We are finishing out spooky season with a very special show! Why is it that human beings are so obsessed with photographing the paranormal? There was an enormous craze around spirit photography in the late 19th and early 20th century and people still clamour to try to capture the supernatural on camera.
In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, I speak with monster expert, Dr. Emily Zarka from the PBS show Monstrum about all sorts of monsters and why they can or can’t be photographed (according to legend). From ghost hunts to Bigfoot to vampires that don’t show up on film, we talk about why, even in stories, it is so difficult to get photographic evidence of monsters!
Stream this very spooky episode!
Listen below, or, if you would rather, click here to listen on your choice of podcast platforms. While you’re at it, be sure to subscribe to the Nerdy Photographer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts!
About Our Guest
“I’m Emily Zarka. I earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Arizona State University, specializing in British Romantic literature with an emphasis on the Gothic. I approach literature and film through monsters, applying the theory that human history is monster history.

I am the writer and host for “Monstrum,” an online series with PBS’s Storied channel on YouTube that looks at complex histories and motivations behind some of the world’s most famous monsters. I also wrote and hosted a one-hour documentary for PBS called Exhumed: A History of Zombies.“
You can also follow the good doctor on Twitter.
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Did you enjoy this discussion on spirit photography, photographing monsters, and more? It certainly was a lot of fun for me to talk about it. I have always had a bit of an obsession myself with capturing paranormal activity.
If you have thoughts about this episode or want to give us ideas for future episodes, leave us a voice message on our contact page!