Are Orb's real or just simply dust particals?

[tjsprt]

exactly see how easy it is to create orbs the slightest movement in a seemingly dust free room will kick up dust

[tjsprt]

Hi guys

Sandwell Paranormal Research Team are setting up a network of friends within the paranormal. We have so far gained 7 friends from around the country. It is aimed at keeping the paranormal friendly. If you would like to be part of this network please email me your banner along with web address and i will add it to our paranormal friends section of our website.

TJ

[kymmie]

I am very skeptical about "orbs" as 99.9% of them are dust, moisture particles, insects etc. This usually happens when, for example you take a photo in very dull or dark conditions with the camera flash on. The flash bounces of any particles, hence the "orb" effect. To get a true image of a photo taken, especially when doing an investigation is to take the photo without the flash on, that way you know you won't get any false or misinterpreted information from the photo.

[Paul]

Yes, without the flash on does certainly rule out most "orbs", the only problem is this isn't always possible in dark locations, but YES it does prove an interesting point. I agree that many 'orbs' are certainly lens flare, moisture, dust or insects, but from experience, I don't think all are caused by this as sometimes one can capture masses of 'orbs' on a photo, then straight after get nothing on another identical photo taken straight afterwards, also there tends to be more 'orbs' around haunted locations even when they are not particularly dusty. I have also known 'orbs' to be captured in locations that have been sealed off for sometime after all the dust is left to settle without any windows or doors open. In one location, 'orbs' then appeared on request on CCTV cameras after "asking out" from next door. The 'orbs' would stop and start on repeated requests, these 'orbs' would also change direction suddenly. The problem is it is almost impossible to prove that an 'orb' is created by paranormal activity, especially when captured as a still photograph and therefore the evidence is poor.

I personally suspect that sometimes spirits generate a tiny reflection in a similar way to dust does, this can show up as an 'orb' during a camera flash due to the aperture on the lens, but lots of 'orbs' are not caused by a spirit. Note that the lens aperture can determine the shape of the 'orb' be it circular or other shapes and these can sometimes overlap to make other shapes. The same camera is supposed to always produce the same shape 'orbs' for this theory to be true, but this isn't always true as I've seen the same camera that mainly produces hexagonal 'orbs' produce totally different shapes on occasions that certainly aren't overlapped. I continue to remain open minded to fresh opinions. My friend suspects that sometimes 'orbs' are generated by a spirit moving dust, again this is another possibility that I'm open minded about, but continues to remain unproven.

[Mobious]

This is a topic very close to my heart as you will have seen a couple of the pictures I have been able to capture. I tend to take a series of pictures together in groups of 10 because then you have a reference point and if it is dust in the air, then it will come up in a series of pictures.

If it is dust you will also get blurring around the camera because many digital cameras will try to autofocus.

I have had two seperate camera now that have both picked up things, however the most interesting feature on a camera is the red eye reduction. This generates a red light which appears to pick up etheral material.

I have a camera phone which does it as well and I found when taking pictures of my young daugher that it revealed a number of light anaomolies zooming around the room.

[Paul]

This is extremely interesting about red eye reduction actually picking up etheral material. You certainly have an excellent knowledge of photography. It's a new theory to me after 13 years of visiting haunted locations and there's doesn't appear to be much about this theory on-line either. The scientific paranormal group to which I was a member before founding BirminghamIU also didn't mention this theory and I suspect it's something most paranormal groups have missed.

BirminghamIU normally just make sure that red eye reduction is turned off so not to cause any complications later, but now we will certainly enjoy testing out this theory and will compare results with and without red eye reduction on. This will hopefully prove very interesting to examine when we have collected enough evidence.

Our newest SLR camera has full red eye reduction and will be ideal to test the theory. Our other and slightly older camera is a good compact digital camera, but although it has some red eye reduction, it doesn't work in the same or in such an effective way as the SLR camera which produces a red light.

Anyway, I hope we can compare results in future?

Many Thanks,


Paul
BirminghamIU Founder Member

[ParanormalPete]

This is extremely interesting about red eye reduction actually picking up etheral material. You certainly have an excellent knowledge of photography. It's a new theory to me after 13 years of visiting haunted locations and there's doesn't appear to be much about this theory on-line either. The scientific paranormal group to which I was a member before founding BirminghamIU also didn't mention this theory and I suspect it's something most paranormal groups have missed.

Paul
BirminghamIU Founder Member

How can you use the word scientific in the same sentence as paranormal? There is no scientific basis for this hogwash. Don't you realise that perceiving agency where there is none is a misfiring of our over-active imaginations? It is the basis for all religions. This is exactly why we use the scientific method to explain the natural phenomena. You guys want to drag us back into the dark ages with your hocus-pocus.

I suggest you take a look at this video, it will explain it better than I can.

[Paul]

ParanormalPete, we at BirminghamIU only ask people to remain open minded to other peoples opinions and ideas. It's impossible for me to change the mind of a sceptic with just words, I only ask you to investigate, experience and find out for yourself.

One can be scientific when investigating the paranormal, that's why one can study for a degree in parapsychology. The scientific method of investigating the paranormal uses only proven scientific instruments to attempt to find something that cannot be explained using today's science. E.g. One might use a Gauss Meter (Electromagnetic Field Meter). One would eliminate background Electro Magnetic Field (E.M.F.) and if for instance one suddenly recorded a high level of E.M.F. with no explainable cause, then it's not explainable, unknown or paranormal in cause. Science will never say it's caused by a spirit or a ghost as this isn't proven, to science you have only discovered some sort of anomaly that can't be explained. Another example is if one captures what appears to be a human voice on a audio recording device in a locked off room under controlled conditions or perhaps unexplained light anomalies caught on camcorders that can be analysed. Every piece of scientific evidence is thoroughly scrutinised and most alleged evidence can be eventually explained or has a possible scientific explanation, but a small amount of evidence cannot be explained and falls under the category of "the unexplained".

Throughout recent centuries, man has made new scientific discoveries. Many new discoveries or scientific theories where once laughed at. Imagine if you could go back 200 years and show someone an Infra-red remote control turning on an electric device such as a TV. They would think it was magical, but this is now explainable science and acceptable today. I could bring up numerous examples of discoveries that would once be seen as magical that are now accepted. In the same way, science still has lots to discover, if you could travel forward in time a few hundred years, you are likely to see things that you would think are impossible or magical that would simply be accepted then. It's one main goal of most paranormal investigation and research groups like BirminghamIU to help towards proving the existence of life after death by capturing evidence of ghosts or spirits. The second main goal is to help people, including people that might have passed on.

A "religion" is defined as a group of people with the same beliefs, so yes, the belief in the paranormal is a type of religion and can be linked to spiritualism and sometimes other religions too including some ancient religions. Psychic investigation techniques are officially unproven methods for investigating the paranormal that are officially related to religion more than scientific fact, but I have discovered over time that many of these so called 'unproven' techniques really do work although to anyone who hasn't experienced this first hand, it's understandable that they'd be very sceptical. I will only advise that you find out more about psychic techniques and try to keep an open mind, discover and find out for yourself, that's all I can say.

If a person chooses not investigate the paranormal using scientific or psychic techniques, but continues to insist that the paranormal doesn't exist, they are in my opinion making an assumption without any personal experience to back it up. Investigate yourself, find out yourself.

In my opinion, what makes the belief in spirits or spiritualism different to many religions, is one can actually discover and see the proof for yourself rather than relying on faith. Buddhism is another religion that has spiritual traits and asks you to find out for yourself, they only provide you the techniques. I have been investigating paranormal activity since 1996 and I have most certainly seen masses of evidence that spirits most certainly do exist including scientific proof. I have also seen masses of evidence that psychic investigation techniques do exist and do work, although sadly I believe there are some scam artists around giving reputable people a bad name. In 1996 I was quite sceptical myself, but I'm so glad I kept an open mind. Incidentally one can believe in the paranormal and/or spiritualism and can still be part of other religions, for instance, Christianity, but you can believe in the paranormal and remain a atheist.

I agree with some of what Andy Thomson says in the video you linked to above, but in my opinion it is different where there is actual proof that proves a belief. I don't rely on faith, I don't just believe in something from other people, I believe what I have actually discovered, experienced and seen for myself. For instance I saw an apparition of a person disappear suddenly without explanation, this isn't a faith or belief, this is an anomaly that I witnessed personally. I could write pages and pages of what I have personally witnessed. I have been given a new theory to investigate, but I won't believe the theory until it's been investigated and I have seen the proof myself, but it is important to stay open minded.