ORB PHOTOS: A SCIENTICFIC OBSERVATION

There are many takes on orb photographs these days. Some believe them to be spirits others believe they are nothing more than dust or water pellets that reflect when the cameras flash is used. The phenomenon seems to be even more prevalent since the emergence of the digital camera. There where orbs before digital cameras but they seem to be more visible since the onset of the digital camera.

As I said there are many theories about orbs and some people have even gone so far as to do various experiments that will test for the ability to photograph them under different circumstances. It is suspected by some that the paranormal anomalies often called orbs, which many see in photographs , are in fact, optical phenomena; that is, reflections from airborne particles. This assumption has been attempted to be validated by replicating orbs in photographs using various materials in a test environment.

  

The orb above represents what is most often seen or a “typical” orb which means they are very often round, white and have concentric or spiral shaped circles that are visible on the inside. Next to it is a picture of a particle illuminated by a laser and the ”interference fringe” formed when the particle is illuminated. Note that the laser illuminating a particle and a flash from a digital camera reflecting off a particle give similar results. Orbs are most likely to be present when a flash is used and when it is associated with a digital camera. The most likely reason behind the increase in orbs being photographed is the differences in the design of the digital camera from a traditional camera. One thing to note about orb photos is that orbs never appear to be hidden behind anything suggesting that they are particles that are close to the camera and reflect light. Thus when an orb is close to the camera it may look larger than a hub cap on a truck in the background of the photo but it is not a giant orb as one site on the Internet claims it to be.

I have done experiments under controlled circumstances where photos were taken of small particles such as water spray, powder and dust. For example try this: have someone hold a camera and using a fine mist from a spray bottle spray water particles in the air of course be careful not to wet the camera. Then have the person holding the camera take a picture while the spray is still in the air and what you will see is a picture of orbs.  The evidence seems to suggest that orbs with similar optical properties can be recreated fairly easily.

It is known that the CCD or CMOS sensors in digital cameras are more sensitive to infrared than human eyes. In fact, human eyes cannot see infrared lights but digital cameras can. CCD or CMOS sensors are the elements in digital cameras that are equivalent to film in traditional cameras. The photo below shows the infrared LED of a TV remote control while pushing a button on it. The picture proves that cameras can see infrared and they see it as more or less a white light. With the naked eye alone the infrared LED could not be seen. Try this experiment yourself and you will find that you will get the same result.

This also helps to prove that digital cameras can photograph airborne particles that exist in nature that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Also digital cameras can (when the particle is close enough) capture patterns within the particle. This can realistically explain why orbs don’t appear to ever be hidden behind objects except other orbs. It is because the particles are so close to the camera that there cannot be any object between the particles and the camera. It also explains to why photographers do not see particles when taking photos; it is because they are too small for the human eye to see.

The conclusion in this case is that most if not all orbs that have circular patterns are likely to be caused by reflected infrared from the cameras flash unit. Approximately 95% of photos would seem to fall under this characterization. That leaves about 5% of orbs that are unexplainable as of this moment.  It is then possible a small number of orbs MAY have paranormal origins.

Some orbs that MIGHT be of paranormal origin:

 -          orbs in motion

-          orbs that appear when no flash is used

-          orbs that have no circular pattern inside the orb

-          orbs that have color