photodaddy Loc: Missouri

I am with the paranormal activity coming from the fire theory.
Stay away from bon-fires!

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

Although I can't say for certain, I had a similar affect, although not as bad as your's when I photographed a couple of family members across from a bon fire. They weren't as close to the fire and so the affect wasn't as bad. Luckily for me, the person I was really photographing wasn't the person that had the distortion on them, so it didn't really matter to me.
I certainly will be aware of this issue in the future.

What really is astonishing to me is that this hasn't happened to me before. I've photographed people near bon fires several times in the past, and never had anything like this. I suspect you haven't either. I doubt either of us will make this mistake in the future.

EricLPT Loc: Jonesborough TN

It is heat distortion from the fire. If you ever shoot out airplane windows make sure you are in front of the engines, jet exhaust has a similar effect.

Eric

Nightwatch Loc: Missouri

I used to work at a summer camp. Campfires/bonfires & lots of pictures every night. I've seen this effect many, many times with both film and digital images. It really is heat distortion from the fire. It can happen anytime you shoot across the fire. It can also happen if when you aren't shoot across the fire but are downwind from it.

Nightwatch Loc: Missouri

Nothing like dyslexic typing :)

joelhaynes Loc: Bozeman, MT

You must have had the "zombie detection" function enabled in the advanced menu settings.

PJT Loc: Sarasota,Florida

I beleive that if you take any images involving flames / fires , try to shoot if possible at up to about a 45 degree angle to the prevailing winds.

This way heat, smoke and flames are now actually quartering yourself and the camera.

Try to keep the heat and flames away from your stand point as well as your subjects if at all possible!

Constantly monitor your images via the LCD, and preset your white balance according to your light source. In this case fire/heat/flames. Again use your LCD to fine tune your work.

Constantly watch for shifting winds as smoke embers etc. may wind up blowing towards you !
This is known as situational awareness !

Many of the above posts account for the probable causes and have valid points.You have encounterd a great learing expeience.

I know that this will not help your images, but wait the magic healing brush can still render usable images if you have photoshop our most any simular program.( some are free )
Hope this is of some help ! 8-)

MtnMan Loc: ID

I'm pretty sure it means she is actually a zombie.

photoman315

It only appears above the fire. I would say it was caused by heat and smoke rising from the fire.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I think we've pretty well beat this one to death.. :)

alaskanfrog Loc: Alaska

Not paranormal... What I'm seeing is a direct result of reflection. Something very near to the photographer and camera was being reflected onto your subjects. Not sure what it could be, but when the flash fired, it reflected the pattern that you see on the woman's face to the right. Not knowing what conditions existed when the picture was captured makes it almost impossible to answer the question accurately. However the pattern is a clear indication of a reflection of some kind...