Ron Hughes Theory Of Orbs In Spirit Photography

"Eliminate all possable explainations and what remains is the truth"

There are many explanations regarding the existence of Orbs by Ghost hunters and all sorts of theories as to what they may and may not be. I have literally taken and reviewed hundreds upon hundreds of photos both my own as well as those of other Ghost hunters and feel that I have reached some interesting conclusions. Ghost hunting is not an exact science by any means and information constantly changes. Learning in this field of endeavor is an ongoing process and no real theory has ever been proven. After all no one has ever returned from the dead to give the living the real story. I’m simply adding my two cents to an already overflowing pot of change.

There are several things that make the list of mistaken Orbs in ghost and spirit photography. These are as follows: dust, moisture, pixels (in digital photography) and lighting. The first of these is dust. Majorities of the places we do our ghost hunting are old and dusty. While moving around and taking pictures we stir up dust which shows up in both digital photography as well as 35mm photography. These particles of dust can be mistaken for Orbs and usually are by less experienced investigators. There are even cases of this occurring even in an outside environment due to dirt and dust being present on the ground. This type of Orb usually shows up on film as circular in shape and has a defined circumference. They can vary from light to dark in appearance and aren’t always perfectly round but still have defined edges.

The second type of false Orb is created by moisture both in the air and in the environment surrounding an area of investigation. Let’s begin with rain (even light rain). Rain shows up on film as odd shaped globs. Depending on the time of day the photo was taken rain can appear as either light globs or dark ones. These also have defined lines and are easy to discern. Humidity also plays a part in mistaken Orbs. Humidity affects digital photography as well as 35mm photography but not to the same degree in that even smaller amounts of humidity will still have a negative affect on digital photos. Lots of humidity and light fog in photos is often mistaken for ectoplasm. Digital photos appear hazy and unclear when humidity is present even in small amounts. Environmental moisture due to the presence of water near or on a site of investigation can also be deceptive because moisture is almost always present in the air which can create moisture Orbs.

Now lets discuss digital photography a bit. First of all digital photography in ghost hunting should be used as a secondary tool to 35mm photography. Its advantage is instant results, which are gratifying but this tool is still misunderstood by lots of amateur photographers. There are many variables in traditional 35mm photography but digital brings a whole new basket of learning. This is not to say digital photography isn’t useful but it’s not totally reliable by any means. The best results are usually achieved using all available tools in any investigation. Pixel Orbs are the most common and most easily seen types of Orbs. They usually occur during evening investigations from dusk into night hours. The shapes vary from camera type to camera type and can be round to octagon in shape and there are usually multiple images in one picture. They can be large or small, bright or dim in appearance. Again they have what seem to be defined lines and shapes and almost linger in the air like humidity. In actuality they are simply the result of the cameras inability to find a focal point in the darkness of a dimly lit room or on a grander scale outside. These Orbs occur when the camera captures its own flash reflection in darkness or even in dimly lit areas due to a lack of a focusable target. There is also the problem with all of the pixels not filling in properly in digital photos as well. It is not my aim to bash or discount digital photography in ghost hunting but its important to keep things in their proper perspective.

Lighting is the final factor in misunderstood Orbs. Lighting is a photographer’s friend because without a decent amount of light it’s hard to obtain the desired results in any type of photography. I understand it’s not always possible to have ideal conditions and this rarely is the case but the better the lighting the better the pictures. Dim lighting can cause pixel Orbs in digital photography as well as other mistaken phenomena. I know most ghost hunting takes place in the evening hours due to the rise in spiritual activity but its important to have the proper equipment to meet your photographic needs when beginning an investigation. We all cant afford fancy cameras and even the simplest 35mm camera will do but its important to understand much of what comes up on your film isn't always and will rarely be a ghost or spirit. If an authentic photo of a ghost exists I have yet to see it. Much of what we think are ghosts are explainable flaws in investigation techniques and environmental surroundings. I’m not saying I'm a skeptic by any means but I do try to be my own worst critic in my work. This is the only way to improve as an investigator in any arena. I have seen too many unexplainable happenings not to believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits.

In conclusion, yes I do believe it is possible to capture supernatural phenomena on film and yes there is a form of spirit energy that exists called an Orb. They are elusive and hard to capture due to their speed of motion as well as their erratic flight paths. They seem to have no discernable outline and are almost always caught in motion. They vary in shape and size and can be bright or dim .It has been my experience that the majority of them are bright due to the energy of which they are comprised. Quantum Physics certainly is not my specialty but my basic understanding tells me that Orbs are simply spirit energy or expelled energy due to movement of a spiritual being or ghostly happening. There is almost always a disturbance in electromagnetic activity related to the presence of a ghost or spirit. Its is equally important to be aware of the surroundings where this takes place due to power lines and other types of explainable phenomena. I have photos of what I feel to be authentic Orbs as well as other examples of what are mistaken as Orbs in my opinion. I will include these photos along with this article so that my point can be better understood. The most important thing to get from this entire article is that I am simply stating my point of view. My theories are simply that of an individual who has done some investigation in the area of ghost hunting photography and wants to share his information with those who are beginning this long journey. I still learn something new during each investigation and always keep an open mind in all matters concerning this field.

Thank you,

Ron E. Hughes...Paranormal Investigator

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