Edward Wyllie facts for kids
Edward Arthur Sanders Wyllie (born January 28, 1848 – died March 6, 1911) was a British man known for being a medium and a spirit photographer. He claimed he could communicate with spirits and even photograph them.
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Who Was Edward Wyllie?
Edward Wyllie was born in a city called Kolkata in British India. He was a British citizen. When he was very young, he moved to England. Later, in 1886, he moved to California in the United States. There, he worked as a photographer.
What is a Medium?
A medium is someone who claims to be able to talk to people who have died. They often say they can pass messages between the living and the spirit world. Edward Wyllie was one of these people.
What is Spirit Photography?
Spirit photography is a special kind of photography. People who practiced it claimed they could take pictures that showed spirits or ghosts. These photos would often show blurry figures or faces next to living people. Many people in the 1800s were very interested in these ideas.
How Did Wyllie Make His "Spirit Photos"?
Edward Wyllie's "spirit photographs" became very famous. However, it was later found out that they were not real. Investigators discovered that he used tricks to make the images.
The Truth About the Photos
Investigators found special photo negatives in Wyllie's home. These negatives already had "spirit" images on them. This meant he could add them to his pictures. He also admitted to using a clever trick. He would make small drawings using special paint that glowed in the dark. Then, he would quickly press these drawings onto the camera's photographic plate. This made it look like a spirit appeared in the photo.
Later Life
Edward Wyllie passed away in London in 1911. His work as a spirit photographer is an interesting part of history. It shows how people explored ideas about spirits and photography a long time ago.
