How 'real' are orbs to you?

[hanji]

So curious how much people put stock in orbs (both photographed and video) in their investigations and findings?

Orbs seem to fall right on the line for skeptics and believers. Believers can say without a doubt that they're real, and can have pretty good evidence to back it up, yet the skeptics seems to have a equal amount of evidence to debunk various orb sighting to lens anomalies and bugs or dust.

Curious how you all felt?

Thanks!
hanji

[Kris]

It is said that that 85% of orbs are inadvertently caused by light reflections, dust, moisture in the are ect. Meaning that only 15% of orbs captured are said to be legitimate. It is hard to say for sure though. An orb creates its own light source and you can't see through it. Often they will have a little "tail" on them...kind of like a comet's tail. This will happen if the orb is in motion.

Orbs captured on video are a little easier to "prove" or debunk. Simply because dust doesn't appear from nowhere and the disappear. It doesn't stop in mid flight then change directions. Most of the time an orb caught on video appears to almost strech like a slinky when it changes direction.

Let me know if this helps on the topic of orbs.

Kris

[Smokey]

I will agree with Kris on this issue. The orb issue is a hot debate, but to those who are familiar with optics knows that most are from dust, bugs, or internal reflections of light. These orbs appear large due to the distance of the dust from the lens during a flash photo and are out of focus.

[Kris]

Smokey,

Thanks for elaberating on this topic.

[Kyle]

Also, remember, that while rare, you can sometimes see orbs with your bare eyes. I'm not aware of any dust that lights itself up.

However, I do think we have to be very thorough in our decisions of whether orb photographs and video are put into evidence. Simply because they can be so easily dismissed.

[jgreenland0153]

Then you are more likely to feel that a moving orb.... or one with a tail seen on a photo is authentic and not dust or something else?  I have caught an orb with a tail at the top of photo from VC and next shot it was mid photo. I didn't see with naked eye, but it showed on dig. photo. It was in front of a home of known child death. I feel that was paranormal. What are your thoughts?

[Smokey]

Orb pictures are very subjective. First, were you using a flash? The flash can light up bugs that are flying very fast and they appear as a bright orb with a tail. Second, is the orb evenly bright and have no shadows? Shadows are a tell-tail sign that you have caught a bug or animal. Third, can you find a reason for a light anomaly? i.e. reflections from glass or shiny metal.

After eliminating these possibilities then you are left with the question, what caused it? It may not be a spirit but it can be classified as "paranormal" or not caused by a known source.

[jgreenland0153]

Thanks for your information. I will take another look at the pic to see how I can debunk it. I want to be accuate in what I'm doing.

[jgreenland0153]

Can you explain to me what causes the light ropes seen in the cemetary evidence?

[Smokey]

I have never been present at these investigations so I do not have the answer. There are times when photographing in a dark scene that a camera that has automatic capabilities can over-expose the scene and any light that may be in the background can become "ghosted" over the rest of the image since the shutter stays open for so long. This is what causes the light to look like ribbons and the rest of the image that is being lit by the flash is clear.