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Example of a photograph featuring an orb

The term orb is the popular name given to typically circular anomalies appearing in photographs. In photography and video, orbs appear to be balls, diamonds, or smears of light with an apparent size in the image ranging from a golfball to a basketball depending on the distance of the dust particle to the lens. Orbs sometimes appear to be in motion, leaving a trail behind them.

There are two main trains of thought regarding the cause of orbs in photographs. The first school sees it as a fairly clear-cut case of flash or ambient light reflection off of dust, particles, insects, or moisture droplets in the air in front of the camera distorted by the digital cameras CCD lens being unable to focus, i.e. they are naturalistic. The opposing school maintains that orbs are paranormal in nature and spirits, i.e. non-naturalistic and ghost like.

Some people claim^{[weasel
word sentence]} that 'paranormal' orbs are more likely to appear in certain locales, or are attracted to human actitivities, especially those involving children. The images on Internet fora devoted to orbs are taken in graveyards, backyards, attics, and kitchens, living rooms, as well as bars, convention centers, and city streets – in short, anywhere people may be taking photos. Locations in which orbs are frequently observed are often said^{[weasel
word sentence]} to be associated with other 'supernatural activity' and haunting taking place.

As orb photos may demonstrably^{[weasel
word sentence]} be gained anywhere, the position of "ghost hunters" who claim orb photos are more common in allegedly haunted areas is significantly weakened. That orb photos can be gained anywhere has, however, been adopted into the position of conspiracy theorists who maintain that orbs are probes/devices being used by an alien culture to monitor human activities.

Orb photos have become so common that some 'ghost hunting organizations' are no longer accepting submissions of them, or specifying that only "exceptional" examples be presented, yet although scientifically debunked as a modern inception with no pre-recorded example prior to the availability of CCD lens (digital camera) technology and it's inferior ability to focus, 'supernatural orbs' make up the predominant presense of 'ghost photos' on the internet. Whether this is due to the fact orbs and light artifacts are easier to generate accidentally and provide a more apt result for the photographer seeking to find controversy, or whether this is for lack of other scientifically credible 'evidence' of the paranormal is left open to debate.

Naturalistic orbs

Naturalistic orbs are most commonly gained using digital cameras and built-in flash. While photographers with archives of photos report having occasionally seen "orbs" in their photos gained with film cameras no evidence has been presented that this is not a modern light artifact error arising in CCD lenses, and the recent rise in reports of orb photos may be directly related to the common availability of digital cameras and associated rise in the number of pictures taken.

It should be noted also that the size of the camera is another consideration in the recent proliferation of orb photos. As film cameras, and then digital cameras, have steadily shrunk in size, reports of "orbs" increased accordingly. As cameras became smaller, the distance between the lens and the built-in flash also shrank, decreasing the angle of reflection back into the lens causing less focus on small light artifacts and thus an orblike appearance.

There are a number of naturalistic causes for orbs in photography and videography.

There are also orbs showing up without any "environmental" explanation i.e. no visible dust, no rain, no moisture, no snowing, no light reflections, etc.^{[citation
needed]} However it should be noted that dust particles are present in our environments at all times undetectable to the naked eye.

[edit] Solid orbs

[edit] How a solid orb is created

A solid orb, or dust orb, is created because a reflective solid 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. The pinpoint of light reflected from the dust particle that would be seen if it were at the hyperfocal distance, the distance from the film or charge-coupled device (CCD) to the object being photographed wherby the object is in focus as accurately as possible, grows into a circle of confusion with increasing distance from it.

[edit] Liquid orbs

[edit] How a liquid orb is created

A liquid orb is created because a drop of liquid, most often a rain drop, is situated near the camera lens and outside the depth of field, in other words out of focus. The pinpoint of light reflected from the drop of liquid that would be seen if it were at the hyperfocal distance, the distance from the film or CCD to the object being photographed whereby the object is in focus as accurately as possible, grows into a circle of confusion with increasing distance from it. The appearance of the circle of confusion is modified by aberrations such as chromatic aberration or coma.

They are also often caused by water or water spots remaining on the negatives during photo processing. Often simply cleaning the negative and reprinting the film will eliminate the orbs.

[edit] Non-naturalistic orbs

Sometimes termed 'spirit orbs', light artifacts are sometimes claimed to exist more densely around certain haunted regions, or claimed to be the spirits of departed loved ones. Orbs of an allegedly paranormal non-naturalistic origin have only come into knowledge over the past decade or so, due to the advent of the CCD and CMOS lenses used by digital cameras which were the first instance where dust and liquids became as visible due to the instantaneous capture method of the photosensitive diodes used, reinforcing skeptics' claims that they are merely a product of the lens.^{[citation
needed]}. As with cloud watching the inference of what orbs are are limited to the creativity of the individual, although no evidence linking orbs with the supernatural has ever been presented.

Item No	Photo of Items	Description	Price (Nett)
SPI Book 01		SPI Strange Tales - Fact or Fiction	Public Rate S$12 per book Member Rate (SPI Agents and SPI Friends, Organise4U Member) S$10 per book
SPI Book 2		SPI Files - The Singapore X Files	Public Rate S$12 per book Member Rate (SPI Agents and SPI Friends, Organise4U Member) S$10 per book
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Orb (paranormal)