The biggest hurdle when it comes to “proving” the existence of spooky entities is the sheer scarcity of crystal‑clear pictures or video clips. Ever since the wobbly Patterson‑Gimlin footage of a supposed Bigfoot hit the internet, we’ve been bombarded with grainy snapshots and out‑of‑focus recordings of ghosts, Nessie, extraterrestrials, and demonic apparitions.
Exploring 10 Debatable Images of the Unexplained
10 Faces in the Water
Back in December 1924, two crew members of the oil tanker SS Watertown—James Courtney and Michael Meehan—were tasked with scrubbing an empty cargo tank. A freak mishap released toxic gas, and both men collapsed, succumbing to the fumes. Chief Mate Kosti Taviola rushed to their aid, but by the time he reached them, they were already dead. He himself was overcome by the same fumes, only to be revived after a half‑hour.
Following maritime tradition, the two sailors received a sea burial, and the Watertown pressed on toward the Panama Canal. Yet, as the vessel sailed, the remaining crew began reporting a strange sight: eerie faces appearing in the water. Upon closer inspection, they realized the silhouettes were the very visages of the two deceased sailors, bobbing up and down as the ship cut through the waves. Captain Keith Tracy managed to capture a now‑infamous photograph that many still point to as “proof” of the phenomenon.
While the majority of skeptics dismiss the picture as a clever hoax, a vocal contingent insists the spirits of Courtney and Meehan lingered, watching over the tanker until it safely reached its destination.
9 Angel, Demon, or…Palm Tree?
Ghostly photos love to go viral, and this one is no exception. In early January 2017, Richard Christianson posted a creepy snap taken on an empty Phoenix street, captioning it, “What the hell do you see in this picture for reals??? Anybody.” The image seemed to depict a dark, winged figure hovering ominously—some swore it was an evil angel, others argued it was a demon, and a few even whispered about the elusive Mothman.
The comment section erupted into a full‑blown debate: believers pointed to the sinister silhouette, while rational voices tried to explain away the mystery, asserting the shape was nothing more than a palm tree caught in an odd angle of light. The online battle grew louder as users dug into Christianson’s background, discovering he worked as a stagehand—a fact that only added fuel to the speculation about props and staged scares.
In the end, the image became a case study in how quickly a simple photograph can split opinion, turning a palm tree into a potential portal for the supernatural.
8 Is That You, Freddy?
Victor Goddard, an Air Marshal in the Royal Air Force, was no stranger to uncanny experiences. In 1935 he claimed a clairvoyant vision of the abandoned Drem Airfield as it would appear four years later. Long before that, however, he was present when a group portrait—known as the “Goddard Squadron”—was taken in November 1918 at the HMS Daedalus training facility.
When the photograph was developed, Goddard noticed a faint, ghostly face peeking from behind the fourth airman on the left. The figure was the only person without a cap and was later identified as air mechanic Freddy Jackson. The twist? Records show Freddy Jackson died three days before the picture was shot, after walking into a propeller’s whirl.
Further research confirmed a Freddy Jackson did serve as an RAF mechanic and that his death occurred in April 1918—several months before the photo’s date—making the apparition all the more puzzling for those who believe the image is genuine.
7 “Your Government Is Lying to You”
In 2011, a sensational video surfaced claiming to show a dead alien discovered in a Russian “UFO hotspot.” Within a week, the clip amassed over a million views, its opening banner warning viewers: “Your government is lying to you about UFO & alien visitation.” The eerie message sent chills down many spines.
Critics quickly dissected the footage, pointing out the alien’s obviously rubber‑doll appearance, the absence of any spacecraft, and the staged posture of the corpse. These details convinced thousands that the two Russian men who supposedly stumbled upon the being had orchestrated the entire scene.
Nevertheless, a steadfast group of believers continues to argue that the video and accompanying images are authentic evidence of extraterrestrial life, refusing to dismiss the unsettling visuals as mere fabrication.
6 A Strange Beast
In 2018, a blurry photograph and a short video emerged from Santa Fe, Argentina, showcasing a bizarre creature that resembled a camel with a small head and an elongated neck. The animal was blamed for the deaths of a German shepherd and a pitbull, quickly joining the roster of legendary monsters like the Yeti, Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster.
The video attracted over 30 000 comments, many expressing fear that the camel‑like beast could be real. Some viewers claimed they had encountered a similar creature in 2005, while others suggested the animal might be a man transformed into a monstrous dog. A further contingent believed the creature to be a Chupacabra, a staple of Latin folklore.
Regardless of the divergent theories, the footage continues to fuel debate over whether the creature is a genuine cryptid or simply a misidentified animal caught on a shaky camera.
5 Watching Over You
In 2016, Lynda submitted a historic photograph to Belfast Live, noting that her grandmother, Ellen Donnelly, was one of fifteen women captured in the image. The women, all linen‑mill workers from Northern Ireland, appear relaxed and cheerful as they posed for the camera in the year 1900.
Yet, a closer look at the photograph reveals a chilling anomaly: perched on the shoulder of the first girl on the right, in the second row, is what looks like a disembodied hand. The girl is Lynda’s grandmother, and unlike the others, whose arms are crossed, this solitary hand seems to hover unnaturally.
While many suspect the hand to be a deliberate hoax, no definitive proof has emerged to confirm either side, leaving the mystery suspended in the realm of speculation.
4 The Unexplained UFOs of Salem
Salem, Massachusetts, already steeped in a dark history, found itself the backdrop for an eerie aerial mystery on the morning of August 3, 1952. Shel Alpert reported spotting four luminous objects hovering above Winter Island and Cat Cove, prompting him to snap a photograph from the Salem Coast Guard Air Station.
The resulting image has haunted viewers for decades. Some argue the glowing orbs were merely reflections off a nearby window, while others maintain the photo captures genuine alien crafts, aligning with a series of similar sightings recorded throughout the 1950s.
To this day, the photograph remains a focal point for UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike, each side interpreting the flickering lights through the lens of their own beliefs.
3 The Flying Dutchman of Lake Superior
In 2016, filmmaker Jason Asselin was wrapping up a music video shoot along Michigan’s Lake Superior shoreline. After a day of filming, he and his crew lingered to capture a sunset rainbow when a distant shimmer caught his eye—a massive silhouette that resembled a ghost ship.
Given Lake Superior’s grim legacy of over 200 shipwrecks, the sighting sparked immediate speculation that it could be a phantom vessel, perhaps the spirits of sailors who perished after the infamous 1975 Edmund Fitzgerald sinking near Whitefish Point.
However, psychology professor Mark Becker offered a more grounded explanation, suggesting the shimmering was simply the Granite Island lighthouse reflecting the setting sun’s rays, debunking the spectral ship theory.
2 The Nun Who Can’t Let Go
In 2021, a Reddit user who works as a real‑estate photographer posted a blurry image taken outside a former Civil War army hospital in Tennessee. The poster warned that the homeowner claimed the house was haunted, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the already unsettling picture.
The photo appears to show an indistinct figure standing among trees surrounding the house. According to the uploader, patients were allegedly operated on inside the hospital and then transferred to makeshift field tents, where they met their demise—potentially giving rise to the ghostly apparition.
Yet, many commenters dismissed the notion of a Civil War specter, suggesting the figure could be a garden statue, a bird, a stray piece of plastic, or any number of mundane objects, turning the story into a classic case of internet‑age paranormal speculation.
1 The Little Girl Visiting Her Own Grave
In 2020, Saundra Gonzales regularly placed toys and trinkets on the grave of her two‑year‑old daughter, Faviola, at the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After noticing some items missing one morning, she asked other families visiting the cemetery to watch for any suspicious activity, suspecting a thief.
Unbeknownst to her, a nearby family had installed a camera to catch any vandalism near their own son’s grave. While the footage showed no theft, it captured a small girl approaching Faviola’s grave, bending over the toys. The family showed the video to a cemetery worker, who recognized the child and promptly called Saundra.
Overcome with emotion, Saundra believed the girl in the footage was the spirit of her daughter. One frame even appeared to show the girl holding the hand of a tall man, whom the family claimed was their murdered son. While some argue the scene could simply be another child sneaking in, many remain convinced they witnessed a heartfelt reunion beyond the veil.