Light Anomalies

With the advent of digital photography, more and more people are having unusual anomalies appear on their photographs. The most common is the round looking ball of light most commonly defined as an Orb.

Digital cameras are particularly sensitive to this type of photographic anomaly but far from being paranormal in nature they can have a totally natural explanation.

Our research to date indicates that a very high percentage of orb photographs have a natural explanation. Only a small percentage of orb related video or photographic evidence that we have still defies any logical explanation at this time and our research in to this phenomena will continue.

Natural Orbs

The most common misinterpretation of orbs on film is that of minute airborne particles, commonly dust which is picked up on the photographic image normally with the use of a flash. The main reason that no other orbs are seen in previous or subsequent images of the same area is that the particle is at a slightly different position and angle to reflect light back from the flash or other light source. We have found that by moving the light source away from above the camera lens eliminates orbs in most cases from our photograph, which would indicate that most orbs are airborne particles directly in front of the camera lens.

Small particles of moisture can also give the same natural orb image on a photograph as can pollen or minute particles of clothing fabric (these can often be attributed to the more coloured orbs).

The above information gives an outline as to what natural reasons can produce the image of an orb on film.

Undefined Orbs

During some of our investigations we come across orbs that are not so easily explained away as natural phenomena. We have found that orbs tend to appear in more abundance on our photographs at haunted locations than non-haunted locations. At one location in particular the house was undergoing renovation and dust was apparent in every room on the floors and in the air. One room, which was oak panelled and clear of any furniture, had been cleaned for occupation the next day. This room produced orbs on every photograph all through the night. The other rooms in the house, many of which had not been cleaned and had clear evidence of dust contained no orbs on photographs. A natural explanation could be that local magnetic fields may be contributing to not only the feeling that an area is haunted but may also contribute to the air movement and therefore the distribution of dust etc. which could explain why more turn up on photographs at haunted locations

On some occasions investigation team members note visual sighting of a bright point of light. While on one of our investigations at Peterborough museum we had located an area that appeared active and asked the medium who was with us that night if he would sit in the location while we watched from the monitors around the corner. Under the infra red cameras the monitor started to show the odd orb of floating light which we assumed was possible dust at the camera lens until the medium shouted to us that he could see a moving light which he pointed too and followed its direction with his finger. While we watched the monitor this appeared to be the same orb that we had been watching on the screen.view orb image here

Although there is with out any doubt clear evidence that many orbs can be attributed to natural airborne particles, lens flare etc. further research is required to substantiate that every orb has a natural explanation.

While the debate continues as to whether orbs are sprit manifestations or simply airborne particles we will be conducting further our own research into this area and will update our findings on this page as we progress.

Research Updates

coming soon