SPIRIT Paranormal Investigations

"Your guide to the other side"

Explosion 1: Sponsor SpiritPI

Text Box: UNDERSTANDING ORBS

$Text Box: They are without a doubt the most controversial subject in ghost hunting today. These glowing spherical balls captured on both film and video, are potentially linked to an unknown form of paranormal energy, as well as dust, pollen, water droplets, or other airborne particles. What we do know about these intriguing light balls is that they can be bright or dim, solid or ringed, big or small, white or colored, vibrating, streaking or standing still. They also appear to be captured more frequently on the relatively new technology of digital cameras. What is still not known, at least with paranormal orbs, is exactly what causes them and why they seem to be captured more abundantly in haunted locations or areas of increased paranormal activity. There has been much research and study performed over the past few years but opinions vary widely and the truth is still not fully understood. Some industry experts such as Sony's Technical Department have actually performed there own formal analysis. At the conclusion of the research, Sony officials could only claim that orbs, as well as ectoplasm (ghost mist), are not a byproduct or defect with digital cameras. SpiritPI has done some testing of our own and we have concluded that the most common form of orbs is caused by dust. We believe that most orbs in photos, perhaps as much as 90 - 95%, are in fact dust. Dust orbs can look very much like paranormal orbs and it can be extremely hard to tell the difference. This is why even experienced investigators often confuse dust with real paranormal orbs. As a result of our analysis we have come up with the following criteria to try and help determine orbs which we believe to be paranormal: - Orbs partially blocked by other objects - Orbs with a vibrating look to them - Very-very minimal amount of orbs in photo The following is what we believe to be dust orbs: - Light colored orbs - Orbs with inner diffraction rings and a thicker outer crust - Orbs with an extremely bright and thick center (not smokey or milky looking) - Pictures with several to many orbs in them As an example, the pictures shown below illustrate what we believe to be a true paranormal energy orb and one that was caused by dust. Of course you can come up with your own analysis and theories and in fact we encourage ghost hunters to do their own research and share it with the rest of the ghost hunting community. We just believe that our colleagues should be more cautious with the claims that every orb captured in photos are real "Spirit Orbs" and try and be a little more judgmental. That way our community can become a little more respected for the amazing photographic evidence that we are capturing today proving the existence of real paranormal activity. So until we can clearly solve the mystery of the orb - the controversy will continue to rage on..... (SEE BELOW FOR SOME ORB PHOTO SAMPLES)$

Paranormal Orb

Dust Orb