Well, these are the last of my "first time" pics that don't contain streaks of glowing neon colors. Do you guys think these are orbs or bugs? Notice how they both have markings in almost the exact same places. Is it common for orbs to have markings? If it IS an orb, do you think it could be the same one having moved to a different area?

Some orbs appear to have markings, in pics I've seen. How close together (time and distance) were those two pics taken? Were they consecutive or several pictures apart? Were they in the same area of the cemetary? Did the orb appear in the same, or different location within the picture (to rule out something on the lens)?

If you only got one pic like that, I would think it was caused by dust, but since you got two that look a lot alike, I think it's a real orb, and probably the same orb. The odds of getting two pics of a dust orb that look alike are probably very slim. Maybe someone took an interest in what you were doing? =)

Did you notice, in the 2nd pic, underneath and to the left of the bright orb, there is a larger, and fainter orb as well?

how buggy was it that night?

I have no clue how far apart those pics were, neither time nor distance. They had to have been in the same general area as I didn't stray too far from one place (too chicken!). The orbs were not in the same place within the picture, so I know it wasn't on the lens. I did see the fainter "orb" but since it was buggy that night I figured it was just a bug. The only reason I pointed these two out is because they really stood out from what I attributed to bugs - much brighter and with the markings. Thanks, guys. =)

Of the pics I have seen both on the web and examples shown while watching the tube (shows like UM etc) I don't recall seeing ones that were attributed to bugs looking like this. They were always less round and you can often see a bug shape of sorts (wing or head etc). The only roundish looking ones exampled were quite small and when they zoomed in on the object you could see or at least make out it was a bug. These do not look like bugs to me. I don't see anything in the main pic or zoomed in pic of the orb that says bug.

Is part of the pic cut off with the zoomed in box covering it? Just by looking at the background you can tell these pictures were taken of two different areas. Either you turned slightly or aimed in a totaly differnt direction. The orbs look very much the same so if it is dust or a bug you would have had to snap the photos one after the other without much movement to capture the same dust speck or bug I would think. They both seem rather large as well. So unless there was something on the lens that caused this I would hate to be out there with a bug that big if in fact this is a bug.

Well I am saying orb with this one. Unless someone can point out something in these that I am missing which can show for certain what it is if not an orb.

Great pics Karen =) (by the way in answer to your ? on your other post - yep I do have others willing to ghost hunt and we've gone to known haunts. The old cemetaries off the main roads were not places they were keen on though, however since showing some of the pics here I now have a couple of partners ready to go - can't wait).

Thank you, Cat. I cropped both of the photos from the left... so the right edges that you see here are the true right edges of the photographs. I know what you mean about the old cemeteries. When I visit one I am all fired up and ready to go... until I get there anyway. Then I'm afraid to wander far. I'm not really afraid of spirits, but I AM afraid of the other weirdos (like me?) who might be lurking there. I am a harmless weirdo, but I'm not sure about them. LOL. Unfortunately, I live in an area where there just isn't much else to choose from in the way of haunts. But until I get the opportunity to move to Charleston SC or somewhere I guess I'll just have to make do with what I can get! Good luck with your investigations Cat, and I'll be watching your posts!

well considering that you said that is was buggy out that night and there is no apparent motion shown in the "orb" then it is a bug.

Ok Damien you are going to have to help out on this one. Let's take the buggy night out of the equation for a moment here. Afterall most summer nights are buggy especially when outside of a town/city (at least they are where I live).

When you look at the picture itself and the orb in question what is it about the actual orb that tells you bug? It would be helpful to me to see what you are seeing in the picture that gives you that conclusion. As I mentioned in my other reply - I refer to a show I had seen that had experts on explaining what is or isn't a potential orb in pictures taken. Each one that was deemed bug when blown up you could tell that it was a bug (the round shape was not so round anymore). I don't see that here. I must be missing something so if you can point that out I would really appreciate it. Thanks =)

well personally i dont really count anything that dosent show movement especially outdoors. and i cant really discount the bugginess of it because thats one of the main things that play into it. if you start to eliminate things for absolutely no reason you will end up with a ton of false positives and that is not what its all about. so basically when its an outdoors "orb" picture i personally look for movement if i dont see any then to me its nothing but a false positive could i be mistaken on some of them? sure but the chances of a pic like the one in question being an orb as opposed to one thats in motion are pretty slim. plus its harder to discredit one thats in motion.

But a bug or speck of dust could be, and usually are, in motion (depending on the camera's shutter speed), and a "genuine" orb could be standing still, couldn't it?

Bugs usually don't produce such round orbs, instead their wings/bodies produce a an image of an out of focus bug. It would have to be a really tiny bug close to the lens to make a round orb like that.

Basically what I'm saying is the appearance of motion isn't necessarily a guaranteed way of confirming orbs vs. false positives. Sure, if you're using a fast shutter speed and a nice round orb leaves a motion trail, it's a pretty good bet that it's an orb. But at a slower shutter speed, dust or bugs can appear to be moving as well.

That, and the fact that two pictures produced what appears to be the same orb, with the same markings. What are the odds of a bug or a speck of dust doing that?

It might be a good idea to visit that cemetary again on a night that isn't so buggy, maybe in the fall. Pick a mild night (to avoid fog/mist) with dry conditions that isn't too windy (to avoid dust), and see if you get any orbs then.

Also, it would be educational to take some sample pics under dusty or misty conditions, in a non-haunted location just to see how the camera shows "false" orbs under these conditions, so you can recognize them.

Thanks for having my back, Cat. Do you by any chance remember the name of the program you watched? I think that would be an interesting one. I do appreciate your honest opinions, Damien. I don't want anyone to humor me by saying what they think I want to hear. Like you said, that isn't what this is all about. Kevin makes a great point about bugs moving, though. I doubt any of them stopped dead in their tracks to pose for my photos. I was also thinking just this morning that I might consider putting my outdoor ghost hunts on hold until fall when it isn't so buggy. I don't know, though, it's too much fun! (I have to take what I can get, ok). I think I will try snapping some pics in my backyard tonight and see if I can get some false orbs. That's a great idea.

i have taken tons of photos and yes bugs can produce what appears to be round orbs and i have also taken lots of pics that have markings just like the one posted.

Thanks for your answers to my questions Damien. I do respect the work you have done in this area with the many photos you have taken and examination of same. I also agree that we need to eliminate things to reduce fales positives (that is very important) however I am more inclined to want to have more than one method or process with the elimination.

I do believe that orbs can and do remain motionless even if just briefly as I have witnessed same. In my post understanding orbs post & the experience I spoke of, there was a brief second or two after the apparition condensed into this little intese light that it was just simply there, motionless. If we had a camera and by luck captured a pic at that second I would hate to think it would have been called something other than what it was because it was not in motion.

And yes, you like anyone else, can also be wrong at times (I'm not saying you are in this case). I'm sure there will be times (maybe even with this one) where we or anyone else here can & will agree to disagree. I know the more we study or practise at anything in life the better we get at what we do. So I respect that. I do have to say though, Kevin does have some good points also.

The paranormal is not like science which can be more readily proven or unproven, it is not man made or discovered so there really is no true reference guide. It is through the experience of ordinary ppl around the world (encounters, eye-witness testimony etc.) along with investigations and the true gift that some have been given (mediums, psychics, 6th sense...) that we learn more. We must also not ignore our instincts for they hold more truth than we give credit for.

It would be great to see some of the pictures of orbs you have captured and even some fales ones like those you mentioned with these markings. If you wouldn't mind sharing some here?

Thanks again for your replies and insight.

Hi guys,

I know I'm late jumping in here, but for reference sake, wanted to show you some examples of "bug anomalies".

The Shadowlands - Fake Ghost Photos[/URL]
Scroll down to the 3rd photo.

GhostTracker.com - Flase Evidence[/URL]
Scroll almost all the way down the page to where it says "Bugs, Cobwebs, Hair, etc.." and click on the thumbnails for a closer look.

Kell

I have never seen bugs looking like that before! but then again I am no expert on orbs or anything. They are very neat pictures though!

I can't believe I missed this post!!!

Karen, I really think that you may have gotten an orb here. Like Cat said, you can definitely tell that you weren't in the exact same spot when taking both pictures. The fact that you captured something that looks virtually the same in both pics leads me to lean even more towards a genuine orb.

Damien, I definitely see where you're coming from. I do have to disagree with the bug theory on this one though. I have a picture of a spider that I took when at my sister's house in NH for vacation. I wasn't trying to get a picture of the spider per say, but of the web (it was beautiful!) Well, I zoomed in...but perhaps too far because the spider ended up looking very much like an orb, very round and white. The thing is...you can tell that I was zoomed in on it because the back ground is so close and also blurry in the photo. Even though it took on the shape and color of an orb, there is no substance to it. Meaning it's a very flat blurry looking orb/bug picture.

The orbs that you're showing in your picture Karen have some substance to them. Especially in the second one. It would be interesting, if you go back, to see if you actually get a third picture of this same orb.

I agree with Kevin, I think someone took an interest in what you were doing...and wanted to have their picture taken...more then once

I too have seen many bugs and it seems that 90% of them appear smaller and you can usuallu make out some features of the bug. What if the orb is moving directly toward you?? Would you be able to see movement in the orb?? If what we refer to as orbs are indeed intelligent life energy left over then could that indicate the ability to remain motionless. Think of it like this if we are moving through an area and suddenly we are suprised by something our first instinct is to remain still until we figure it out. If an orb is intelligent couldn't the same theory hold true. Another thought is flying bugs are constantly in motion couldn't that relect as motion to a camera?

I think though this debate can go on forever. I have seen photos of bugs that the photographer swears up and down they are not when you can clearly make out wings and the general shape of a moth or whatever.