EVIDENTIAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY
BY FRED BARLOW
Hon. Sec. S.S.S.P., Hon. Sec. Birmingham and Midland S.P.R.
No phase of psychical research has been more adversely criticised in the
past than psychic photography. This is undoubtedly due to the prevalence
of many erroneous ideas on the whole subject.
It is a popular fallacy that it is the easiest thing in the world to
fake a “spirit” photograph. Those few photographers who have tried to
imitate a genuine psychic effect have usually made the discovery that it
is by no means so easy a matter as it appears, even when no restriction
is placed on the conditions under which the fake should be produced.
When conditions are imposed, similar to those usually obtaining with,
say, the Crewe Circle, the difficulty of producing a fraudulent result
is enormously increased. Under certain conditions, where suitable
precautions are employed and where the sitter has a thorough knowledge
of photography, plus an acquaintance with trick methods, even the
_possibility_ of deception without detection can, for all practical
purposes, be ruled out of court. _Under these special conditions,
investigators of repute have on many occasions secured successful psychic
results._
Apart altogether from any question of test conditions, however, there are
certain results which, _in themselves_, afford definite proof of their
genuine nature. I refer to those recognised psychic likenesses obtained
by sitters who are quite unknown to the sensitives and who have secured
results which could not possibly have been prepared in advance. One such
case would be sufficient to establish the reality of psychic photography.
It is no exaggeration to say that this has actually occurred on scores of
occasions, and, in consequence, _the evidence for the truth of psychic
photography is overwhelming_.
It has been said that recognised psychic likenesses exists only in the
imagination of the individuals claiming them as such. It is, alas, too
true that some well-meaning individuals will see a likeness where none
exists. It is, however, equally true that many bigoted sceptics will
refuse to acknowledge a likeness that is obvious to the unprejudiced on
comparing normal and supernormal photographs. There are two sides to the
question of credulity, and I have known sceptics deny the reality of a
likeness where the supernormal effect has been an exact (but draped)
duplicate of a normal photograph!
We must remember that it may be difficult to recognise a likeness between
a normal and supernormal photograph where the subject to us is unknown.
Two photographs of the same individual, taken at different periods, will
often vary considerably, but those acquainted with that individual can
recognise the likeness of each photograph to the original without the
slightest difficulty. So in a supernormal photograph: those claiming
a likeness between the supernormal effect and some near relative, or
friend, who has crossed the border, are in a better position, from
their knowledge of that person, to speak with authority on the question
of recognition than those who never saw the original. This question of
recognised likenesses is a point the critic tries to evade. The reader
can judge of the value of this evidence from the few illustrations in
this booklet which are typical of _hundreds_ of similar results.
The mental attitude of some intelligent people to psychic photography
is distinctly curious. They have got the idea fixed into their heads
that these photographs _must_ be one of two things—“fakes” or “spirits.”
Naturally enough, in some of the cases that have been reported they
find it difficult to believe that such a result could have been
produced entirely by a discarnate entity. Therefore they jump to the
false conclusion that the result must of necessity have been faked. In
a scientific investigation we should first of all concern ourselves
with _facts_, without troubling over-much with theories. A very little
first-hand investigation will satisfy any unprejudiced individual as
to the reality of psychic photography. Having reached that stage such
a person will be in a better position to theorise on the cause of the
phenomena.
After many years of close concentration on this subject I have arrived at
the conclusion that psychic photography differs only in kind and not in
degree from other phases of psychic phenomena. _I do not see how we can
possibly get away from the fact that many of these photographic effects
are produced by discarnate intelligences._ Whilst firmly believing this,
I should never be so dogmatic as to claim that _all_ supernormal pictures
have been produced by discarnate spirits.
Spirit, whether discarnate or incarnate, to manifest to our material
senses must make use of matter—there must be a medium. A medium, or
sensitive, is just as essential for psychic photography as for, say,
automatic writing. As investigators are aware, in automatic script it
frequently happens that along with communications from the “other side”
come writings derived from the subconsciousness of the automatist, and
such, I am convinced, is often the case in psychic photography.
The subconscious is used to cover a multitude of theories. Certainly it
is not an unfeasible explanation in some instances. Let me cite one case,
which is typical of many. One of the members of the S.S.S.P.—Mr. Hobbs,
of Purley, a keen business man—travelled to Crewe with his wife. They
and the Crewe Circle were perfect strangers to each other. Mrs. Hobbs
at the time was wearing a locket containing a photograph of their son,
who had been killed in the war. This was tucked away out of sight in her
blouse. The usual séance was held and to their great delight the visitors
secured a picture of their boy. Trickery was impossible. Even supposing
Mr. Hope had seen the photograph in the locket there was no time to
produce a fraudulent result and foist this upon the alert sitters. A
careful examination of the print, however, reveals the fact that the
psychic picture is an exact but reversed duplicate of the photograph in
the locket. Even the rim of the locket can be clearly seen. This sort of
thing has occurred time and again.
The image of the locket would be indelibly impressed on the memory of
the mother, and it may well be that in some peculiar way the sensitive
proved a medium for the projection of that conscious or subconscious
image on to the photographic plate. Such an argument is not to be lightly
dismissed, and the fact that the image obtained on the plate may not have
been in the conscious mind of the sitter at the time does not necessarily
affect the issue. I candidly admit that some such explanation may account
for many of these curious effects.
Sometimes the psychic pictures are facsimile copies of magazine covers
and pictures no fraudulent medium would ever think of producing, and,
like the faces in our dreams, they may come from the subconscious. At
the same time, attempts to produce definite conscious thought-pictures,
with the co-operation of a photographic medium, have almost always proved
abortive in our experiments in this country. Some of the Continental
members of the S.S.S.P., however, have concentrated on this line of
research and have succeeded in obtaining thoughtgraphs which, more or
less, resemble the object on which the thoughts of the subject have been
intensely concentrated. These experiments, and, in particular, recent
photographic experiments in connection with subjects under hypnosis, are
yielding encouraging results.
We must be careful not to overdo the subconscious. It is no
self-contained unit, but rather an instrument used in the production
of these phenomena. In consequence, it frequently happens that along
with communications from the “other side” comes matter derived from the
subconsciousness of the sensitive and even from that of the sitter. An
investigator obsessed with the idea of fraud will often effectively
negative all phenomena by his unconscious action on the mentality of the
medium. In these investigations we must use that uncommon faculty of
common sense. Common sense tells us that we cannot accept the explanation
that _all_ psychic photographs are produced by the thoughts of incarnate
beings. Whether it agrees with his pet theories or not, the serious
student is bound to realise that, sooner or later, other minds are at
work distinct from, and often superior in intelligence to, that of either
medium or sitter. These intelligences claim to be the spirits of the
so-called dead. They substantiate their claims by giving practical proof
that they are whom they purport to be.
For example, what better proof of survival could be given by a deceased
person than that of a message in his own handwriting, referring to
events that happened after his death? Such messages are by no means an
unfrequent occurrence. There can be no doubt about the genuineness of
the handwriting. Major R. E. E. Spencer has gone to an immense amount of
time and trouble in making photomicrographs of normal and supernormal
writings for the purpose of comparison. Illustrations are given of two
of these photomicrographs. Figure 16 shows a portion of the signature of
Archdeacon Colley taken from a letter written by him before death, whilst
Figure 17 shows a corresponding portion reproduced from a photographic
message received after his death. This message referred to events
subsequent to his decease.
Occasionally, in these psychographs, as these written photographic
messages are termed, the mentality of the medium or sitters will get
in the way, with very curious results. Throughout all these phenomena,
however, there is every indication that other influences are at work.
Whoever or whatever these intelligences behind the scenes may be, in no
uncertain voice they claim to be discarnate souls. Surely _they_ are
in a better position to form a correct opinion hereon than we material
outsiders?
How do the psychic images get on to the plate? Far too much time, in the
past, has been lost in attempting to convince those who do not believe
(and those who do not _want_ to believe), of the genuine nature of
psychic photography, and our ignorance of this phenomenon is appalling.
The difficulties attending scientific research in this domain are
considerable. So far, we can only definitely say that in many instances
the psychic figures on the plate are not objective in the same sense
as the sitters. The supernormal images have every appearance of having
been projected on to the sensitive plate, independently of the lens and
camera. In employing several cameras simultaneously, together with a
stereo camera, I have only succeeded so far in securing a psychic image
on one of the plates exposed.
There are indications that in some cases the psychic effects are
printed on to the plate through a psychic equivalent to our normal
transparency—in fact, it has come to be known as a psychic transparency.
Identical transparency markings are to be found on the plates of
photographic sensitives from all parts of the world. These particular
markings can clearly be seen over the negative obtained by Mr. Harry
Price in his experiment with Mr. Hope. I am convinced that the effect
obtained on this occasion was a genuine psychic result. The possibility
of this is freely admitted by Mr. Price. The fact that in nine cases out
of ten the psychic images are the same way up as the sitter suggests that
the “something” that occurs actually takes place after the plate has been
inserted in the dark slide. Such small points as these may eventually
play an important part in the final solution of the _modus operandi_.
Now let us return to the object of this book—the question of evidence.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has dealt so thoroughly, earlier in these pages,
with the recent attacks by the S.P.R. and the Magic Circle that I do
not propose to refer to them again here at length. As illustrating the
impartial attitude of the Society of which I have the honour to be
Secretary, however, I would like to say that almost immediately on the
publication of these critical reports the matter was discussed by the
members of this Society, and it was arranged to subject the whole of the
evidence to a thorough investigation. In this connection the S.S.S.P., in
conjunction with the B.C.P.S., sought the co-operation of the Society for
Psychical Research and the Occult Committee of the Magic Circle.
A proposal was sent to the bodies mentioned expressing the desire of the
S.S.S.P. to subject the charges to thorough and impartial investigation,
and suggesting that three members from each of these four bodies should
form a committee of investigation. The members elected by the S.S.S.P.
were Dr. Abraham Wallace, President, Col. C. E. Baddeley, C.M.G., O.G.,
and Major R. E. E. Spencer, three careful and experienced investigators.
For reasons best known to themselves, both the S.P.R. and the Occult
Committee of the Magic Circle refused to entertain this suggestion. The
reader can draw whatever inference he likes from this uncompromising
attitude. To my mind such a refusal is directly opposed to the objects
for which the Society for Psychical Research was formed.
A striking example of the persistence of personality is to be found
in the case of the late Mr. Wm. Walker, of Buxton. Mr. Walker was the
President of the Buxton Camera Club. Being a keen photographer, he took
an intense interest in the work of the Crewe Circle and co-operated with
them in numerous experiments. He was the first photographer to obtain
psychic photographic results in colours (by the Paget process) through
the mediumship of his friends.
Shortly before the late Mr. W. T. Stead left this country for his last
voyage to America, Mr. Walker saw him in London. Mr. Stead was very
interested in the results obtained at Crewe and strongly urged his friend
to keep him posted as to future developments. A little while later Mr.
Stead was drowned on the ill-fated _Titanic_. On May 6th, 1912, Mr.
Walker, in experimenting at Crewe, was surprised and pleased to receive
on his plates a message from his friend, which read:
“DEAR MR. WALKER,
“I will try to keep you posted.
“W. T. STEAD.”
Two plates had been exposed; both contained the same message, but in one
case the writing was reversed and appeared as “mirror writing,” as it is
called. This result is shown by Figure 18. The writing does not reproduce
very clearly, but experts have declared that, beyond all doubt, it is
identical with the handwriting of the late W. T. Stead.
Mr. Wm. Walker followed Mr. Stead into the Great Beyond a few years
later. Since his death his relatives and friends have received
innumerable tokens of his activities on the “other side,” in connection
with the subject in which he was so interested whilst in the body. The
illustration shown by Figure 19 represents a normal photograph of Mr. H.
Walker and his wife (son and daughter-in-law) and two friends, with a
clearly-defined supernormal likeness of the late Mr. Wm. Walker. This was
taken under satisfactory test conditions on February 19th, 1916.
As illustrating the interest Mr. Walker still takes in the Crewe Circle,
attention is directed to the psychograph shown by Figure 20. This was
secured late on Friday evening, July 28th, 1922, and reads (my own
punctuation):
“Dear Friends of the Circle,
“I would not spend a moment with the Psychical Research Scty,
because they are nothing more nor less than fraud hunters and I
want you to come to Buxton for a sitting with Mrs. Walker, 3,
Palace Rd., about the 8th-9th of Aug. Then the spirit friends
can further demonstrate the wondrous powers which to-day are
needed more than ever. Peace be with you.
“Yours faithfully,
“W. WALKER.”
“Please inform Henry.”
The postscript refers to Mr. Walker’s son, who resides in Crewe. I have
examined a number of letters in the handwriting of Mr. Walker, senior,
and find that the slip in spelling is such that he might make. A portion
of one of these letters is reproduced on Figure 21, and when compared
with the psychograph alongside it should leave no doubts in the mind of
the reader as to authorship.
It is perhaps unnecessary to state that the instructions given by Mr. Wm.
Walker were carried out to the letter. The results of the short visit of
the Crewe Circle to Buxton are best described by quoting an extract from
a letter I received from Mr. Henry Walker:
“We (Mrs. Buxton, Mr. Hope and myself) went to Buxton on
Wednesday, 9th inst. (August, 1922.—Ed.). Two sittings were
held and four exposures made.
“The first exposure was made on mother, and gives a message
from father to Mrs. Buxton and Mr. Hope, dealing again with the
S.P.R. test and promising a puzzle.
“The second exposure was made on mother, Mrs. Marriott (an old
friend of ours) and myself, and shows a very large face of
father nearly covering the three of us.
“I developed each plate carefully and noticed the psychic light
was much more keen than the daylight.
“After a rest of a couple of hours, we held the second sitting.
“The first plate exposed on mother shows a medley: a good photo
of father and a lot of flowers or foliage and the feathers of a
Red Indian friend.
“The second plate only shows a few lights.
“I fancy father’s record alone should be sufficient to satisfy
any sensible being. I daresay I can find well over twenty
psychic results received from him on different occasions, most
of them under reasonable test conditions.
(_Signed_) “H. WALKER.”
The Crewe Circle invariably place implicit faith in the messages they
receive from the other side. These worthy and simple people are very
closely in touch with their invisible helpers, who advise them, by means
of photographic messages, in their troubles and ailments. Occasionally
the advice given has been directly opposed to the wishes of the mediums,
but they never hesitate to carry out these instructions, which usually
prove that the directing intelligences possess knowledge and foresight
far exceeding that of their human instruments.
I can appreciate that some of my readers will experience difficulty
in accepting these remarkable statements. When first I heard of these
marvellous things I put them down to credulity, exaggeration, and so
forth. However, I determined to get at the truth for myself. Nothing
less than personal experience would satisfy me. The first psychic
photographs I saw did not very greatly impress me. As a photographer, I
recognised that I could produce similar results, and with the conceit
that comes from ignorance I suggested they were fakes. Even as fakes they
were interesting, however, and on inquiring further into the matter I
discovered that the conditions under which they had been secured would
necessitate smart work on the part of a trickster. Also I was puzzled to
understand how photographers of the calibre of Mr. J. Traill Taylor could
be easily gulled. Eventually I travelled to Crewe in a rather critical
frame of mind, but fully prepared to be fair to the mediums. I received
a surprise. The result obtained bore a strong resemblance to myself. It
could easily be taken as a twin brother. I had a brother who, when he
died, was a little older than myself. I was given practically a free
hand in the photographic operations, and was impressed by the faith and
honesty of the mediums. To detail all the precautions I took from time
to time to eliminate the possibility of conscious and even unconscious
deception, in my further experiments, would prove a wearisome business.
Suffice it to say that the use of my own apparatus and specially-prepared
plates, the dismissal of the medium from the dark room for all the
photographic operations, the sharp look-out that was kept for certain
known methods of faking, and the conducting of experiments with the
mediums in my own home, eventually convinced me, beyond all doubt, of the
reality of psychic photography.
I discovered early that the mental attitude of the sitter played an
important part in the success or otherwise of the experiment. We know so
little of the difficulties that have to be overcome—so little of the laws
and conditions governing the production of these wonderful results, that
it is essential we should approach the subject with an open mind. We must
be sympathetic in our methods of investigation. A medium is sensitive in
more senses than one, and a little tact and persuasion will succeed where
bullying and blustering will fail.
With the three photographic sensitives most known in this country I have
secured remarkable results. Whatever may have happened, or may happen,
on other occasions, nothing can in the slightest degree shake my firm
conviction that, with these three sensitives, I have secured genuine
psychic photographic effects. With Mrs. Deane, in my own home, we secured
an excellent picture of my father (see Figure 30). True, Mrs. Deane had
the plates beforehand for “magnetising,” but that would not enable her to
produce an unmistakable likeness of someone she had never seen—a likeness
which could not have been produced from any existing photograph, in the
very unlikely event of her obtaining such. Moreover it is not essential,
in every case, that Mrs. Deane should have the plates beforehand for
magnetising. On several occasions, members of the S.S.S.P. have, without
Mrs. Deane’s knowledge, substituted a fresh unopened packet of plates for
the unopened packet she has had with her, without interfering with the
success of the experiment.
Mr. Vearncombe has been most successful as a medium for obtaining
results on plates in sealed packets. Effectively to test Mr. Vearncombe,
I devoted a great deal of time to wrapping and sealing packets which
could not possibly be tampered with without leaving some trace of
such tampering. Others have done likewise, and on the plates in such
packets, which after the most careful scrutiny have revealed no evidence
of tampering, we have secured successful results. On one occasion I
persuaded a local professional photographer to seal a packet of plates
before I handled them. This he did very thoroughly, and then I added my
own wrappings and seals and sent the package on to Vearncombe. Within a
week the packet was returned intact.
Mr. Frederic Lewis of Birmingham, who co-operated with me in this
test, is a technical photographer of more than average ability and his
certificate is of value. In this he states:
“I certify that on May 14th, 1920, I wrapped and sealed an
unopened packet of Imperial Special Sensitive ¼-plates and
handed the packet to Mr. Fred Barlow, who then fixed his
own wrappings and seals. Mr. Barlow brought back the packet
of plates to me on the morning of May 20th, 1920, and in
my presence broke his own wrappings and seals. I then very
carefully verified that my own seals and wrappings were intact
and am quite convinced that these had not been interfered
with. I personally developed the plates in the presence of Mr.
Barlow. On two out of the twelve plates in the package distinct
negative images of faces developed—one face on one plate and
three small faces on another. I can offer no explanation of
this result apart from being perfectly satisfied that no
trickery or deception was practised.
(_Signed_) “FREDERIC LEWIS.”
Could anything be more definite and conclusive than that?
With the Crewe Circle I have had so many tests that it is difficult to
select the most stringent. As the well-known Price case of alleged fraud
bears on the question of the substitution of dark slides, the following
case may be of interest. On this occasion the substitution of dark slides
was impossible, for the simple reason that no dark slides were used.
Saying nothing to the members of the Circle beforehand, I took with me
to Crewe on November 12th, 1921, a loaded box camera containing six
specially-marked plates of a size smaller than those usually employed
in experiments of this nature. All that Hope and Mrs. Buxton did was to
arch their hands over this magazine camera whilst one of them flicked the
shutter-catch. Photographic readers will realise that it is impossible to
tamper with the plates in a box camera, in daylight, without spoiling the
lot. To enable the “power” to flow from Mr. Hope on to the plates, the
controlling intelligence stipulated that Mr. Hope should be allowed to
take hold of my right wrist as I dropped each plate into the developer.
Psychic effects were secured on two out of the six plates under
conditions which, I am convinced, rendered deception impossible. I have
been told that Mr. Hope must have printed the effects on to the plates
by flashlight whilst he had hold of my wrist. If the critic derives any
comfort from believing that this actually occurred he is welcome to his
belief!
In another evidential case is that already mentioned by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle of an experiment conducted by two photographic members of
the S.S.S.P. and myself at Crewe. In this case the camera and slides
employed were brand new and were not examined by the sensitives until
after the sitting. The dark slides differed from those usually employed
by the sensitives. Neither Mr. Hope nor Mrs. Buxton was in the dark room
for loading the slides or for developing the plates. The central face
of three supernormal faces secured on this occasion is an undoubted
likeness of the father of one of the sitters. The result was absolutely
conclusive to my friends and myself. We emphatically declare that under
the circumstances trickery was impossible.
[Illustration: FIG. 20.—Psychograph in the handwriting of Mr. Wm. Walker
obtained at Crewe on July 28th, 1922. Compare with normal handwriting
shown in Fig. 21. (_See_ p. 88.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 21.—Portion of letter written by Mr. Wm. Walker
during his lifetime for comparison with psychograph Fig. 20.]
[Illustration: FIG. 22.—Mr. S. Maddocks, Hon. Sec. of the Sheffield and
District S.P.R., with psychic photograph of his first wife. Compare with
Fig. 23. (_See_ p. 113.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 23.—Photograph of Mr. Maddocks’ first wife for
comparison with Fig. 22.]
Since the above was written I have been favoured with further excellent
personal proof. On October 7th, 1922, I secured at Crewe several fine
photographs of my father. The best were secured on plates exposed in
a camera brought by one of three friends who accompanied me. He is an
experienced and critical photographer, and was responsible for the whole
of the photographic operations. Reference to Figure 31 will show that the
psychic face has moved and appears in no less than six different places.
This face is very similar to the Deane photo (Figure 30), but by no means
absolutely identical.
The next chapter contains a series of abbreviated accounts and reports
by investigators in every station of life. For the purpose of this book
they are confined to accounts connected with the Crewe Circle. In my
capacity of Hon. Secretary to the S.S.S.P. it is my privilege to receive
these documents in ever-increasing numbers. I imagine that the most
hardened sceptic, occupying a similar position for a few months, would be
convinced of the reality of psychic photography by this evidence alone.
Knowing it to be true, I look forward with confidence to that day, not
far distant, when all this talk of fake and fraud shall be no more and
when the psychologist and scientist shall combine the investigation of
this vital problem.