Photographic Analysis: Matrixing

I love receiving tons of pictures of potential paranormal
evidence every day in my email. The willingness of
everyone to share what they have found is astonishing, and
I am honored that they trust TAPS to offer an honest,
objective analysis of their evidence.

In analyzing the evidence that is presented to us, we
scrutinize every possibility before calling it possible
evidence. In so doing, I have found that there is one major
mistake made by both amateur and experienced paranormal
investigators alike. I receive multiple promises of demonic
faces, full apparitions, faces galore, only to open the email
attachment and find a serious case of matrixing.

Matrixing is a term we use here at TAPS to describe the
human mind's natural tendency to find familiar shapes in
complex shapes or colors. In other words finding a face in
the shapes and shadows of a collection of objects.

Ever sit back on the grass as a child and watch the clouds
roll through the sky, pointing out the shapes of rabbits or
dragons? How about the man in the moon? There isn't really
the face of a man on the moon. It is the complex pattern of
craters and ravines that causes our mind to form a face.
This is matrixing.

Matrixing can be deceiving but if it were not for this ability
we wouldn't be able to recognize each other. In fact it is due
to the effects of matrixing that we are able to recognize
varying types of fonts. If our minds weren't able to
distinguish the subtle nuances of each letter then, we
would only be able to read one font. Unfortunately, it is also
matrixing which causes people to see skulls and faces in
tree branches, mirrors, shiny furniture, cluttered closets,
etc.

So, Matrixing exists and is a big problem in the paranormal
investigation field. What, then, can we do about it? Here are
a few ways to identify it and eliminate it before someone
else does, and ends up ruining your credibility.

- First, look at the type of photograph you are analyzing.
Pictures of trees, fields, cluttered up closets, mirrors and
glass are a few of the prime candidates for matrixing issues.
They include very complex shapes and patterns and,
therefore, a high potential for the mind to construct a face
or body out of something that isn't there.

- Second, look at the potential face or figure. If it is truly
paranormal then, the face or figure would be made up of its
own material, not the material that is comprising the picture.
Let me explain; if the picture is of a forest, and your mind
tells you that there is a face in it. Look to see if the face is
made up of the branches and leaves from the trees in the
picture, or if the face is separated from them and a
completely separate material from the trees.

- Third, once you have eliminated the top two issues, look at
the face or figure as a real face or figure. Look at the
proportions of the face. Are they "cartoony" and
disproportionate or are they realistic? I have art training
and can easily determine if a face has realistic proportions
or not. If you do not have this training, you can go to any art
supply store and pick up a book that explains these
proportions.

Once you have taken the above steps, you may have
something worth looking at. Now you just have to determine
if the picture is of a real entity or if it was faked. But that is
another article that will be coming up later.

So, don't succumb to the rising trend of matrixing an entity
out of every picture that is taken. Take the time to scrutinize
your own evidence before someone else does and comes
to the conclusion that you've just got an over-active
imagination. Please, consider matrixing before you present
evidence to the world and help us all gain more respect for
the field of paranormal investigation.

Rock on,

-Grant (TAPS)