Spirit Photography
Taught by J.R. Pepper
JR Pepper is a lecturer, photographer and self described 'professional eccentric'. She holds both a BA and an MA in art history specializing in Surrealism and spirit photography. Her artwork has been seen in various gallery shows and publications including Haunted America: FAQ by Dave Thompson, Vice.com and Musee Magazine. She has spoken at New York Anime Festival, New York Comic Con, Tokyo in Tulsa, The Morbid Anatomy Museum, The Odd Salon, The Dead Ladies Show and is an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College. She currently works as digital imaging specialist at The Burns Archive and is a tour guide at Green-wood Cemetery. Her book Buried Boston: America's Revolutionary Necropolis, documenting Boston's burying ground and cemeteries is due out in 2024.
image credit: Bill Wadman
If a photographer told you he could take a picture of your deceased loved one, would you believe him? Back in the 1860’s, many people did. Hundreds of people believed that photographers like William Mumler were capable of taking photographs of ghosts, proving that there was a means to communicate with the spirit world. Spirit photography had many critics as well including the infamous P.T. Barnum -- who even spoke at a trial to prove that it was a huge fraud -- but still people believed in Mumler’s "ghosts."
We’ll discuss the height of spirit photography as well the influential Spiritualism movement and explore the methods of creating "ghosts" from back in the day.