Please note: copyright of these photographs belongs to the photographer. They have given permission for the photos to be used on this website only. The images may not be downloaded and reproduced elsewhere.
OrbsWe think that most orb photos are not paranormal in any way, however as digital camera technology develops we are seeing new types of orbs, not all having to do with the flash hitting dust particles or moisture drops. We are still interested in seeing unusual examples of orbs in photos, such as the one on the right, submitted in Sept. 2019 by Jess Weaver.
Technical photographic terms for this effect are backscatter and near-camera-reflection. Also, some of the photos here are extraordinary and some quite beautiful. Explanation of orbs, More about orbs in photos, and here's a recent blog post showing a large green orb. |
Multi-orb photo courtesy Jess Weaver. Links to 'Orbs Explained'
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Baby sees an orb?
The baby is apparently looking straight at the orb. Can she see something we can't? Not in this case. The orb is mere centimetres from the camera lens and the baby is looking at something else. This misleading sense of depth comes from the photograph rendering the three-dimensional world in two dimensions. There is no clue to depth regarding the orb, but we know it is small and close, not the size of an orange and metres away.
This is a classic example of a particle of dust caught by the
camera's flash and reflected back as a highlight, recording
in the digital camera as an orb. The JPEG compression and
sharpening, combined with lens imperfections, give it its texture.
This is a classic example of a particle of dust caught by the
camera's flash and reflected back as a highlight, recording
in the digital camera as an orb. The JPEG compression and
sharpening, combined with lens imperfections, give it its texture.
Orb like an aura
This photo is interesting for several reasons:
- The position of the orb in relation to the person
- The intensity and colour of the orb
- The camera's flash did not fire.
Camera data:
- Camera model: Fuji Finepix F410
- Date: 25/12/2011
- Time: (from image data): 4.32pm
- Shutter speed: 1/170th second
- Aperture: f7.0 (max. f2.8)
- Focal length: 5.7mm (widest angle setting)
- ISO: 200
- Exposure mode: Normal program
- Flash: did not fire
An orb caused by the evening sun?This orb is not caused by the camera flash, but by the sun. It's not a direct image of the sun (which is just out of frame) but a secondary image within the camera lens made by the sunlight shining in and bouncing around before arriving at the camera's sensor and forming an orb-like shape.
It perhaps falls more into the category of lens flare, but it is also a type of photographic orb. Its colour comes from the microscopically thin anti-glare coatings on the camera lens. If you have a similar coating on your eyeglasses, you can see that lights reflected in the lenses may be green, or some other colour. The colour has no spiritual significance and the orb is most probably a photographic anomaly and so is highly unlikely to be paranormal. We can be fairly sure of this because other photos provided showed the sun in the frame and had similar green orbs more obviously caused by the sunlight. This photo, considered in isolation, is much more mysterious! |
Sun orb full picture (reduced)
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Close up of sun orb, 100% of original pixels. We're really not too sure why it look like part of the tree is in front of the orb!
Mr Taylor - thank you for permission to use the photo.
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A different kind of orb - a vortex?
While this looks like yet another orb photograph, this orb has a different nature. It doesn't quite appear to be a dust orb, but is more likely a reflection inside the camera lens, creating a secondary image. Notice how the orb-thing is the same size and shape as the light bulb on the right? Also note there are a couple of regular dust orbs near the TV set, for a comparison.
An interesting thing about this photo was that it was taken in response to a strong feeling of there being a presence in the house. The photographer had lost a close friend of the family that morning and was feeling that the person may have been in some way present in her house all day and perhaps trying to make contact. She felt strongly enough to attempt to speak to the presence, and then took the photo.
Surprised at the result, she tried to recreate the same photo a few minutes later and also inspected the curtain for holes in case light was somehow coming in from outside. (It was around 9pm, mid-winter 2009.)
This is exactly the right course of action to take. If you think there may be something strange occurring, take photos, make notes, look for possible natural causes and then contact our team or another trusted paranormal investigation group in your region. See What to do if you witness a paranormal event.
Camera data: Panasonic DMC-TZ3, normal Program mode, shutter 1/30 second, aperture f3.3, zoom 4.3mm focal length, ISO640, flash fired, no red-eye reduction. 2232x1236 pixels, JPEG file.
Surprised at the result, she tried to recreate the same photo a few minutes later and also inspected the curtain for holes in case light was somehow coming in from outside. (It was around 9pm, mid-winter 2009.)
This is exactly the right course of action to take. If you think there may be something strange occurring, take photos, make notes, look for possible natural causes and then contact our team or another trusted paranormal investigation group in your region. See What to do if you witness a paranormal event.
Camera data: Panasonic DMC-TZ3, normal Program mode, shutter 1/30 second, aperture f3.3, zoom 4.3mm focal length, ISO640, flash fired, no red-eye reduction. 2232x1236 pixels, JPEG file.
