Orbs

roxics · 4th March 2012, 10:08 PM

I'm skeptical about most paranormal topics but my girlfriend has told a story about seeing orbs in her friends room when she was a teenager. These little faint colored lights that danced around in the air but didn't light up anything around them.

I asked her about several details but it was so long ago she doesn't remember a lot, except to say that the room was pitch black, he friend woke her and asked her if she could see them, the single window in the room was blacked out and no other light sources.

About six months ago my buddy told me about a orb in his kitchen. He described it to me in much the same way she did, but he saw only one and the lights were on. He thought it was a bubble or something at first and put his finger under it to see it rise up before he could touch it. He figured the heat from his finger made it rise. But then it began to dance around.

I was about ready to blow off the story until he said he shot video of it on his smart phone. He showed me the video on his phone. I asked him if it was doctored at all and he said this was the raw video from the phone. I have to take his word for it but i have no reason to disbelieve him.

I was kind of shocked. I figured it was a little bubble like he described it would not show up on video, especially off and old android phone.

On video it was fairly easy to see at times. It looked like a little white light and did not move like a floating bubble.

I wasn't sure what to make of this video, his story or my girlfriends story about her sighting years ago.

Does anyone have any more info on this topic? Most internet searches result in paranormal sites that are already biased toward these things.

My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why. Otherwise I'd link you too it. I've already advised him that he should share it with some people like some trusted skeptics.

MG1962 · 4th March 2012, 10:19 PM

Not enough data

philkensebben · 4th March 2012, 10:20 PM

Orbs are spirits of the recently departed, but look surprisingly like insects or dust on camera lenses simply as part of a collective afterworld practical joke on the living.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 4th March 2012, 11:51 PM

I don't have enough information to comment on the personal anecdotes. Your girlfriend could be mistaken, her memory could be false, she could have dreamed it, etc. Your friend could be lying to wind you up, he could be mistaken, etc.

WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way.

bluesjnr · 5th March 2012, 02:39 AM

Your friends reluctance to share what would, by your account, be a remarkable video is telling.

SezMe · 5th March 2012, 02:53 AM

Welcome to the forums, roxics. I suggest that your friend register here and explain in this thread why he won't post his video.

paiute · 5th March 2012, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by roxics

My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why.

Really? I'm entirely sure why.

Malfie Henpox · 5th March 2012, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by paiute

Really? I'm entirely sure why.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It's possessed by the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian?

alfaniner · 5th March 2012, 04:47 AM

Dust.

aggle-rithm · 5th March 2012, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way.

Digital cameras can "see" wavelengths of light that the human eye cannot. For instance, they can pick up the infrared signal from a remote control.

I'm not saying that's the explanation, but it's a possibility.

roxics · 5th March 2012, 07:41 AM

It's been months since I saw the video myself. I watched it twice and the last time was at a halloween party where he showed a couple people off his phone.

I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare.

That said, we are human and we can be fooled ourselves. I would love to get my hands on the footage, adjust some levels and play around with it just to see how the footage bends.

The one thing I do remember about it is how it seemed to be emitting light, yet when it passed in front of a dark doorway it did not light up anything around it. When my girlfriend told me about the orbs she saw she said the same thing, they admit light but did not light up anything around them.

This does not make any sense to me. In order for either the human eye or a camera to pick them up, the light must be hitting the cones of the eye or the sensor of the camera. Thus is must also hit other objects in 3D space. That's how light works. It's not selective about what it bounces off of.

I'm sure if I had some time with the footage I would be able to determine that the orb was either reflecting light or not bright enough to light up anything in the surrounding area in an already lit room. At least precievably.

Last I talked to him he said he wanted to send the footage into Ghost Hunters for them to review. I cringed at that. That's when I told him he should send it into some type of skeptical society for analysis as well. But I get the feeling he wants to believe whatever he captured is something paranormal. But he's not raving about it left and right or motivated enough to send it anywhere. He seems fairly content just keeping it on his phone and showing it to people every so often when the subject comes up.

As for myself, I just want to know what it is, because it was peculiar enough to me I didn't know what to make of it.

My girlfriend is another story. She's told me about seeing ghosts and being lead to the remains of a dead person when she was a teenager. I love my girlfriend, but I know her teenage years were a little messy. She knows I don't really believe her stories. She's not even sure what to make of them herself now. Today she's a pretty adament atheist and skeptical about a lot of things. But she still believes what she saw was real back then. I'm still trying to figure out how someone can become skeptical and an atheist after seeing stuff like that and believing it was real. None of this is adding up for me.

Stray Cat · 5th March 2012, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by roxics

I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare.

That'll be because it wasn't 10+ feet away.

Of course, like others have already said, we can't make any firm conclusions based on your story. And as you've already started adding information to it (unless your friend has ten foot long arms), it's highly likely it will keep changing to rule out anyone's explanation.

Akhenaten · 5th March 2012, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by roxics

None of this is adding up for me.

Good news! You're not alone!

23_Tauri · 5th March 2012, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Stray Cat

That'll be because it wasn't 10+ feet away.

Of course, like others have already said, we can't make any firm conclusions based on your story. And as you've already started adding information to it (unless your friend has ten foot long arms), it's highly likely it will keep changing to rule out anyone's explanation.

I see you have another sealed envelope there, Stray Cat. Even though it's more than ten feet away from where I am sitting, I can 'see' what is written on the card inside.....

You don't believe me?

Resume · 5th March 2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by roxics

That said, we are human and we can be fooled ourselves.

Congratulations. You have very likely solved both mysteries in one short sentence.

GrandMasterFox · 5th March 2012, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by roxics

I asked him if it was doctored at all and he said this was the raw video from the phone. I have to take his word for it but i have no reason to disbelieve him.

Question:
Do you know of at least 1 person ever that fell for a practical joke?
Do you think they thought to themselves:
"Well, I have every reason to doubt that but I'll still believe for some reason"

or did you think too that they have no reason to doubt?

Also, if you'll search this place, you'll find previous threads about people who swore their friends would never do that only to present the images\videos and then being sent to links to apps for mobiles that you can download to prank your friends about ghosts...

Originally Posted by roxics

My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why.

He could win a fortune just by selling it to various tabloids and such, let alone win a nobel prize (or probably something similiar) yet he chooses not to?

Hang on while I'll consult a psychic to find out why

phunk · 5th March 2012, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

I don't have enough information to comment on the personal anecdotes. Your girlfriend could be mistaken, her memory could be false, she could have dreamed it, etc. Your friend could be lying to wind you up, he could be mistaken, etc.

WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way.

Film cameras also. Especially with a built in flash that's near the lens.

ufology · 5th March 2012, 12:41 PM

I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. I've also heard reports of small ones, but for those I'm sure someone here will suggest the possibility of fireflies ( if they already haven't ).

Akhenaten · 5th March 2012, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by ufology

I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. I've also heard reports of small ones, but for those I'm sure someone here will suggest the possibility of fireflies ( if they already haven't ).

That wouldn't be the one that's already under discussion in the Moderated Continuation - UFOs: The Research, the Evidence thread, would it?

AdMan · 5th March 2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light.

Or by it being a hoax.

Resume · 5th March 2012, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by ufology

I know big orbs exist because I've seen one.

The sun?

roxics · 5th March 2012, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by GrandMasterFox

Question:
Do you know of at least 1 person ever that fell for a practical joke?
Do you think they thought to themselves:
"Well, I have every reason to doubt that but I'll still believe for some reason"

or did you think too that they have no reason to doubt?

Also, if you'll search this place, you'll find previous threads about people who swore their friends would never do that only to present the images\videos and then being sent to links to apps for mobiles that you can download to prank your friends about ghosts...

He could win a fortune just by selling it to various tabloids and such, let alone win a nobel prize (or probably something similiar) yet he chooses not to?

Hang on while I'll consult a psychic to find out why

I don't believe it was anything paranormal. But I also don't believe it was dust, lens flares or fireflies. I'm not sure what it was. The first thing I thought was whether it could be an app or a digital composite. Which is why I asked him if it was doctored. Although I know he doesn't do any video compositing himself. I believe him when he says it wasn't. He's not some teenage prankster. He's a forty something, married with two kids and a respectable professional. But like I said I don't believe it was super natural. I was looking for some other type of optical explanation. That's why I was hoping maybe you guys ran accross something like this before.

But I realize it's a long shot especially since I don't have the video to show. oh well, thanks for your feedback any.

Brattus · 5th March 2012, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by roxics

I don't believe it was anything paranormal. But I also don't believe it was dust, lens flares or fireflies. I'm not sure what it was. The first thing I thought was whether it could be an app or a digital composite. Which is why I asked him if it was doctored. Although I know he doesn't do any video compositing himself. I believe him when he says it wasn't. He's not some teenage prankster. He's a forty something, married with two kids and a respectable professional. But like I said I don't believe it was super natural. I was looking for some other type of optical explanation. That's why I was hoping maybe you guys ran accross something like this before.

But I realize it's a long shot especially since I don't have the video to show. oh well, thanks for your feedback any.

Well I don't believe it either. BUT! My friends cousins next door neighbors 2nd wifes new husbands friends co workers dog groomer has seen a video just like you described.
How can anyone question evidence like that?

bruto · 5th March 2012, 03:10 PM

Cameras under various conditions produce all sorts of artifacts, and they're almost always explicable if you seek an explanation in the right place. If you can't quite figure out what it is, but it only appears on certain cameras, I see no reason to suspect it of being anything but an artifact unless you have some compelling reason to believe otherwise.

I once posted the picture below on a thread here just as a joke during a debate with a wonderfully silly fellow who believed in orbs, shape-shifting paranormal yetis, and a few other rather strange things ("Historian," now banned, sadly for those of us who cannot resist low hanging fruit). He pronounced it a very good orb, and analyzed its spiritual meaning, declaring that it was a protective one, and that little Teddy need not worry.

teddy with orb.jpg

Squeegee Beckenheim · 5th March 2012, 03:17 PM

All I know is: that was no light show we saw this morning. I've seen every kind of combustion known to man, but this beats the hell out of me.

AdMan · 5th March 2012, 03:20 PM

I managed to photograph orbs at TAM 8.

steve s · 5th March 2012, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by roxics

It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away.

Dust appears as very large orbs because it is badly out of focus and it's much closer to the lens than the subject that you're focusing on.

Here's an example I found the other day while cruising a model railroading forum. Look at how big some of those orbs are. Those are all tiny specks of dust.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...p/IMG_5308.jpg

Steve S

MRC_Hans · 5th March 2012, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by roxics

It's been months since I saw the video myself. I watched it twice and the last time was at a halloween party where he showed a couple people off his phone.

So your friend won't share that video ... except at parties and such. Yeah.

Quote:

I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those.

I'll bet you half a million $ it was.

Quote:

Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away.

Is it a 3D camera? If not how can you have even an idea of the distance?

Quote:

It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare.

No, it was no doubt an orb. Orbs is a perfectly well-known and simple phenomenon that is caused by brightly lit particles that are out of focus because they are close to the lens. IF you really, really work with photography, you should know.

Orbs are most common on shots made with compact cameras (digital or not) with built-in flash. This is, obviously because this flash is close to the lens and will brightly illuminate small dust particles near the lens.

However, orbs can come under other conditions, too. You can even occasionally see orbs with yor own eyes.

Hans

John Albert · 5th March 2012, 04:30 PM

It's out-of-focus dust until you show evidence to prove otherwise.

Audible Click · 5th March 2012, 04:33 PM

John Albert and I have the same definition of orbs, what a coinkydink!

JimOfAllTrades · 5th March 2012, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Audible Click

John Albert and I have the same definition of orbs, what a coinkydink!

This could be something paranormal, I have the same definition as well!

SamWilkinson · 5th March 2012, 04:56 PM

Does anyone know of any paranormal film, book, TV show or anything that existed before digital cameras which discussed orbs as a paranormal phenomenon?

steve s · 5th March 2012, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by SamWilkinson

Does anyone know of any paranormal film, book, TV show or anything that existed before digital cameras which discussed orbs as a paranormal phenomenon?

As someone else pointed out, orbs have nothing to do with it being a digital camera. A film camera will do the same thing. What causes it is the fact that the flash on cheap point-and-shoot cameras tends to be right next to the lens. This is why professional wedding photographers using a large bracket to hold the flash up away from the lens.

Steve S

MRC_Hans · 5th March 2012, 08:09 PM

Perhaps we should stay on topic. This thread is about orbs.

UFO photos can be discussed in a thread for that.

Hans

The Norseman · 5th March 2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by ufology

I know big orbs exist because I've seen one.

Originally Posted by Resume

The sun?

Yeah, that's what the scientists want you to think! But any old fool can look at the thing and plainly see it's flat like a pancake!

bruto · 6th March 2012, 06:46 AM

I dug a pond a few years ago and now am growing farm raised orbs.

pond with orbs.jpg

alfaniner · 6th March 2012, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by MRC_Hans

Perhaps we should stay on topic. This thread is about orbs.

Yeah, I really loved his song "Pretty Woman".

roxics · 6th March 2012, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by MRC_Hans

Is it a 3D camera? If not how can you have even an idea of the distance?

I'm taking it on my friends word, as he saw it in person in 3D vision with his eyes. So unless he is lying to me, which I doubt but is a definite possibility, I have to assume it's not dust on a lens.

I know a lot of you are having fun poking at the situation with full skeptical bravado, that's cool. I'm not trying to convince anyone it's something out of this world. But I'm having fun as an experiment trying to figure out what it could be aside from dust, lens flares and other camera optic anomolies.

Resume · 6th March 2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by roxics

.
I know a lot of you are having fun poking at the situation with full skeptical bravado, that's cool. I'm not trying to convince anyone it's something out of this world. But I'm having fun as an experiment trying to figure out what it could be aside from dust, lens flares and other camera optic anomolies.

Not to be rude but what do you expect from a skeptic's forum regarding fifth-rate paranormal hokum like orbs?

Squeegee Beckenheim · 6th March 2012, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by roxics

I know a lot of you are having fun poking at the situation with full skeptical bravado, that's cool. I'm not trying to convince anyone it's something out of this world. But I'm having fun as an experiment trying to figure out what it could be aside from dust, lens flares and other camera optic anomolies.

Well, what do you suppose it could be? There's nothing that's currently known to behave in the way you describe, and you've dismissed any explanations offered. What's your hypothesis?

4th March 2012, 10:08 PM	#1
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5	Orbs I'm skeptical about most paranormal topics but my girlfriend has told a story about seeing orbs in her friends room when she was a teenager. These little faint colored lights that danced around in the air but didn't light up anything around them. I asked her about several details but it was so long ago she doesn't remember a lot, except to say that the room was pitch black, he friend woke her and asked her if she could see them, the single window in the room was blacked out and no other light sources. About six months ago my buddy told me about a orb in his kitchen. He described it to me in much the same way she did, but he saw only one and the lights were on. He thought it was a bubble or something at first and put his finger under it to see it rise up before he could touch it. He figured the heat from his finger made it rise. But then it began to dance around. I was about ready to blow off the story until he said he shot video of it on his smart phone. He showed me the video on his phone. I asked him if it was doctored at all and he said this was the raw video from the phone. I have to take his word for it but i have no reason to disbelieve him. I was kind of shocked. I figured it was a little bubble like he described it would not show up on video, especially off and old android phone. On video it was fairly easy to see at times. It looked like a little white light and did not move like a floating bubble. I wasn't sure what to make of this video, his story or my girlfriends story about her sighting years ago. Does anyone have any more info on this topic? Most internet searches result in paranormal sites that are already biased toward these things. My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why. Otherwise I'd link you too it. I've already advised him that he should share it with some people like some trusted skeptics.
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5

4th March 2012, 11:51 PM	#4
Squeegee Beckenheim Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4,246	I don't have enough information to comment on the personal anecdotes. Your girlfriend could be mistaken, her memory could be false, she could have dreamed it, etc. Your friend could be lying to wind you up, he could be mistaken, etc. WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

5th March 2012, 02:39 AM	#5
bluesjnr Professional Nemesis for Hire Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Not where I should be. Posts: 2,164	Your friends reluctance to share what would, by your account, be a remarkable video is telling.
	__________________ A baby smoking? That's child abuse - UncaYimmy Your avatar really cracked me up the first hundred or so times I saw it...Now, it gets on my nerves.. - Skeptical Greg

5th March 2012, 04:10 AM	#7
paiute Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Smack in the middle of a de Broglie wavelength. Posts: 1,137	Originally Posted by roxics My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why. Really? I'm entirely sure why.
	__________________ A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Cadaverine Organic chemistry, vengeful ghosts, and high explosives. What could possibly go wrong? Now free for download! http://www.scribd.com/doc/36568510/A...-of-Cadaverine

5th March 2012, 04:47 AM	#9
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,377	Dust.
	__________________ Science doesn't lie.

4th March 2012, 10:19 PM	#2
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Not enough data

4th March 2012, 10:20 PM	#3
philkensebben Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,830	Orbs are spirits of the recently departed, but look surprisingly like insects or dust on camera lenses simply as part of a collective afterworld practical joke on the living.

5th March 2012, 02:53 AM	#6
SezMe post-pre-born Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 16,361	Welcome to the forums, roxics. I suggest that your friend register here and explain in this thread why he won't post his video.

5th March 2012, 04:25 AM	#8
Malfie Henpox Banned Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3,812	Originally Posted by paiute Really? I'm entirely sure why. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It's possessed by the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian?

5th March 2012, 05:37 AM	#10
aggle-rithm Ardent Formulist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14,149	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way. Digital cameras can "see" wavelengths of light that the human eye cannot. For instance, they can pick up the infrared signal from a remote control. I'm not saying that's the explanation, but it's a possibility.
	__________________ To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion. Woo's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be adequately explained by aliens.

5th March 2012, 07:41 AM	#11
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5	It's been months since I saw the video myself. I watched it twice and the last time was at a halloween party where he showed a couple people off his phone. I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare. That said, we are human and we can be fooled ourselves. I would love to get my hands on the footage, adjust some levels and play around with it just to see how the footage bends. The one thing I do remember about it is how it seemed to be emitting light, yet when it passed in front of a dark doorway it did not light up anything around it. When my girlfriend told me about the orbs she saw she said the same thing, they admit light but did not light up anything around them. This does not make any sense to me. In order for either the human eye or a camera to pick them up, the light must be hitting the cones of the eye or the sensor of the camera. Thus is must also hit other objects in 3D space. That's how light works. It's not selective about what it bounces off of. I'm sure if I had some time with the footage I would be able to determine that the orb was either reflecting light or not bright enough to light up anything in the surrounding area in an already lit room. At least precievably. Last I talked to him he said he wanted to send the footage into Ghost Hunters for them to review. I cringed at that. That's when I told him he should send it into some type of skeptical society for analysis as well. But I get the feeling he wants to believe whatever he captured is something paranormal. But he's not raving about it left and right or motivated enough to send it anywhere. He seems fairly content just keeping it on his phone and showing it to people every so often when the subject comes up. As for myself, I just want to know what it is, because it was peculiar enough to me I didn't know what to make of it. My girlfriend is another story. She's told me about seeing ghosts and being lead to the remains of a dead person when she was a teenager. I love my girlfriend, but I know her teenage years were a little messy. She knows I don't really believe her stories. She's not even sure what to make of them herself now. Today she's a pretty adament atheist and skeptical about a lot of things. But she still believes what she saw was real back then. I'm still trying to figure out how someone can become skeptical and an atheist after seeing stuff like that and believing it was real. None of this is adding up for me.
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5

5th March 2012, 08:10 AM	#12
Stray Cat Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Land That Time Forgot Posts: 6,504	Originally Posted by roxics I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare. That'll be because it wasn't 10+ feet away. Of course, like others have already said, we can't make any firm conclusions based on your story. And as you've already started adding information to it (unless your friend has ten foot long arms), it's highly likely it will keep changing to rule out anyone's explanation.
	__________________ It's only my madness that stops me from going insane! Last edited by Stray Cat; 5th March 2012 at 08:20 AM. Reason: Typo fixed

5th March 2012, 08:17 AM	#13
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,620	Originally Posted by roxics None of this is adding up for me. Good news! You're not alone!
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

5th March 2012, 08:35 AM	#14
23_Tauri Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Posts: 4,947	Originally Posted by Stray Cat That'll be because it wasn't 10+ feet away. Of course, like others have already said, we can't make any firm conclusions based on your story. And as you've already started adding information to it (unless your friend has ten foot long arms), it's highly likely it will keep changing to rule out anyone's explanation. I see you have another sealed envelope there, Stray Cat. Even though it's more than ten feet away from where I am sitting, I can 'see' what is written on the card inside..... You don't believe me?
	__________________ Little Miss Witchcraft, she's not made of straw.

5th March 2012, 08:42 AM	#15
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,010	Originally Posted by roxics That said, we are human and we can be fooled ourselves. Congratulations. You have very likely solved both mysteries in one short sentence.
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,010

5th March 2012, 08:43 AM	#16
GrandMasterFox Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,315	Originally Posted by roxics I asked him if it was doctored at all and he said this was the raw video from the phone. I have to take his word for it but i have no reason to disbelieve him. Question: Do you know of at least 1 person ever that fell for a practical joke? Do you think they thought to themselves: "Well, I have every reason to doubt that but I'll still believe for some reason" or did you think too that they have no reason to doubt? Also, if you'll search this place, you'll find previous threads about people who swore their friends would never do that only to present the images\videos and then being sent to links to apps for mobiles that you can download to prank your friends about ghosts... Originally Posted by roxics My buddy won't share or release the video. Not entirely sure why. He could win a fortune just by selling it to various tabloids and such, let alone win a nobel prize (or probably something similiar) yet he chooses not to? Hang on while I'll consult a psychic to find out why

5th March 2012, 08:47 AM	#17
phunk Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,908	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim I don't have enough information to comment on the personal anecdotes. Your girlfriend could be mistaken, her memory could be false, she could have dreamed it, etc. Your friend could be lying to wind you up, he could be mistaken, etc. WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. They're an artefact generated by digital cameras when they capture light in a certain way. Film cameras also. Especially with a built in flash that's near the lens.
phunk Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,908

5th March 2012, 12:41 PM	#18
ufology Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Calgary Canada Posts: 2,561	I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. I've also heard reports of small ones, but for those I'm sure someone here will suggest the possibility of fireflies ( if they already haven't ).
	__________________ USI Calgary

5th March 2012, 12:51 PM	#19
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,620	Originally Posted by ufology I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. I've also heard reports of small ones, but for those I'm sure someone here will suggest the possibility of fireflies ( if they already haven't ). That wouldn't be the one that's already under discussion in the Moderated Continuation - UFOs: The Research, the Evidence thread, would it?
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

5th March 2012, 12:54 PM	#20
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,155	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim WRT the video, again it's hard to say anything without actually seeing it, but I've never seen a video of orbs which couldn't be explained by dust being caught in the light. Or by it being a hoax.
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,155	__________________ It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan

5th March 2012, 01:25 PM	#21
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,010	Originally Posted by ufology I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. The sun?
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,010

5th March 2012, 02:16 PM	#22
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5	Originally Posted by GrandMasterFox Question: Do you know of at least 1 person ever that fell for a practical joke? Do you think they thought to themselves: "Well, I have every reason to doubt that but I'll still believe for some reason" or did you think too that they have no reason to doubt? Also, if you'll search this place, you'll find previous threads about people who swore their friends would never do that only to present the images\videos and then being sent to links to apps for mobiles that you can download to prank your friends about ghosts... He could win a fortune just by selling it to various tabloids and such, let alone win a nobel prize (or probably something similiar) yet he chooses not to? Hang on while I'll consult a psychic to find out why I don't believe it was anything paranormal. But I also don't believe it was dust, lens flares or fireflies. I'm not sure what it was. The first thing I thought was whether it could be an app or a digital composite. Which is why I asked him if it was doctored. Although I know he doesn't do any video compositing himself. I believe him when he says it wasn't. He's not some teenage prankster. He's a forty something, married with two kids and a respectable professional. But like I said I don't believe it was super natural. I was looking for some other type of optical explanation. That's why I was hoping maybe you guys ran accross something like this before. But I realize it's a long shot especially since I don't have the video to show. oh well, thanks for your feedback any.
roxics New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 5

5th March 2012, 02:50 PM	#23
Brattus Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: The bowels of death and despair Posts: 1,223	Originally Posted by roxics I don't believe it was anything paranormal. But I also don't believe it was dust, lens flares or fireflies. I'm not sure what it was. The first thing I thought was whether it could be an app or a digital composite. Which is why I asked him if it was doctored. Although I know he doesn't do any video compositing himself. I believe him when he says it wasn't. He's not some teenage prankster. He's a forty something, married with two kids and a respectable professional. But like I said I don't believe it was super natural. I was looking for some other type of optical explanation. That's why I was hoping maybe you guys ran accross something like this before. But I realize it's a long shot especially since I don't have the video to show. oh well, thanks for your feedback any. Well I don't believe it either. BUT! My friends cousins next door neighbors 2nd wifes new husbands friends co workers dog groomer has seen a video just like you described. How can anyone question evidence like that?
	__________________ Whatever Brattus types is correct. - Brattus Anyone who quotes themselves is way cool - Brattus

5th March 2012, 03:10 PM	#24
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 11,180	Cameras under various conditions produce all sorts of artifacts, and they're almost always explicable if you seek an explanation in the right place. If you can't quite figure out what it is, but it only appears on certain cameras, I see no reason to suspect it of being anything but an artifact unless you have some compelling reason to believe otherwise. I once posted the picture below on a thread here just as a joke during a debate with a wonderfully silly fellow who believed in orbs, shape-shifting paranormal yetis, and a few other rather strange things ("Historian," now banned, sadly for those of us who cannot resist low hanging fruit). He pronounced it a very good orb, and analyzed its spiritual meaning, declaring that it was a protective one, and that little Teddy need not worry. teddy with orb.jpg
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson) The gods are less for their love of praise....(Wendell Berry)

5th March 2012, 03:17 PM	#25
Squeegee Beckenheim Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4,246	All I know is: that was no light show we saw this morning. I've seen every kind of combustion known to man, but this beats the hell out of me.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

5th March 2012, 03:20 PM	#26
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,155	I managed to photograph orbs at TAM 8.
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,155	__________________ It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan

5th March 2012, 03:24 PM	#27
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,655	Originally Posted by roxics It was neither of those. Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. Dust appears as very large orbs because it is badly out of focus and it's much closer to the lens than the subject that you're focusing on. Here's an example I found the other day while cruising a model railroading forum. Look at how big some of those orbs are. Those are all tiny specks of dust. http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...p/IMG_5308.jpg Steve S
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,655	__________________ "Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken

5th March 2012, 03:31 PM	#28
MRC_Hans Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whithin earshot of the North Sea Posts: 16,600	Originally Posted by roxics It's been months since I saw the video myself. I watched it twice and the last time was at a halloween party where he showed a couple people off his phone. So your friend won't share that video ... except at parties and such. Yeah. Quote: I shoot corporate video and local tv commercials for a living and he is a professional photographer. So the both of us know quit a bit about lens flares, dust, etc. It was neither of those. I'll bet you half a million $ it was. Quote: Dust would have been too small to show up this large and bright on a low res smartphone camera at 10+ feet away. Is it a 3D camera? If not how can you have even an idea of the distance? Quote: It was in his kitchen here in Michigan, so I highly doubt it was a firefly. It didn't appear like any fireflies I've ever seen. it certainly wasn't a lens flare. No, it was no doubt an orb. Orbs is a perfectly well-known and simple phenomenon that is caused by brightly lit particles that are out of focus because they are close to the lens. IF you really, really work with photography, you should know. Orbs are most common on shots made with compact cameras (digital or not) with built-in flash. This is, obviously because this flash is close to the lens and will brightly illuminate small dust particles near the lens. However, orbs can come under other conditions, too. You can even occasionally see orbs with yor own eyes. Hans
	__________________ Don't. Just don't.

5th March 2012, 04:30 PM	#29
John Albert Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,143	It's out-of-focus dust until you show evidence to prove otherwise.
John Albert Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,143	__________________ “In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.” —Mark Twain

5th March 2012, 04:33 PM	#30
Audible Click The gap in the plot Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BFE Posts: 3,546	John Albert and I have the same definition of orbs, what a coinkydink!
	__________________ "Thank you, darling heart. Love you." Baba Australasian Skeptics Forum

5th March 2012, 04:38 PM	#31
JimOfAllTrades Scholar Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 121	Originally Posted by Audible Click John Albert and I have the same definition of orbs, what a coinkydink! This could be something paranormal, I have the same definition as well!
JimOfAllTrades Scholar Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 121

5th March 2012, 04:56 PM	#32
SamWilkinson New Blood Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7	Does anyone know of any paranormal film, book, TV show or anything that existed before digital cameras which discussed orbs as a paranormal phenomenon?
SamWilkinson New Blood Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7

5th March 2012, 05:51 PM	#33
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,655	Originally Posted by SamWilkinson Does anyone know of any paranormal film, book, TV show or anything that existed before digital cameras which discussed orbs as a paranormal phenomenon? As someone else pointed out, orbs have nothing to do with it being a digital camera. A film camera will do the same thing. What causes it is the fact that the flash on cheap point-and-shoot cameras tends to be right next to the lens. This is why professional wedding photographers using a large bracket to hold the flash up away from the lens. Steve S
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,655	__________________ "Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken

5th March 2012, 08:09 PM	#34
MRC_Hans Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whithin earshot of the North Sea Posts: 16,600	Perhaps we should stay on topic. This thread is about orbs. UFO photos can be discussed in a thread for that. Hans
	__________________ Don't. Just don't.

5th March 2012, 11:11 PM	#35
The Norseman I Void Warranties Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Treasure Valley Posts: 3,236	Originally Posted by ufology I know big orbs exist because I've seen one. Originally Posted by Resume The sun? Yeah, that's what the scientists want you to think! But any old fool can look at the thing and plainly see it's flat like a pancake!
	__________________ "I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us." "Sticking the flounce is the hardest move in forum gymnastics." -tsig