The Ghosts of Auschwitz and Birkenau by Cole Thompson

What can be said about Auschwitz and Birkenau that hasn't already been said? What can be photographed at those sacred places that haven't already been photographed?

As I thought about what had occurred there I wondered how any human could do such inhumane things, and then I recalled "The Mysterious Stranger" by Mark Twain. In this story a young
boy named Seppi is talking to Satan about a man who had brutally beaten his dog. Seppi declared that this man's actions were inhumane and Satan responded:

"No, it wasn't Seppi; it was human - quite distinctly human."

Satan goes on to point out that no other animal on the planet would treat another this way, except humans.

I had not intended to photograph during my tour of the camps but after being there a few minutes, I felt compelled. With every step I wondered about the people whose feet had walked in exactly the same footsteps. I wondered if their spirits still lingered there today.

And so I photographed ghosts.

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[Juliacornwall]

I've been to Auschwitz numerous times and I don't find it scary so much as extremely moving; and I love your film. I'm sorry you've had to remove nasty comments, but they're all out there, the haters, waiting to pounce. I once criticised Bishop Williamson for his Holocaust denial, and was hounded by foul abuse for weeks. I guess these sad idiots want to look as if they're being smart by denying what any intelligent person KNOWS is the truth. It's all there, the proof, if you just look!

[thompsoncd]

@Juliacornwall For me, it's not about the numbers; it doesn't matter if it were 1000, 1 million or 10 million. It's about the inhumane way in which man can treat another man. There certainly was a sadistic quality to the behavior that took place here and that scares me more than the numbers.

[Goodiesfanful]

I'd be jiggered if Auschwitz didn't have a few ghosts, given its history. Have there been actual reports of hauntings or paranormal investigations there?

[thompsoncd]

@Goodiesfanful - I'm not sure if there have been any reports compiled or not, but I'm betting there have been. This was simply an artistic endeavor.

[smoketokeandmetal]

man haunted or not, im glad the american soldiers shot those nazi pricks from dachau kill all the rats :). actually i would have dumped fuel on them and then let them burn..or i would have let the prisoners kill them as they pleased.

i dont know if anyone agrees with me or not but i think those pricks should have all been burned alive, fuck prisoners of war

[ColeThompsonPhoto]

@JimSmiley1

Why the aggression and hostility Jim?

[JimSmiley1]

Aww Cole, Come on. You go on and on about how you don't look at other photographers work and then you rip off Alexey Titarenko! And you try and pretend that you came up with this idea yourself? I've noticed how you try to hide away the fact that you copy other peoples work all the time. Also - if you are so sure that your great list of awards etc are not important - why mention them at all on your website? It all smacks of desperation. You know I'm right.

[ColeThompsonPhoto]

JJ, I am always honest, this is not Photoshopped.

But you've actually asked the wrong question, you should have asked if these were ghosts. They are not.

These are long exposures of the visitors at the camps, they stood in proxy for those spirits who may still linger there. This is a piece of art and is not paranormal photography.

Please go to my website and read the artist statement. ColeThompsonPhotography (dot) com

[JJtheBigRedMachine]

Is it photoshop and please be honest. I'm into legitimate paranormal photography.

[slapmyfunkybass]

i am pretty certain auschwitz must be the least haunted place on earth... contrary to what most believe earth bound spirits don't like quiet places, secondly a spirit will sometimes choose to stay at a place because of the love they have for it, thirdly, if you died there, would you stick around? sad video though, i guess humanity hangs its head in shame over this episode in our history

[adolffrank]

Amazing and thank you for sharing it xx

[suzyrain2000us]

beautiful well done



[bettygoodbody]

thank you for being honest about how you took the photos. i have photos that are of an empty lobby and has the same effect, is that real spirits or what? do you know?