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Features Archive:

2006 Archive:
The Winchester Mystery House - Ghost Chronicles
December 28, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Investigating Jane Doherty - Ghost Chronicles
December 20, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Shadow People - by Lee Prosser
December 16, 2006

Column - regular feature

The Westford Knight - Ghost Chronicles
December 15, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Haunted Real Estate by Richard Senate
December 13, 2006


Traditions Behind Christmas By Vince Wilson
December 8, 2006


The Haunted Dibbuk Box - Ghost Chronicles
December 6, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Have Ghosts? Will Travel: A Ghostgeek's Guide to the RMS Queen Mary By Jen Brown
December 4, 2006


Thanksgiving: A Day of Forgiveness - by Lee Prosser
December 1, 2006

Column - regular feature

America's Stonehenge - Ghost Chronicles
November 29, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Instrumental TransCommunication (ITC) - by Jeff Belanger
November 16, 2006


Ghost Hunt Seminar - Ghost Chronicles
November 15, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Ghost Photography: Orbs by Robbin Van Pelt
November 9, 2006


Pet Ghosts - Ghost Chronicles
November 6, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Ghosts Haunt the Inn by Richard Senate
November 3, 2006


Japanese Woman Artist - by Lee Prosser
November 1, 2006

Column - regular feature

The Ghosts of the Windham Restaurant - Ghost Chronicles
October 30, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

The Salem Witches - Ghost Chronicles
October 23, 2006

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Homan House, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: A Preliminary Report by John Sabol
October 20, 2006


What Does Halloween/Samhain Mean to You? - Compiled by Jeff Belanger
October 16, 2006


That is the Way of It - by Lee Prosser
October 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Fooling the Ghost Hunter by Richard Senate
October 11, 2006


Jack Kerouac - by Lee Prosser
October 2, 2006

Column - regular feature

Civil War Re-enactors and the Ghost Experience - by Jeff Belanger
September 15, 2006


Who Goes There in the Shadows? - by Lee Prosser
September 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Engagement and Data Analysis in Symmetrical Field Investigations by John Sabol
September 11, 2006


Occult Warfare by Richard Senate
September 6, 2006


Cats and Other Critters From Beyond the Grave - by Lee Prosser
September 1, 2006

Column - regular feature

Chicago's Strange Angles and Haunted Architecture by Ursula Bielski
August 25, 2006


I Have a Hunch: A Look at Psychics, Mediums, and Clairvoyants - by Jeff Belanger
August 16, 2006


Geof Gray-Cobb - by Lee Prosser
August 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Orbs: Have They Become that Boring? by Tuesday Miles
August 14, 2006


A Night on Char-Man Bridge by Richard Senate
August 7, 2006


Five Union Soldier Ghosts - by Lee Prosser
August 2, 2006

Column - regular feature

A Visit With Author and Witch Kala Trobe - Interview by Lee Prosser
July 26, 2006


Perceptual Stratigraphy: Making Sense of Ghostly Manifestations by John Sabol
July 24, 2006


The Trouble With Witches - by Lee Prosser
July 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

A Look at Our Haunted Lives - by Jeff Belanger
July 13, 2006


An Active Ghost Hunt at a Haunted Bed and Breakfast by Richard Senate
July 7, 2006


Lee Prosser, 1969 - by Lee Prosser
July 4, 2006

Column - regular feature

My Theory on Spirits by Edward L. Shanahan
June 28, 2006


Ethnoarchaeoghostology: A Humanistic-Scientific Approach to the Study of Haunt Phenomena by John Sabol
June 19, 2006


Christopher Isherwood & Lee Prosser in 1969 - by Lee Prosser
June 16, 2006

Column - regular feature

ESP, M&Ms, and Reality - by Jeff Belanger
June 15, 2006


A Duel on the Airwaves by Richard Senate
June 5, 2006


Marjorie Firestone and Her Dream Predictions - by Lee Prosser
June 1, 2006

Column - regular feature

Until Death Do Us Part? by Rick Hayes
May 31, 2006


Part Four: the Conclusion: Primrose Road - Adams St. Cemetery - by Marcus Foxglove Griffin
May 22, 2006

Column - regular feature

Folklore, Folklore, Folklore with Dr. Michael Bell - interview by Jeff Belanger
May 16, 2006


Swami Chetanananda and Lee Prosser - by Lee Prosser
May 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Theatre, Sance, and the Ghost Script: Performances at Haunted Locations by John Sabol
May 5, 2006


Willard David Firestone and the River Ghost - by Lee Prosser
May 1, 2006

Column - regular feature

When the Spirits Held Sway at the White House by Richard Senate
April 25, 2006


Part Three: Investigation: Primrose Road - Adams St. Cemetery - by Marcus Foxglove Griffin
April 20, 2006

Column - regular feature

Talking Reincarnation with Dr. John Gilbert - interview by Lee Prosser
April 17, 2006


Billy Bob Firestone and the Ghosts of Pythian Castle - by Lee Prosser
April 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Cryptobotany: the Search for Lost Plants by Richard Senate
April 7, 2006


The Mysteries of Druidry Book Excerpt Part 4 of 4 by Dr. Brendan Cathbad Myers
April 6, 2006


Vedanta and Durga - by Lee Prosser
April 2, 2006

Column - regular feature

The Mysteries of Druidry Book Excerpt Part 3 of 4 by Dr. Brendan Cathbad Myers
March 30, 2006


Ritual, Resonance, and Ghost Research: The Play in the Fields by John Sabol
March 27, 2006


The Mysteries of Druidry Book Excerpt Part 2 of 4 by Dr. Brendan Cathbad Myers
March 23, 2006


Celtic This, Druid That, Saint Patrick Hit Me With a Wiffle-Ball Bat - by Marcus Foxglove Griffin
March 21, 2006

Column - regular feature

The Mysteries of Druidry Book Excerpt Part 1 of 4 by Dr. Brendan Cathbad Myers
March 16, 2006


Christopher Isherwood, Time Loops, and Ghosts - by Lee Prosser
March 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Druids - by Lee Prosser
March 3, 2006

Column - regular feature

Natural Selection and the Involution of the Gettysburg Ghosts by John Sabol
February 28, 2006


Part Two: Investigation: Primrose Road - Adams St. Cemetery - by Marcus Foxglove Griffin
February 20, 2006

Column - regular feature

Lights, Camera... Action! by Brian Leffler
February 16, 2006


Divination and Geomancy - by Lee Prosser
February 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Spirit Messages from a Murderer by Richard Senate
February 8, 2006


The Ghosts of Springfield, Missouri - by Lee Prosser
February 3, 2006

Column - regular feature

The Ghost Storyteller: A Dinosaur Among Lemmings? by Charles J. Adams III
January 23, 2006


The Fools Journey: A Magickal Roadmap to Life - by Marcus Foxglove Griffin
January 20, 2006

Column - regular feature

Tarot and Spiritual Alchemy - by Lee Prosser
January 15, 2006

Column - regular feature

Demons from the Dark by Chip Coffey
January 9, 2006


Spooky - by Lee Prosser
January 3, 2006

Column - regular feature



November 9, 2006

Ghost Photography: Orbs

By Robbin Van Pelt, Professional Photographer/Paranormal Investigator

Orbs: Naturalistic, Paranormal, or Man-Made
Not all orbs are ghosts; a majority of them are actually due to other causes. There are many man-made and natural causes that can cause orbs to appear in photographs. The following is a compilation of my 26 years of technical training in photography and 22 years of paranormal research and investigation. I also found several Web sites with accurate information that I believe very useful to the reader so their information is also included in this article. 

Orbs is the name given to round (circular) anomalies that keep appearing in photographs. In photography and videography, orbs appear to be balls of light, diamonds, or smears of light with an apparent size in the image ranging from that of a nail's head to a golf ball. Orbs can sometimes appear to be in motion, have a trail, or a ribbon-like appearance. 

Most orbs seem to be transparent and either very pale blue or white. I have seen others that appear to glow in yellow, red, and/or blue.

There seems to be three main opinions regarding the cause of orbs in photographs. The naturalistic opinion holds that orbs are a clear-cut case of flash reflection off of dust particles, insects, or moisture droplets in the air in front of the camera -- meaning they are naturally occurring. An example of airborne particles would be dust floating into a beam of light -- think of opening a heavy curtain inside of a dark room. Dust can also show up in photographs as orbs, especially when dust is close to the lens and most especially with digital cameras. 

The opposing opinion maintains that orbs are paranormal in nature (i.e. non-naturalistic). An orb is believed to be the soul of a once-living person or animal, or the energy particles of a spirit.

The last view is what we call man-made. These photos are generally images that have been manipulated by computers or people trying to fake a ghost photo. Other causes are reflections from objects such as mirrors, wood, glass, and crystals that people have hanging around. When using photo paper and negatives, sometimes there are developing and printing flaws. Film can have water droplets or chemical spots. The paper itself can have damage or scratches that were not seen until development and appear as streaks of color in your photos.

Ghost investigators who post orb photographs on their Web sites often post those that are man-made or natural. Very few sites actually show real orbs because real orbs (yes there are real ones) are few and far between. 
While investigators claim that orbs are more likely to appear in haunted locations or are attracted to certain humans, the majority of images on the Internet that are devoted to orbs are taken in backyards, attics, kitchens, and bars -- basically anywhere people are taking photos.

Since orb photos seem to be obtained anywhere, the position of paranormal investigators who claim orb photos are more common in allegedly haunted areas is significantly weakened. Orb photos have become so common that some organizations are no longer accepting them. The organization that I represent, The Maryland Paranormal Investigators Coalition, no longer accepts them, except in rare circumstances.

I don't know about you, but I get frustrated watching the ghost shows on TV when they claim "look it's a ghost, the digital camera captured one and look at our video a white ball of light, an orb, just ran across the screen." These shows give the audience a false perception. The investigators are doing their jobs but Hollywood edits the programs to show what they want for the ratings, not for the facts, or proper use of equipment.

There are photographic experts out there who can give you an expert opinion using their knowledge in photography, videography, lens optics, and the color spectrum. All of their information is based off of science and years and years of study. Does this mean that we are 100% right every time? No. We weren't there when the photo was taken and we dont have access to your evidence data. There are no experts in this field no matter who claims to be one. It takes everyone in the paranormal research field to put together information that's collected on investigations and come up with a hypothesis. Any investigator can give you an opinion, but that is all you get -- "an opinion." However, there are very experienced and educated investigators out there who can point you in the right direction with answers that are researched, studied, and investigated (i.e. the right way).

In order to tell the difference between paranormal and naturalistic orbs you also need to study the evidence surrounding them at the time the photograph was taken. Evidence such as: cold spots, EMF and Trifield readings, humidity and temperature readings, odors, touches, EVP, and the personal observations of the researchers. 

There are a number of natural causes for orbs in photography and videography which include:
  • Dry partical matter such as dust, pollen, insects, etc.
  • Droplets of liquid, moisture
  • Foreign material on the camera lens 
  • Foreign material within the camera lens 
  • Foreign material within the camera body 
  • Pieces of hair hanging down in front of the lens
  • Camera lens covers on strings hanging loose 
  • Cobb webs
  • Fingers in the way

Particles such as dust and water droplets can be lit up by the flash. These particles need to be within a few centimeters of the camera lens, meaning very close in both proximity and plane as the camera lens axis. Since the air we breath is not particle free, it seems the chance of this occurring is very high. Most buildings are inhabited by microscopic flying insects that we can't see with our eyes but can be seen by the camera. They survive all year round, especially with central heating and air. Have you ever seen those little light balls on night vision video that seem to move rapidly and sporadically? In the experiments that I have conducted, I have found water droplets to be more reflective than dust particles.

A question that arises is why haven't orbs been noticed before in previous decades. There probably have been anomalous images of this sort in pictures before, but they were few and far between and considered to be merely occasional film flaws. 

How an Orb is Created
A dust orb is created because a solid, reflective, rough-textured airborne particle, such as a dust particle, is situated near the camera lens and outside the depth of field. In other words, out of focus. Some common characteristics of dust orbs in photographs may be showing some sort of nucleus due to the rough texture of the surface.


Dust particle blown up.

Orbs of a rectangular or octagonal shape are caused because an object with a shape similar to the aperture (the aperture is the hole that opens to let light through the lens) of the camera lens is out-of-focus (beyond depth of field range). The object will begin to take the shape of the aperture. 

In other words, if the aperture of the camera is a hexagon, an out-of-focus dust orb will begin to take the shape of a hexagon, particularly towards the center of the image.

Naturalistic/Man-Made Ways
The newer photographic equipment is somewhat different from that available in previous decades in at least two ways. The first is the greater distance over which flash pictures can be taken, a result of increased film sensitivity ("speed" ASA 400 or 800 film) or in the case of a digital camera or a video camera, they use a "focal plane detector array," aka CCD (a charge coupled device plays the role of film in digitals), and an increased brightness of the flash itself. The overall increase in sensitivity and flash brightness results in a reach of up to 30 feet from the camera, whereas in the past one was lucky to get a good flash picture at 8 feet. 

The second is the proximity of the flash unit to the lens, especially on the smaller cameras, being only 2-3 inches away, whereas in decades past the flash units were typically 5 or more inches away from the lens. The decreased distance between the flash and the lens means that the edge of the "beam" from the flash passes very close to the lens, decreasing the angle of reflection back into the lens.

Angle of Reflection

In the diagram above, the ray of light approaching the mirror is known as the incident ray (labeled I in the diagram). The ray of light, which leaves the mirror, is known as the reflected ray (labeled R in the diagram). At the point of incidence where the ray strikes the mirror, a line can be drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror; this line is known as a normal line (labeled N in the diagram). The normal line divides the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray into two equal angles. The angle between the incident ray and the normal is known as the angle of incidence. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is known as the angle of reflection.

Diffuse Reflection

When light strikes a rough or granular surface, it bounces off in all directions due to the microscopic irregularities. Thus, an image is not formed. This is called diffuse reflection. The exact form of the reflection depends on the structure of the surface. Diffuse interreflection is a process whereby light reflected from an object strikes other objects in the surrounding area, illuminating them. Diffuse interreflection specifically describes light reflected from objects, which are not shiny or specular. 

In real-life terms this means that light is reflected off non-shiny surfaces such as the ground, walls, or fabric, to reach areas not directly in view of a light source. If the diffuse surface is colored, the reflected light is also colored, resulting in similar coloration of surrounding objects.

Lens Flare

Lens flare from sun causing a hexagonal shape.

Another phenomena that is often mistaken for something paranormal is called "lens flare" which occurs when a bright light source (most often the sun) reflects off a portion of the lens and creates internal reflections of the aperture of the camera. Generally flare can be ruled out of most photos taken at night, but can be a problem with shooting pictures during the day. 

Slow Shutter Speed

I cannot tell you how many photos I have seen from people who say, "Look, it's paranormal -- the ghost caused it to blur." No, the ghosts did not do it. It's called a slow shutter speed. The amount of light reaching the film or CCD is known as the exposure and this is controlled by two items on a camera -- the aperture and shutter speed. 

The aperture is a variable hole in front of the lens that adjusts to let more or less light through, and the shutter speed is a cover over the film or CCD that controls the length of time that the light reaches the film. By adjusting the shutter speed you can control the movement of the subject. A fast shutter speed will freeze the subject and a slow shutter speed will make it look blurred as the subject moves. You can also combine flash with a slow speed to get movement and blur all in the same shot.

The aperture (how big or small the lens diaphragm inside a lens opens up) allows different amounts of light to fall onto film through the lens that's attached to your camera body. The shutter speed (the shutter curtain duration) controls how long it opens up to absorb the amount of light that falls onto film. 

Light
Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light). 

The three basic dimensions of light are:

  • Intensity (or amplitude), which is related to the human perception of brightness of the light, 

  • Frequency (or wavelength), perceived by humans as the color of the light, and 

  • Polarization (or angle of vibration), which is not perceptible by humans under ordinary circumstances. 

Light entering the eye is absorbed by light-sensitive pigments within the rod cells and cone cells in the retina, which creates electrochemical nerve pulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain, producing what we call vision. 

Color and Wavelength
Color results from an interaction between light, an object, and the viewer. All three elements must be present for color to exist as we know it. Light is reflected off the object and back into the viewers' eyes, this is how we see color. If you are holding a red rose and you turn away from that rose will it still be red? 

The answer is no, all 3 conditions are no longer present. 

Film cameras are based off of visible light. They can only record what's in the visible spectrum, not outside. They have faster film speeds but that only means the coatings on the film are made to be more sensitive to low light. Film has three layers which respond to green, blue, and red -- the same as the human eye. The human eye can only sense three colors, blue (B), green (G) and red (R), but through a balanced mixture of these three colors, we are able to see all colors. The camera cannot take a picture of something that's not visible, however it can see a different light angle than you. 

If two people are standing side by side and one sees a ghost and the other does not, it doesnt mean it wasn't there. The other person could be at a different angle of reflection and not be able to see it.

The light we see with our eyes is really a very small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to a person's eye ranges from 400 to 700 nanometers. This is a mere slice of the massive electromagnetic spectrum. Wavelengths are measured in nanometers, which is one-billionth of a meter. Each wave is described by its wavelength -- the length from wave crest to adjacent wave crest. We use many of the invisible waves beyond the visible spectrum in other ways -- from short wavelength x-rays, to the broad wavelengths that are picked up by our radios and televisions.


The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Our eyes have light sensors that are sensitive to the visible spectrum's wavelengths. When light waves strike these sensors, the sensors send signals to the brain. These signals are often perceived by the brain as a particular color. Exactly which color is seen depends on the composition of wavelengths in the light waves. For example, if the sensors detect all visible wavelengths at once, the brain perceives white light. If no wavelengths are detected, there is no light present and the brain perceives black.

Visible light is typically absorbed and emitted by electrons in molecules and atoms that move from one energy level to another. 

The rainbow shows the visible part of the spectrum, infrared (if you could see it) would be located just beyond the red side with ultraviolet appearing just beyond the violet end.


The intervening frequencies are seen as orange, yellow, green, and blue.

Some animals, such as bees, can see UV radiation while others, such as snakes, can see infrared light.

However, because UV is a higher frequency radiation than visible light, it very easily can cause materials to fluoresce visible light. Fluorescence is the process wherein a molecule absorbs a photon of radiant energy at a particular wavelength and then quickly re-emits the energy at a slightly longer wavelength. According to modern theory, electrons are arranged in energy levels as they circulate around the nucleus. When electrons gain or lose energy, they jump between energy levels as they are rotating around the nucleus. As electrons gain energy, they move to the third, or outer, level. As they lose energy, they move to the inner or first energy level. One of the ways a molecule can gain energy is by absorbing light. If a molecule absorbs light, the energy of the light must be equal to the energy required to put the molecule in one of the higher energy states. When a molecule reaches an excited state, it does not stay there for very long, but quickly returns to a lower energy state either by emitting light or by colliding with another atomic particle.

How Do Infrared Cameras Work?
Cameras that can detect infrared and convert it to light are called night-vision cameras or infrared cameras. These are different from image intensifier cameras, which only amplify available visible light.

Infrared and thermal energy is light that is not visible because its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye. It is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Infrared allows us to see what our eyes cannot. Thermal radiation will not be recorded by infrared film because infrared films are not sensitive to a long enough wavelength to show such things as heat patterns.

Thermal infrared imagers are detector and lens combinations that give a visual representation of infrared energy emitted by objects. Thermal infrared images let you see heat and how it is distributed. A thermal infrared camera detects infrared energy and converts it into an electronic signal, which is then processed to produce a thermal image and perform temperature calculations. Thermal imaging cameras have lenses, just like visible light cameras. But in this case the lens focuses waves from infrared energy onto an infrared sensor array. Thousands of sensors on the array convert the infrared energy into electrical signals, which are then converted into a false-color image. 

Infrared can be used as a way to measure the heat radiated by an object. This is the radiation produced by the motion of atoms and molecules in an object. The higher the temperature, the more the atoms and molecules move and the more infrared they produce. Any object that has a temperature above absolute zero (-459.67 degrees Fahrenheit); radiates in the infrared. Absolute zero is the temperature at which all atomic and molecular motion ceases. 

Even objects that we think of as being very cold, such as an ice cube, emit infrared. When an object is not quite hot enough to radiate visible light, it will emit most of its energy in the infrared. For example, hot charcoal may not give off light but it does emit infrared, which we feel as heat. The warmer the object, the more infrared it emits. We experience infrared radiation every day. The heat that we feel from sunlight, a fire, a radiator, or a warm sidewalk is infrared. Although our eyes cannot see it, the nerves in our skin can feel it as heat. The temperature-sensitive nerve endings in your skin can detect the difference between your inside body temperature and your outside skin temperature.

Infrared light may be invisible to the naked eye but most digital cameras have CCD chips that are sensitive to both the visible spectrum and the near-infrared spectrum. I've heard some digital cameras may possibly see into the UV spectrum also, I don't know that part for a fact though just hearsay at this point; I haven't tried any experiments on that end.

Video cameras with night vision capabilities seem to show orbs in motion, well bad news guys this is merely the infrared camera picking up the IR LED patterns. The LED (Light Emitting Diode) throws off a beam of light invisible to the human eye, but seen by the night vision cameras. The cause is two infrared LEDs mounted just beneath the lens on every model. These act exactly like mini headlights, sending an IR beam out to about 6ft in front of the camcorder. Sorry, no ghost here. 

Digital Cameras
The way the CCD sees the world is very different from the way we see it or a film camera sees it. We already know about the IR sensitivity of the CCD. All CCDs rely on software to construct the image from the millions of individual pixels. In consumer cameras this software needs to "compress" the raw data in order to get enough pictures onto the storage media or memory. This compression and the software compression algorithms vary, not only from different makers but even across the maker's own range of products. 

A 3 megapixel CCD actually captures less than of the total image information available within a scene when compared with a 35mm camera negative. The software has to fill in the gaps in the image by making mathematical calculations with the information from neighboring pixels, thus a single pinpoint of light in a scene may be ignored completely or seen and then "expanded" by the software as it compares and interpolates each pixel. This can cause a mix of out of place pixels to fall into places causing some people to claim to see faces and images in digital pictures because of shaded pixels.


This is a missing pixel. It's square.

Testing your camera
Use the "TV remote test" to determine if your digital camera is sensitive to infrared light. Television remote controls use infrared light to turn the TV on and off and to change channels. Aim your TV remote control at the lens of your digital camera from a few inches away, push a button on your remote, and view the image on the LCD panel (not the optical viewfinder) of the camera. If you see a white flash of light coming from the TV remote on your camera's LCD screen, you've just determined that your camera is infrared-sensitive.


IR beam off on remote control


IR beam on if camera is sensitive

Non-Naturalistic
"Spirit Orbs" are sometimes said to exist more densely around certain haunted regions or to be the spirits of departed loved ones. These types of orbs are sometimes said to have faces, often with discernable expressions and even of recognizable persons. Some feel the size of an orb indicates how great of an impact a life force had in its life time.


This is a picture of a dust orb... nothing more.

Another view of spirit orbs holds that they are non-human spirits, with blue and red orbs symbolizing angels and the devil respectively. Another interpretation of colors in orbs is sex differentiation -- blue for male spirits, and red or pink for female, or that they indicate what mood the spirit is in. If orbs are energy they should be emitting light. Spirit orbs are also felt by some to be curious friendly protectors, particularly of children. 

The paranormal belief in orbs is not so straightforward as those who believe that they are simply photographic artifacts. 

An often encountered saying is, "Orbs are considered by some people to be the simplest and most common form of a disembodied spirit," but this concept is not supported by all within the paranormal field. 

There are those who maintain that the orbs are caused by:

  • Ghosts/spirits 

  • Angels/guardian spirits 

  • Aliens 

  • "The Little People" -- elves, pixies, fairies 

  • Interdimensional beings 

Even those "true believers" who steadfastly maintain that orbs are of paranormal origin are often forced to concede that dust may be the cause of most orb photos. A subset of these believers say that they can tell the difference between "dust orbs" and "real" (spirit) orbs, sometimes from a close examination of the image, or because of how they felt or were acting at the moment the photo was taken. Some true believers say that the orbs respond to spoken requests to appear, move, or appear as different colors. 

Possible Real Orbs


Strange light in Triangular Field in Gettysburg 
(No, it's not a lightning bug.)



Supposedly haunted house.

Whatever your belief is when it comes to orb photos, things may not always be what they seem. Just keep in mind to look carefully at what you see and look around you, be more aware of your surroundings when taking a photo. Look for reflective things, don't just point and shoot, as I have seen many people do. I hope some of this information is helpful when trying to decide for yourself what is in your pictures.


Thank you to Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Jamie Henkin, and Lynda Lee Macken for helping me edit and organize this, and Vince Wilson for pushing me to write it.



Robbin Van Pelt graduated from Cecil Community College in 1986 as a Professional Photographic Laboratory Technician with a background in criminal justice, computer repair, electronics, digital imaging, and video work. She also has a certification, as a Web Graphics Designer from Harford Community College She has been involved with the paranormal since 1984. She worked for many years as a photographer for the Department of Defense.

Robbin is the founder of United States Ghosts Chasers; she is Director of Operations and Photo/Video Analyst for The Maryland Paranormal Investigators Coalition. She is Vice-President of Baltimore County Paranormal Research. Robbin uses her skills to help The Baltimore Society of Paranormal Research, Southern Ghost, and The New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society. She has investigated with Mark Nesbitt of "The Ghost of Gettysburg" fame, Troy Taylor the author of The Ghost Hunters Guide Book and 20 other ghost books, and Rosemary Ellen Guily author of The Encyclopedia of Ghost and Spirits and 30 other books on the supernatural.

Robbin was published in her 1st book written by Lynda Lee Macken called Haunted Baltimore. She is also in Ed Okonowicz's book, Baltimore Ghost and Vince Wilson's Ghost Tech and Ghost Science. She was in the October 2004 issue of Baltimore Magazine. Robbin has also appeared on the local major TV stations in Baltimore and in local papers, The Beltsville News, Capital News online and Whats Happening Baltimore Oct. 2005, FATE magazine, the TV show Creepy Canada in 2005 at the USS Constellation and Edgar Allan Poes Grave at the Westminster Catacombs. Robbin also filmed an episode for The Discovery Channel in 2006 at the Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore and is working on writing her own book called Havre De Grace Hauntings and Legends.

Informational References: 
Cool Cosmos  

Parascience: http://www.parascience.org.uk/misc/method/orbs.htm

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb_(paranormal)

The Physics Classroom: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/refln/u13l1c.html

Dr. Bruce Maccabee: http://brumac.8k.com/orb2.html

NDT Resource Center 

Kodak: http://www.kodak.com



2014 Haunted New England Wall Calendar by Jeff Belanger photography by Frank Grace
Check out the 2014 Haunted New England wall calendar by Jeff Belanger and photography by Frank Grace!


Paranormal Conferences and Lectures
Don't miss the following events and lectures:

Jeff Belanger and “The Bridgewater Triangle” at Dedham Community Theatre - April 6, 2014 9:00PM

The Spirits of the Mark Twain House - Hartford, Connecticut - April 12, 2014

Paracon Australia - East Maitland, New South Wales, Australia - May 10-12, 2014