Twilight Shadows (North) Paranormal

What are Orbs?

 

The Oxford Dictionary Definition of an orb is:-  A spherical object or shape:

 

The paranormal Definition: Synonymous with sphere, when used in association with the paranormal, an orb is an anomalous globe-shaped spot, either white or coloured, that shows up in photographs taken at allegedly haunted locations.

 

So how did the word Orb become associated with the paranormal?

 

Though there have been many programs on the subject of ghosts on our screens, on the day of  May 25th 2002 saw a pilot series called Most haunted air for the first time on British Satellite Television.  The almost instant popularity of this show made the words “Orb” and “Light anomaly” the official terms for supposedly  ‘spirit lights’ or ‘partial manifestations’.

 

From the back of Most Haunted came a multitude of other ghost hunting programs such as Paranormal State, Ghost Adventures, Dead Famous, Ghost Hunters, Great British Ghosts, Haunted collector, Famous and Frightened and Haunted Highway (just to name a few).

With the advent of these programs, paranormal teams sprung up all over the country (and even the world) with everyone wanting to be a ‘ghost hunter’ using these programs as templates for how an paranormal investigation should be done. (I am one of these people).

So, now were know why the word became associated with the paranormal, how is it ‘orbs’ were caught on camera during these investigations?

 

Orb can captured during low-light instances where the camera's flash is used, (such as at night or where a bright light source is near the camera).  Think about this.  Most people do not take photographs in the dark, however, the template of the paranormal investigation from the popular television programs tell us that your paranormal investigation should be conducted in the dark!

 

Orbs are especially common with compact or ultra-compact cameras, where the short distance between the lens and the built-in flash decreases the angle of light reflection to the lens. They are not common using DSLR camera’s (though setting your iso speed to a high setting can product images of orbs with such cameras).  Directly illuminating the aspect of the particles facing the lens and increasing the camera's ability to capture the light reflected off normally ‘invisible’ particle

 

The ‘orb’ can result from retro-reflection of light off solid particles (e.g., dust, pollen), liquid particles (water droplets, especially rain) or other foreign material within the camera lens.

 

The image usually appears as either white or semi-transparent circles, though may also occur with whole or partial colour spectrums, (purple fringing for example). With rain droplets, an image may capture light passing through the droplet creating a small rainbow effect.

 

How about Orbs captured on Night vision camcorders?

 

Orbs captured on video are mostly created the same way as they are using compact cameras for digital photography and most can be explained by being caused from dust, moisture or insects.  However, I am still not sure if ALL light anomalies are as easily explainable captured this way.  Some of the light anomalies I have seen are clearly dust or bugs but a very small percentage I have seen are not.  I am still doing lots of research into this and am yet to find a written explanation for some of the anomalies captured on video which I feel explains them all satisfactorily.

 

So for now the Jury is out on the explanation of orbs captured on video though I think it conclusive for orbs captured in stills photography.

 

Below are some visual explanations on how light anomalies are caused in stills photograply.  You can also see some very good examples of Orbs caused by dust, moisture or bugs.

 

J Wicheard ©