourists during the period of which the shot was taken, wether a flash was used.

When I first saw the photograph in Hull Daily Mail, I was instantly reminded of a similar photo I recently took along the Hull to Hornsea Railway track, a location with alleged paranormal activity. On the small viewfinder, I had picked up a face, however, on blowing up the image, it was discovered it was nothing more than an anomaly. A collection of trees and shrubbery that had created the appearance of a face!

Simulacrum, These are known as simulacrum, which are natural formations, which when looked at or photographed, appear supernatural, for example, faces, bodies, even animals. They dramatically stretch the bounds of credibility, demanding you to make up your own mind about what you are observing. Who, as a child, looked for the man in the moon, or animals in the clouds? Could the image on the camera be a collection of rocks at the bottom of the tank?
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Matrixing, Another term used in paranormal investigations is Matrixing, this is the natural tendency of the human mind to add details to sensory input, which are perceived through either the visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile senses. These then create a familiar or easily understood pattern. In layman terms, Matrixing is simply a way of mentally filling in the blanks. These events are usually caused by a one off event that is always difficult to recreate.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Thought-o-graphs, A Thought-o-graph is a photograph featuring an image usually from the mind of the person taking the picture. In the 1960’s, a Colorado man called Ted Serios created several pictures utilising the method. It was suggested that Serios was a fake, and that sleight of hand had been used, but despite investigations, and Serios being stood away from the camera, this was never proven. Could a member of the group have taken the photograph whilst thinking of someone? Or could another member of the group have been thinking of someone whilst the photographer was taking the photo?
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

The stone tape theory, The stone tape theory revolves around the idea that Ghosts sometimes appear to be doing the same thing over and over again, as if they are stuck in a time loop. This has been attributed to the types of stone in the surrounding area. It is a well known fact that The Deep was erected on the site of the old Hull Citadel, and that the old Blockhouses were on this spot. Could something have been recorded in the past, and be playing out in front of the unassuming photographer? The stone tape theory is not a theory in the scientific sense, but rather a paranormal theory which is more of a speculation based on casual observation.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Magnetic Fields, It is known that Low Frequency Magnetic Fields can induce ghostly hallucinations in susceptible people in lab experiments. In other cases high Electromagnetic Fields/Frequency can also induce ghostly hallucinations. These range from seeing, to sensing, and in some cases the appearance of being touched. It is worth investigating what electronic equipment is housed in this area of the Deep.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Does The Deep have a paranormal history? Included in the Hull Daily Mail Article is the following,

“Mr Brown said: “A couple of years ago, our night-watchman reported seeing a ghost in TimeLine, the first part of the exhibition. We’ve had a couple of other comments from staff working at night.”

A Brief History, That said, we must look at the history of the location of the Deep, and see that in the immediate vicinity we had the Blockhouse, a location with a ghastly history of torture and in many cases death. One such story revolves around a man who escaped the Blockhouse and caught his neck on the iron bars of his cell. He was bleeding profusely, but managed to escape along the River Hull, dying on the banks! Several eyewitnesses came forward in the 70’s and 80’s stating they had seen and heard him running along the banks of the river! If the Deep was built on the spot of the building in which he met his death, could he have returned?

A suggestion put forward by staff at The deep was also published in the Hull Daily Mail,

“We asked archives to look at what our land was used for before and although it wasn’t our land, very close by was an old isolation hospital that used to treat victims of smallpox, many coming into the port from abroad.”
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

After looking at the image and spending a while looking at the possible explanations I am still baffled, but one thing that has caught my eye is the rocks just above the “Face”. The “Face” appears clear and without any blemish, and is in sharp focus, as is the largest shark in the picture, which is much further away, but the rocks above the face, appear out of focus. I would assume that these rocks would be as sharp as the face, but they seem blurred. Perhaps the “Face” is able to affect his surrounding?

For now, this image must remain unsolved, and open to debate.

The Deep, www.thedeep.co.uk

Hull Daily Mail http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/

Ghosttrackers http://www.ghosttrackers.co.uk/
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Yesterday I was lucky to have a chat with a photographer who put forward his views on the image and the "Face".

He stated that the blurring effect on the coral closest to the face was similar to an effect on "photoshop", and that the face looked too clear to so close to the blurred coral!

It appears that the head has been taken from another picture and added to the image. There was certainly enough time to do it, as the photo was taken on September 10th and the article never appeared until October 9th. Thats a month to look through the snaps.

In his opinion, the image is a photoshopped image and hopes that it will be sent for further investigation to confirm or deny this theory.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Another theory put forth, but investigated was that the image is nothing more than a "Publicity stunt."

Chief Executive of the Deep, Colin Brown, stated that,

"I can assure you this was not a publicity stunt."

It must be noted that it is Halloween in a couple of weeks time, however, no events are planned to coincide with Halloween!

I have presented as many possibilities as possible, it is now upto you to decide wether there is a genuine apparition captured on film, or something else.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome Emma Place to the Group. Emma took the picture of the "face" at the Deep.
EmmaPlace Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I actually took the photo and it is nice to hear peoples opinions of how the face appears on the picture.

I can understand why some of you are skeptical but I actually wouldn’t know where to start with photoshop. I can assure you that this is also not a publicity stunt for either myself or ‘The Deep’.

I took the photo on the 10.09.2008 and the photo was emailed to ‘The Deep’ on the 13.09.2008. The same photo was emailed to the Hull Daily Mail and although it was not printed until 09.10.2008. I can assure you that this was not adapted and is the original picture.

I can not remember thinking of anything that would be in connection to the face at the time of taking the photo, other than hoping that I got the shark in as it was swimming rather quickly.

I originally thought it was a face in the rock, which is why I emailed ‘The Deep’ to see if they had something which may resemble the face within the shark tank. On doing so they had investigated what it may be and whether it was a reflection in the acrylic.

I have tried to recreate the reflection (but in a window) and there is a vague reflection visible but not that defined.

There was some speculation of the face being a reflection of my Dad, I can assure you that this face looks nothing like my Dad. It has also caused many speculation about the face being paranormal. ‘The Deep’ had a parapsychologist to investigate this further and he suggested that the face was a ‘thought form’. Like I said earlier I am intrigued as to what other people may think about my photo and cannot recall thinking of anything in connection to the face.

I think the most scary thing about this is not that it can’t be explained as to why the face appeared but the expression on the mans face in the photo.

I am very creeped out about things like this and many of my family think it is funny that it has appeared on one of my photos.

If you have any other suggestions it would be great to hear them. Or if you know this person? Thank you all for your opinions. Emma Place.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Great stuff Emma, thanks for clearing up a few points, and joining the group.
Highlander Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Thanks for keeping us up to date on this one Mike
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

No problem Highlander, I am just as interested as everyone else! I have also been keeping several Hull based paranormal groups informed, and several people, who email me info, have also been sent details.

Happy hunting!
EmmaPlace Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Mike, Do you know if there has been a follow up to the story in the press recently? Or have you heard any more views about what it could be? What are your views? Thank you for your time. Emma Place.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Emma, Having looked at the picture and the possibilities of what it could be, I am stumped! Totally baffled!

Looking at the basics we see,

There was no one other than the three in your group in the tunnel.

There was no reflection off the tank, as staff at the Deep have tried to recreate the shot.

There is no coral, or other matter in the tank which could explain the image.

There was, as far as you can remember, no thoughts or memories of thinking about anybody.

The image is not a part of a marketing scheme or publicity stunt.

The image has not been changed or altered in any way.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once said, "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"

If we eliminate all the possible scientific normal explainations, we are left with only a supernatural explanation.

I would love to gain access to the Deep for a full investigation, and maybe take you back to try and recreate the image!

As for a press follow-up, I was told that there was a section of this very thread in a subsequent Hull Daily Mail, but I missed it!

I do, however, have a friend who has kept the cutting, and will happily scan and email it onto you. My email address is in my profile, just click on my name.

Regards

Mike
Highlander Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Mike , If you manage to get the team inside for an investigation …..I know another team that would love to tag along ! lol ;-)
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Will do mate!!
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Doncaster Free Press carries the story, http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free/For-a-big-fright-look.4595610.jp

AT first glance this picture of an aquarium taken by a student from Doncaster may seem perfectly normal.

However, look again and you may see that Emma Place’s snap has uncovered some ghostly goings-on.

Emma, from Norton, took the picture on her mobile phone while visiting The Deep in Hull with her dad Alan, 48.

Boffins at the centre have been left baffled by the picture taken inside a tunnel which overlooks one of The Deep’s tanks and which appears to depict a human head, seen here at the bottom right of the picture.

The 21-year-old contacted bosses at the popular tourist attraction after her boyfriend Craig Richardson, 23, pointed out the ghoulish face a few days after the trip.

She said: "My boyfriend was looking through the photos and said ‘what’s that’? "I said it’s a shark and he said ‘not the shark, the face at the bottom’.

"I was quite freaked out – it’s the expression on the face. I have been there before and did not see it so I e-mailed The Deep asking what it was."

Following the fishy find bosses launched an investigation to work out what the image was.

A study of CCTV around the time of Emma’s visit confirmed nobody else was inside the tunnel at the time.

It also fails to show the man on subsequent or previous images. The Deep has even tried to recreate conditions in the tunnel where the reflection could appear, but with no success.

Emma, a second year dental technology student at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: "I don’t normally believe in things like that but it’s quite spooky."

A night watchman at The Deep previously claimed to have spotted a shadowy figure in the TimeLine, which charts the history of the world’s oceans.

Colin Brown, chief executive of The Deep, said: "We are a scientific centre and we’re sure there must be a logical explanation. It’s just that we can’t find it.

"There must be some sort of optical illusion or reflection of images between the window, but we cannot figure out how it has been done."

Thank you Emma, for keeping me informed and sending me the link.
EmmaPlace Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

If you do get to go will you let me know how it goes? I think its fantastic!
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Will do Emma.

The Sun Newspaper carries the story, http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1804838.ece

IT’S just what you’d expect to see in a snap from an aquarium. A shark, blue water — and a disembodied HUMAN HEAD. Emma Place, 21, took this eerie photo on her phone at Hull’s £53million attraction The Deep.

Boffins at the aquarium admit they are baffled by the appearance of the man’s face, which appears to be gawping up at a shark

Dentistry student Emma, of Doncaster, only spotted the ghoulish face when she arrived home.

She said: “My boyfriend said, ‘what’s that?’ I replied, ‘it’s a shark’.

Spooky

“He said, ‘no, the face.’ I was like, oh my God! It actually looks quite spooky.

“I’m easily freaked-out.”

Although Emma’s dad Alan, 48, was stood next to her in the glass tunnel, she insists he looks nothing like the man in the photo.

Bosses have spent hours searching CCTV footage, which confirmed the pair were the only ones inside the tunnel.

And they have even tried to recreate conditions in the tunnel where the reflection could appear, but with no success.

The aquarium – on the banks of the Humber estuary – was built on the site of an isolation hospital, where smallpox victims were held. It’s not the first time ghostly goings-on have been reported.

A night watchman claims to have spotted a shadowy figure in the TimeLine, which charts the history of the world’s oceans.

Colin Brown, chief executive of The Deep, said: “We are a scientific centre and we’re sure there must be a logical explanation.

"It’s just that we can’t find it.

"There must be some sort of optical illusion or reflection of images between the window, but we cannot figure out how it has been done.”
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Mystery of ‘freaky’ face in The Deep

from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Tuesday, October 21

A student who photographed a man’s “face” gawping up at a shark at The Deep has spoken of her fright. Emma Place, 21, took the eerie snap at Hull’s £53m attraction last month. The ghoulish face appears to be inside the tank, looking up.

Dentistry student Emma, of Doncaster, only spotted it when she arrived home. She said: “My boyfriend said, ‘What’s that?’ I replied, ‘It’s a shark’. He said, ‘No, the face.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ It actually looks quite spooky. I’m easily freaked out.”

Although Emma’s father Alan, 48, of Goole, was standing next to her in the glass tunnel, she insists he looks nothing like the man in the photo.

Bosses have spent hours searching CCTV footage, which confirmed the pair were the only ones inside the tunnel.

The aquarium – on the banks of the Humber estuary – was built near the site of an isolation hospital, where smallpox victims were held.

Colin Brown, chief executive of The Deep, said: “We are a scientific centre and we’re sure there must be a logical explanation. “It’s just we can’t find it.”
gecko2 Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I’ve looked at this and am in still two minds. I’ve used Photoshop for 13 years so zoomed in on the photo to a fine pixel, changed channels on colour and alsorts of stuff looking for replication of areas and inconsistencies. Can I get hold of an original copy of the photo for analysis?
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Gecko2, the young lady to ask is Emma Place, I will email her and she what she says. She took the image on her mobile phone, and after showing it to her family forwarded it to the mail, just 2 days after the image was taken.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Tonight I will be appearing on Haunted Talk Radio discussing the paranormal, from 10 till 11 UK time. The photograph will probably be discussed!!

www.hauntedtalkradio.com

(Best viewed with Firefox ….... whatever that is????)
EmmaPlace Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Mike, Sorry I missed it as I was away for the weekend. Hope it went well. Did you discuss my photo at all? Is there a chance I could listen again? Cheers Emma.
MikeCovell Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Emma, Hope you had a nice weekend. The host brought the photo up and we discussed it, he loves the picture and has posted this webpage on the chatroom for listeners to look at the picture, there is a lot of interest!!

If you follow the link provided on my previous post, you might be able to listen to the show, I recorded it on my 30th Birthday, so a lot of it is the host asking about me getting old!!
DGP Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Emma,

Are you able to send the original jpg straight from the camera (raw image) for more analysis as the picture on here isn’t that great… Kind regards, jamie