Why Do Ghosts Appear in Some Photos?

Sometimes, when a photo is taken in the dark or with a slow shutter speed, light from moving things can leave a ghost-like trail behind them. It's like when you run and flash a camera, your shadow might appear blurry or stretched out. This isn’t really a ghost, just how cameras work.

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Examples

A dog running past you during a night-time photo leaves behind a ghost-like trail.
Your friend walking into the frame appears stretched out as if they’re fading away.
A car slowly driving by at night leaves behind a streak that looks like it’s glowing.

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Categories: Science · photography· science· ghosts· optics· lighting