How to get rid of ghost light

[jyotis]

While playing with candle light I found the ghost light as you can see in the pictures posted - I will appreciate if you guide me how to take similar snap without the ghost light.
Photo condition - relatively low light inside house, background is regular black cloth like material - no flash used, shutter speed varies from 3s to 25s and aperture varies from F/16 to F/29.
Pls help me to get rid off the ghost light.

[jdepould]

Moved to technique. It looks like your lens or filter might be a little dirty, try cleaning first.

[jyotis]

Thanks for your suggestion. Lens is pretty new. Definitely I will try the same shots after cleaning the lens. No filter used in those snaps. I was expecting sharp candle flame as pictures were taken indoor without any wind.

[JustJim]

Well you're just not going to get a frozen candle flame at 3-25 seconds! Have a look at a candle flame in even the most still surroundings, It will be bouncing up and down due to the different thermal conditions inside the flame. No way you can freeze that with such a long exposure.

[jyotis]

Yes, you are right, but I am worried about the glow around the flame - how to avoid that?

[Nocojoe]

darken blend mode and then mask it off as needed.

[flomaster]

faster shutter speed, higher ISO

-=Jason=-

[jyotis]

Even in bare eye I see the glow of flame, so lens definitely sees it. So poistion of the candle and camera is important here. Spacing the candle at the center eliminates the glow. Proper use of flash also does the trick at the cost of the effect of candle light.
Added few more snaps. Real challenge while taking snap of my kid in candle light with 1sec shutter speed.