What is an Orb? The following explanation comes from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The term orb is the popular name given to typically circular anomalies appearing in photographs. In Spanish language they're commonly referred as canoplas. In photography and video, orbs appear to be balls, diamonds, or smears of light with an apparent size in the image ranging from a gulf ball to a basketball. Orbs sometimes appear to be in motion, leaving a trail behind them.
There are mainly two schools of thought regarding the cause of orbs in photographs or video. The first school sees it as a fairly clear-cut case of flash or
IR reflection off of dust, particles, insects, or moisture droplets in the air in front of the camera, i.e. they are naturalistic. The opposing school maintains that orbs are paranormal in nature, i.e. non-naturalistic and ghost like.
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 its inferior ability to focus, 'supernatural orbs' make up the predominant presence 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.
Certain beliefs are that there are orbs, glowing balls of light, that exist naturally from collected energy (balls of energy). These energy balls may be a natural existance in our environment, however many believe that the paranormal may feed into that energy to help with manifestation.
Some people claim that paranormal orbs are more likely to appear in certain locales, or are attracted to human activities, especially those involving children. The images on the Internet forums 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.
As orb photos may demonstrably 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.
We feel that it is up to you to make your own conclusion on what your belief is.
Naturalistic orbs
Naturalistic orbs are most commonly gained using digital cameras with a built-in flash. While photographers with archives of photos report having occasionally seen "orbs" in their photos gained with film cameras, 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.
There are a number of naturalistic causes for orbs in photography and videography.
** Solid orbs - Dry particulate matter such as dust, pollen, insects, etc.
** Liquid orbs - Droplets of liquid, usually water, e.g. rain.
** Foreign material on the camera lens
** Foreign material within the camera lens
** Foreign material within the camera body
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.
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 hyper focal distance, the distance from the film or charge-coupled device (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.
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, fueling skeptics claims that they are merely a product of the lens.
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 hyper focal 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.
Orbs are usually seen through the lens of a camera.
They are also often caused by water or water spots remaining on the negatives during photo processing. Often times simply cleaning the negative and reprinting the film will eliminate the orbs.
Non-naturalistic orbs or spirit orbs
Spirit orbs are sometimes claimed to exist more densely around certain haunted regions, or to be the spirits of departed loved ones. These types of orbs are sometimes claimed by paranormal enthusiasts to have faces, sometimes with discernible expressions and sometimes of recognizable persons.
If you believe in the theory that orbs can be the product of spirit energy and that an orb can be the soul of a once living person or animal that appears in photographs as a spherical shaped light.
What do the colors of orbs mean?
No one truly knows the answer to that questions, but there are a lot of people who have different beliefs. In our opinion, we feel at least 99% of orbs appearing are due to natural causes (dirt, dust, pollen, moisture, lens flare, etc). Some people believe that the different colored orbs mean different things. Here are some opinions of the 'meanings or descriptions' of the different orb colors from others:
White is an Angelic Being. High frequency, protection and shielding.
Red means stress or restlessness.
Clear Red means high energy.
Deep Red could mean the person/spirit passed in a violent manner, anger.
Peach means the ability to comfort.
Orange means healing energy.
Gold means free flowing energy and tolerance.
Yellow means caution.
Yellow green mean psychic growth.
Green means healing, fertility.
Turquoise means amusement, neutrality.
Light Blue means tranquility.
Pilot Light Blue means shielding.
Dark Blue means shielding, shyness, survivor instinct.
Lavender means at peace with God.
Purple means stored information.
Violet means seeking spiritual.
Silver means telekinetic power.
Brown means a connection to the earth.
Some say the colors represent the manner of passing the soul experienced, however this is something that we will never really know. Some say orbs are nothing more than camera glitches and products of the environment (dust, moisture, pollen, insects, etc), others believe them to be of a paranormal origin. Again, we feel that it is up to you to make your own conclusion on what your belief is regarding orbs.
