What causes "orbs" in photos?

gmb1994 · Nov 16, 2003

Can anyone offer a good explanation for those faint white spots ("orbs") that appear in photos?

Dew · Nov 16, 2003

the poltergiest :shock: ... nah, just kidding

i dunno, probably light reflections and or sunlight

dlc · Nov 16, 2003

It usually happens with longer tele lenses at open aperatures, but I can't explain in technical terms.

craig · Nov 16, 2003

The information captured is just lens flare from, A too much glass, and, B the apeture was open full. (2.8 or whatever). If you believe that I have land in Florida for sale. Orb's of energy are commonly photographed. You will have to prove to us what is real, and what can not be explained.

gmb1994 · Nov 16, 2003

Thanks for your responses. I'm using a Fujifilm Finepix 2650 2.0megapixel digital camera.

The obvious answer is that the "orbs" are balls of energy (spirits, ghosts or whatever). I've noticed that the more people that are in the room when I take the picture, the more orbs exist in the photo. I've also noticed that the orbs hang around even after all the people have left.

The aperture concept sounds reasonable, but then wouldn't those orbs exist in relatively the same locations from picture-to-picture if the camera is not moved between shots?

I have also noticed that it usually takes the use of a flash in order to get these orbs to appear in my photos. What about dust particles or other particles? I know rain, snow, invisible gases and smoke also produce nice "ghostly" effects.

I would like to believe that some of these orbs are spirits, but I want to rule out as many technical causes as possible.

Jeff Canes · Nov 16, 2003

you need to post some of pics so we can take look at them

carlita · Nov 16, 2003

dust is highly likely... in fact it was my first thought and i was about to ask you if you'd been using a flash because that makes perfect sense. and i would imagine that having more people around creates more "orbs" because there's more movement in the room, which means the air's moving more and kicking up more and more dust. then when people leave i'm sure it takes a while for the dust to settle again. can't say i don't believe in ghosts, but i've never believed people actually catch anything other than dust or other tangible, airborne particles in their photos when they claim to have captured "orbs."

Bob_McBob · Nov 16, 2003

Apparently they really like to come out in the fog

http://www.pbase.com/image/10964924/original.jpg

The problem is clearly caused by reflected light from the flash. I see it all the time with a compact digital I have. The internal flash is so close to the lens that it picks up all sorts of crap in the air.

lizheaemma · Nov 16, 2003

my husband takes pictures of his friends skateboarding at an indoor ramp that is really dusty and gets tones of orbs!

gmb1994 · Nov 17, 2003

That sounds right ...
lots of people = lots of dust ... then you combine that with a flash right near the lens = lots of orbs!

Sidenote:
The only counter argument I could present to orbs being of dusty origins only would be that these orbs can be seen moving around on video taken in the infrared spectrum.

lizheaemma · Nov 17, 2003

actually just a bit more on this topic, when my hubbie shoots with our camera in the dusty skate place he gets orbs, but I saw a pic tonight that our friend a professional photographer with a real nice camera took at the same place, no orbs. Why? I was told when you can get your focus on your subject with manual focus.... you don't pick up all that crap in between!?

mrsid99 · Nov 17, 2003

Remember that most digital cameras are sensitive down into the infra-red spectrum which may explain why one camera picked up orbs but the "good" camera didn't.
Check this out by "looking" via the LCD screen on a camera at a TV remote control and operating it.

ksmattfish · Nov 17, 2003

You need a Kirllianizing filter. Make sure you get the Circular Kirllianizer if your camera is auto focus. Some Killianiziers have a mark on the rotating ring, turn this until it's at a right angle to most of the living souls in the room to get maximum ghost effect.

:wink:

gmb1994 · Nov 17, 2003

ksmattfish said:
You need a Kirllianizing filter. Make sure you get the Circular Kirllianizer if your camera is auto focus. Some Killianiziers have a mark on the rotating ring, turn this until it's at a right angle to most of the living souls in the room to get maximum ghost effect.

Where can I buy a "good" Kirllian filter? Online?

mrsid99 · Nov 18, 2003

Now you've piqued my interest too.
Kirlian photography that I know essentially consisted of photographing an electro-static or corona discharge but this sounds to me like a polarizing device or similar.
Please elucidate!