Reflective Orb

Orbs -- there are orb photos all over the Internet, and ghost hunters everywhere are touting them as the real deal, spirit orbs, proof that ghosts exist.  Sadly, most of those orb photos are false, the product of reflection, refraction and/or pixelation.

Orbs, or globules, are a form of energy of an unknown origin, although they're thought by some paranormal researchers to be basic spirit forms. They are rarely seen with the human eye, but they can be viewed with night-vision equipment and recorded with cameras.  Unfortunately, while orbs can be photographed, they're also the most easily represented by false positives. In other words, there are a lot of things out there that will present orb-like objects in photos, and most folks can't tell the difference between false "orbs" and the real thing.

Physics gives us the law of energy conservation, which says there is a fixed amount of energy in the universe.  Just as new energy can never be created, existing energy can never be destroyed.  Since the human body is nothing more than a mass of energy, it stands to reason that the energy must move on once the physical form expires.  But where does it go?

Again, we turn to physics, which tells us a sphere has the least surface area for any given volume and therefore requires less energy to maintain surface tension.  So, it stands to reason that spirit energy, devoid of any human form, would attempt to materialize as a sphere, or orb, since that is the easiest shape to maintain.

And thus we have the theory behind orbs.  But how do you know if your photograph contains a true spirit orb or is a false positive resulting from reflection, refraction and/or pixelation? 

Reflection

True spirit orbs are just what the name implies – orbs. They're round and three-dimensional. They have shape and substance, and many contain a "nucleus" of sorts. If the object in the photograph being analyzed is flat, flat on one side or has a halo, it's more than likely the result of a reflection or lens flare. 

When I tell someone their photo only contains reflective orbs, they usually respond by telling me there was nothing reflective in the vicinity because they didn't see anything shiny when they took the photo. What most folks fail to realize is that a flash will reflect off objects most of us wouldn't normally take notice of, such as bugs, dust, pollen and road signs, just to name a few.

Also, the angle of the light entering your camera can cause a reflection on the camera's own internal mirrors – sort of a rough definition of lens flare.

Try this, photograph a flat piece of paper and a soccer ball.  See how different they look in the photo?  That's how a reflective orb will look as compared to a true orb. 

Refractive Orbs

Refraction

Refraction is when a ray of light is forced to change speed as it passes from one medium into another.  A rainbow is an excellent example of refraction.  As the sunlight passes through the moisture in the air it's presented to us as a dazzling array of color.  

Any time you're taking a photograph, be aware of rain, bodies of water, high humidity, glass or anything else in the vicinity that could cause either natural light or a flash to refract.   

If your orb is angular, looks "fuzzy" or "busy" in the middle, contains a rainbow effect or looks "bent," then it's most likely the result of light refraction and not a spirit.

Pixelation

Pixelation

Pixelation occurs in digital images when the camera tries to focus on something that is much greater detail than it's set to reproduce.  If it can't "read" all of the detail of the subject, it will interpolate the closest pixel and then produce the next pixel based on how it feels it should look.  Pixelation frequently produces fuzzy images that may present in an orb shape or fashion.  As higher-resolution digital cameras become more affordable, pixelation becomes less likely.

When you examine the orb in some type of photo software, zoom in.  If you can readily see the individual pixels, the orb is false.

Preventing False Orbs

It may be impossible to prevent all false orb photos because ghost hunters tend to shoot several photos in quick succession.  That makes it nearly impossible to look out for things that might cause an orb anomaly.  However, you can do your best to take good photos by keeping these things in mind:

• Watch for reflective surfaces such as glass, water, road signs, etc.
• Watch for things that could cause refraction, such as glass, water, etc.
• Buy a good quality digital camera.

Finally, most orb photos can be debunked and so should not be used as evidence of a ghost or spirit.  However, some orbs have been seen with the naked eye, and they do give credence to the orb theory and debate.  However, these are extremely rare, and even rarer in photographs.  So don't stop taking photos.  Just be very cautious of what you accept for evidence.

For more info: This article is by no means all that can be said to explain orbs, but it does give you an idea.  For more in-depth explanations and discussions, as well as how to take good spirit photos, check out:

• Ghosts 101: How to photograph ghosts and spirits
• The Science of Orb Photos
• How to take great orb pictures