Orbs! Are They All Real?
By Rev. John Sullivan, NST
By Rev. John Sullivan, NST
Becoming
an informed Photographer & Viewer
Orbs - are they all real? We have been exploring this topic in several past articles. It is a question that we need to answer before we believe that every orb we photograph is spirit just waiting for us to recognize them. How do we make a determination? Some people tell me that we are weird non-believers and that's why we don't see any orbs. But that's not the truth; rather it's far from the truth. It's not necessary to believe or disbelieve; it is only necessary to scrutinize the resulting pictures to make sure we haven's included any interference: sunspots on the lens, glare from the glass in the windows, dust particles in the air, or (in the first pictures you're about to see) a way to make orbs appear that really aren't there.
Not too long ago I received a picture from the Department of Phenomenal Evidence which was taken on a cell phone. The first problem we encountered was that the cell phone has a low resolution, which does not give us enough resolution to be able to scrutinize the picture and ascertain whether it's real or not when we enlarge certain portions of the photo. So from this we learn that to accept pictures, they need to have a resolution high enough to expand the picture and to view certain areas only. Most cameras nowadays are able to complete this task, for their resolution quality is more than acceptable. Please be careful with using cell phones as cameras.
The next issue we have to deal with is the fact that most over-the-counter cameras that are used today always have the flash working. During the daylight hours when there is enough light to take an acceptable picture, it would be advisable to shut off the flash to avoid any error in the final print. Consider for a moment that the flash will in fact bounce light off of dust, mist, fog, or at night reflection from flying insects. With these facts in mind, let us begin our scientific examination of several photographs.
We're going to duplicate a photograph using hair spray to create orbs. A picture was sent to the department taken on a cell phone, and we later learned that the person taking the photo had sprayed hair spray before taking the shot. A simple cell phone was not used for the following photos; instead a 7.2 megapixel Panasonic Lumix camera was used. In picture number one, many orbs are off to the side and a conglomeration of developing orbs are in the main portion of the picture. This picture was taken seconds after the hairspray was sprayed in the room. If you look to the right at the one on the fireplace, you will notice that the orbs have distinct patterns within them. Some people would consider this to be a real orb, a reflection of the spirit energy.
Looking at picture number two, you will notice that the main conglomeration of material has dissipated, yet there are many orbs still distinctly visible in the photograph. We are able to see through the orb to the bookcase behind it and yet we know that this is a residue left over from the hairspray. Surely we can understand that we can create orbs, since particles in the air come in contact with the flash and are reflected back to the camera almost like a double exposure. It's the moisture in hairspray which reflects the light back to the camera, because it will be the first solid area the flash will hit and then it moves through to the background.
As you look at picture number three, this picture was taken by the same camera consecutively, after number one and two and there are no orbs present. I bring your attention to the TV screen. It you notice up in the right hand corner you will see, very clearly, a reflection of the chair as well as part of the couch on the opposite side of the room from the TV. Please be aware that when you start taking pictures you must scrutinize every detail so that you can be an informed investigator rather than just someone who thinks that every circle on the photograph is spirit. The glass on the front of the television makes a great reflection screen. Be careful that you don't believe every reflection is a spirit photograph. Investigate every picture you see intelligently, open to phenomena, but using common sense.
Orbs - are they all real? We have been exploring this topic in several past articles. It is a question that we need to answer before we believe that every orb we photograph is spirit just waiting for us to recognize them. How do we make a determination? Some people tell me that we are weird non-believers and that's why we don't see any orbs. But that's not the truth; rather it's far from the truth. It's not necessary to believe or disbelieve; it is only necessary to scrutinize the resulting pictures to make sure we haven's included any interference: sunspots on the lens, glare from the glass in the windows, dust particles in the air, or (in the first pictures you're about to see) a way to make orbs appear that really aren't there.
Not too long ago I received a picture from the Department of Phenomenal Evidence which was taken on a cell phone. The first problem we encountered was that the cell phone has a low resolution, which does not give us enough resolution to be able to scrutinize the picture and ascertain whether it's real or not when we enlarge certain portions of the photo. So from this we learn that to accept pictures, they need to have a resolution high enough to expand the picture and to view certain areas only. Most cameras nowadays are able to complete this task, for their resolution quality is more than acceptable. Please be careful with using cell phones as cameras.
The next issue we have to deal with is the fact that most over-the-counter cameras that are used today always have the flash working. During the daylight hours when there is enough light to take an acceptable picture, it would be advisable to shut off the flash to avoid any error in the final print. Consider for a moment that the flash will in fact bounce light off of dust, mist, fog, or at night reflection from flying insects. With these facts in mind, let us begin our scientific examination of several photographs.
We're going to duplicate a photograph using hair spray to create orbs. A picture was sent to the department taken on a cell phone, and we later learned that the person taking the photo had sprayed hair spray before taking the shot. A simple cell phone was not used for the following photos; instead a 7.2 megapixel Panasonic Lumix camera was used. In picture number one, many orbs are off to the side and a conglomeration of developing orbs are in the main portion of the picture. This picture was taken seconds after the hairspray was sprayed in the room. If you look to the right at the one on the fireplace, you will notice that the orbs have distinct patterns within them. Some people would consider this to be a real orb, a reflection of the spirit energy.
Looking at picture number two, you will notice that the main conglomeration of material has dissipated, yet there are many orbs still distinctly visible in the photograph. We are able to see through the orb to the bookcase behind it and yet we know that this is a residue left over from the hairspray. Surely we can understand that we can create orbs, since particles in the air come in contact with the flash and are reflected back to the camera almost like a double exposure. It's the moisture in hairspray which reflects the light back to the camera, because it will be the first solid area the flash will hit and then it moves through to the background.
As you look at picture number three, this picture was taken by the same camera consecutively, after number one and two and there are no orbs present. I bring your attention to the TV screen. It you notice up in the right hand corner you will see, very clearly, a reflection of the chair as well as part of the couch on the opposite side of the room from the TV. Please be aware that when you start taking pictures you must scrutinize every detail so that you can be an informed investigator rather than just someone who thinks that every circle on the photograph is spirit. The glass on the front of the television makes a great reflection screen. Be careful that you don't believe every reflection is a spirit photograph. Investigate every picture you see intelligently, open to phenomena, but using common sense.
Picture Number One
Picture Number Two
Picture Number Three