Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: With Breakthrough Ghost Photography

by Tim Scullion

By D. Branningon October 27, 2016
Format: Paperback

Travel along with ghost photographer and para investigator Tim Scullion to explore his findings from a two-year journey of the famed Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia—one of America’s most haunted historical cities.

In ‘Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia’ the reader will visit forty-three locations in Williamsburg where Scullion defines the photographs and each apparition captured during his studies to learn the history and paranormal background of each building they appear in.

There are over 230 colorful paranormal images captured with a new technique Tim Scullion has been experimenting with that showcases an apparition in a whole new light. This will change the way paranormal investigators examine their photographs during and after an investigation.
Visit exciting locations such as St. George Tucker House, Whetherburn Tavern, several buildings at the College of William & Mary and much more!
Scullion provides the reader with historic accounts, ghost sightings, and his own personal experiences at each haunted location.

Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia will inspire you to experiment with this new breakthrough photography method on your next paranormal adventure. Grab your camera, grab this book, and keep your eyes open for what is out there in the beyond.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2016

About the author

A multiple genre author, photographer, and musician whose latest book is a first in the world of paranormal research: Scullion has completed a 2-year photographic study of Colonial Williamsburg—out of over 10,000 photographs, only the very best were chosen (230) to document ghosts and apparitions of all sizes, shapes, and colors for the book Haunted, Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: with Breakthrough Ghost Photography. He has unlocked techniques to consistently photograph residents of the “other side”, and has included historical background and the lore and legacy of the paranormal to accompany each building in America’s only living museum. The book is available at Amazon at this site http://amzn.com/0764350609

Sign up for the author’s mailing list—email paranormaltale@gmail.com!

Tim is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree (cum laude)—both while working a full time job. Tim is a multi-instrumentalist musician and has written a series of books on lead guitar called Shred Tech. Tim has also written a very different Christmas novel titled Nick as well as writing and illustrating a children’s activity book titled the Kids Forever Club. (All of these books are available at Amazon.)


Websites:
https://www.facebook.com/timsculliona...
https://twitter.com/tim_scullion
https://www.instagram.com/timscullion43/
http://amzn.com/0764350609

Reviews

[Jennifer Novak]

I received this book as a gift from my son because he knew of my interest in Colonial Williamsburg. While I am less than halfway through it and went into it with an open mind, I am finding it difficult to believe the same “fountain of light” appearing over several buildings that he claims are ghosts as ghosts. The same with the orbs and super red cells. Orbs can be dust or dirt on the lens as I understand it. And the faces in windows are so exaggerated and comical looking all I can do is laugh at the ridiculousness. Got to pg. 100 and I can’t read this any longer. Got so frustrated reading “it could be this or is it this...what do you think”. I’ll tell you what I think...my son completely wasted his money on this ridiculous drivel.

[Daniel]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book . Rated 1.5 of 5

I am not an ardent believer in ghosts nor am I skeptic. I am one of those people who believes that there is something other than our 'normal,' mortal lives going on in the world. I love watching the Ghost Hunter type shows and I'll often pick up books that explore this phenomenon. So when I had the opportunity to read this ARC, which boasts "Breakthrough Ghost Photography" I was ready to give it a read.

Author/photographer Tim Scullion has spent a good deal of time and energy photographing the Williamsburg area to get evidence of ghostly hauntings. Judging by this book, Williamsburg must be one of the most haunted cities in the country.

To say that I was supremely under-whelmed by this book would be a gross understatement.

At first I was confused. Where were the ghosts that Scullion says are in the picture? Behind the light flare? Oh ... the ghost IS the light flare. Then I found it humorous ... picture after picture of the exact same thing but in different locations. At one point I thought maybe J.J. Abrams had been nearby, creating his signature light-flare look for the book. And finally I just thought it sad that Scullion spent so much time and effort on this. If he truly believes in his work, it's disappointing. If he's writing from an entertainment viewpoint to make a buck, then more power to him.

I am not a de-bunker. I don't have the tips and tools to go around to prove something doesn't exist or that what is presented is faked. But I have spent some time around a camera and it looks a LOT like Scullion's camera has a dirty lens or a dirty mirror (if he's using an SLR camera). The light images he refers to constantly look an awful lot like pictures I have where there is dust or water spots on the lens or mirror (sometimes it's not obvious to the naked eye until the lens gets cleaned).

In addition to the light-spot-ghosts, Scullion has captured a whole heck of a lot of strange figures peering out of windows. Most of these look creepily human with slightly exaggerated appearances. So ... are ghosts blots of light, or are they humanoid in appearance? Are they both? Ahhh ... this is feeling more and more wrong.

I noticed that we never see any of these photographs taken during the day to give us a day and night look. Could there possibly be mannequins in these historic buildings? Seen through the warped, older glass at night, might these not look rather ghoulish? And maybe not just mannequins - maybe paintings, too?

And then Scullion shares his secret editing trick with the reader. He writes:

This is an attempt to demonstrate the editing process, so that I'm not accused of creating faces with Photoshop tricks:

Step 1: Crop the face out of the original photo. At this point, the face is usually only about a half inch.

Step 2: Increase it to a working size (about 3 inches), increase the contrast to bring out the features.

Step 3: Depixalize the face so that it does not look grainy, add more contrast as necessary, then increase the photo to its final size.

So let's get this straight ... we make it bigger, increase the contrast, depixalize, increase contrast some more. That's the breakthrough ghost photography trick? Fortunately Scullion includes a sample so that we can see how this:



once it's had some contrast work done and some 'de-pixalation', becomes this:



That face can clearly be seen in the original, right? It just needed some contrast and pixalization...

At this point I felt like a fool. There is a sucker born every minute, after all.

After all that, I actually liked the epilogue "What I've Learned About "Ghosts"" even if I felt that Scullion was making a bit of a fool of himself. For his sake, I hope he takes his camera in to get professionally cleaned before he goes out to photograph ghosts again.

Looking for a good book? Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg by Tim Scullion offers up a lot of 'proof' of ghosts but this reader doesn't buy it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

[P.A. Spayd]

I recommended the author, Tim Scullion, submit a book proposal to Schiffer Publishing who had added a paranormal bookline to their existing military, antique and collectible, and arts and crafts. I've known Tim and his wife for over 6 years. They are musicians at our church.

Tim has made an awesome and unique discovery on ghost photography. I saw the raw camera footage each week as I take guitar lessons from Tim at the church. So he'd show me the latest photos. I was stunned. Shocked and I was so horrified but intrigued! Some images are difficult and disturbing to look at. Tim has indeed "breakthrough ghost photography" and yes, I saw it and he showed me his steps - which are also in his book. Realize the images shift as they are photographed - they aren't static. The large red circles and apparitions shift and disappear as do the faces.
He's worked over 2 years and had thousands of photos.

We who live in Williamsburg know there are haunted colonial houses! The ghost tours are real and people can snap images on cell phones! So Tim, knowing and seeing the tourists cell phone capture images - he wonders what can his fancy expensive digital camera do?

Forget the naysayers! Schiffer Publishing staff, editors and owners were aghast at the images Tim selected for the draft of his first book. Tim showed the publisher, Peter Schiffer Jr., raw images from his camera. I've seen them.
It's real.
They are real.
Horrifying
Saddening
Shocking
Ground shattering.
Ready for a new reality in ghost photography?

[Jessica Bronder]

Tim Scullion takes us along on a night visit of 43 different locations in Williamsburg, Virginia. We find ourselves in various churches, houses, and taverns. We learn the history of each location with other sightings. We see many photos of these locations many with orbs. Then Tim uses his editing to separate and sharpen these orbs or flashes found in the pictures which results in faces being seen.

I loved the pictures and the history behind all the locations. That is itself made this book for me. I love the paranormal, especially ghosts, and I enjoyed all the stories behind each location. There are beautiful color photographs and I love the little notes of paranormal activity.

Where I’m torn on reviewing this book is the enhanced photographs. They could very well be real and I’m just too skeptical. But when you see the enhanced photos they look rather over edited. The faces are exaggerated and look off. This took away from the book for me.

If the book stayed with the history, stories, and picture of the locations I would have liked it more. But the edited photos ruined it for me. If you like paranormal that focuses around ghosts I would say check it out, you may have a new vacation destination.

I received Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia from Schiffer Publishing for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Stella]

It's very clear that Tim Scullion has a passion for history and the paranormal. This is a well researched book, with stories of Colonial Williamsburg that only a true history buff would know.

While the photos are sometimes comical, I admire Tim's passion and drive to document each and everything that he saw.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Tracy]

I admire the authors knowledge of history and his insiders view of Williamsburg, but I agree with other reviewers opinions of the ghost photos, they are laughable.
Everyone looks the same, kind of like a bad Picasso painting, with a thin nose and strange features. Maybe that's what ghosts look like? Unconvincing and absurd.