Help, Why do light orbs appear in some of my photos?

[gabbyrosebud]

Hi! I'm a Mom who's loves taking pictures to the point it drives my kids nuts! I have a question about my Canon SD400 and hope you all can help. When I take photos farther away in a dimly lit area light orbs always seem to appear in the photo. Has anyone experienced this before? Does this happen often, or is it my Canon camera? I'm nervous because I'm going to Disney and I don't want this to happen all the time indoors. My close up shots are fine and outdoor shots are beautiful. I do have the S2 IS also. I hope this doesn't occur in all Canon cameras. Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[ukcatfan]

Some people say that those are ghosts. ;-) There are others that say it is dust that is reflected back to the camera when you use a flash. As far as I know, there is not any certain brand that has more problems. I would guess that the farther away your flash is from your lens, the less likely that this would occur. See this site if you want to learn more on the ghost theory. http://www.ghoststudy.com/main/fakepageorbs.html
It also explains the dust.

 

[Charade]

If the problem occurs indoors with the use of the flash, it's dust. You'd be surprised how much dust is always floating around in the air. Especially indoors. Some cameras are more prone to it. It has to do with the position of the flash in relation to the lens. The closer the flash is to the lens, the more chances light will bounce back directly into the lens as it hit the dust in front of the camera.

 

[pxlbarrel]

When I was on a Salem ghost tour, I took a flash photo at a burying ground. The number of orbs in the photo was amazing. LOL

I'm pulling a Scully here to say...there has to be a physical reason...I just don't know what it is.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

and I'm pulling a Mulder... it must be Aliens or Ghosts.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'm sorry I'm taking away from the original post but this is the photo from Salem... (cue eerie music)

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason. I photo I took just 3 seconds earlier in the same spot, same camera settings...has no orbs in it at all. I looked at my lens and there was nothing on it.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason. I photo I took just 3 seconds earlier in the same spot, same camera settings...has no orbs in it at all. I looked at my lens and there was nothing on it.

Oooooo! Creeeepy!!!

 

[Mellie0119]

Renown psychic Sylvia Brown would tell you those are your Spirit Guides.
(caught an episode of Montel the other day - daytime TV stinks! )

I don't get them very often- with either of my cameras- does this mean I'm lacking in the spirit guide departement?

 

[100 acre wood]

I'm sorry I'm taking away from the original post but this is the photo from Salem... (cue eerie music)

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason. I photo I took just 3 seconds earlier in the same spot, same camera settings...has no orbs in it at all. I looked at my lens and there was nothing on it.

do do do do....

 

[mabas9395]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble on this, but anytime you get a "light orb" that is a hexagon in shape, it is just lens flare. The shape of the "orb" (hexagon, pentagon, whatever) is actually the shape of your aperture.

I found a site on the web that explains it pretty well. They say:

"Lens flare is created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides which depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. It can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact, however some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it--or avoid it--in a way which best suits how you wish to portray the final image."


Here is the link:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/lens-flare.htm


All you ghost hunters will have to keep trying.

 

[gabbyrosebud]

I'm sorry I'm taking away from the original post but this is the photo from Salem... (cue eerie music)

That picture is freaky!
Thanks for so much for your responses. You all are too funny! I have to admit that ghosts were the first thing I thought of too! I'm a big fan of the shows Most Haunted and Ghost Hunters! I'll have to try taking more pictures inside with my S2 IS. Hopefully, the "ghost orbs" won't show up as much.

 

[gabbyrosebud]

Renown psychic Sylvia Brown would tell you those are your Spirit Guides.
(caught an episode of Montel the other day - daytime TV stinks! )

Hey that explains everything!

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I'd check the lense, clean it off, etc.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble on this, but anytime you get a "light orb" that is a hexagon in shape, it is just lens flare. The shape of the "orb" (hexagon, pentagon, whatever) is actually the shape of your aperture.

I found a site on the web that explains it pretty well. They say:

"Lens flare is created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides which depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. It can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact, however some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it--or avoid it--in a way which best suits how you wish to portray the final image."


Here is the link:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/lens-flare.htm


All you ghost hunters will have to keep trying.

Ya the hex shape did not look supernatural....
But I do have a real ghost photo that I do not think I have posted here. I will start it on a new thread so everyone can see if they wish.

MIkeeee

 

[Metallicat]

This was taken looking through the front gates of Universal late one night. straight ahead was the Ghostbuster stage. looks like the ghosts couldn't get outta there fast enough huh?

 

[pxlbarrel]

Oh wait...I blinked and somebody familiar showed up in my photo. I wonder if he hitched a ride with me.

 

[battricia]

Ok, that is too funny.

In seriousness though that pic kindof creeps me out. I always tell my boyfriend he has a spirit because most pictures I take of him have orbs, but most pictures I take of anyone or anything else do not. I'm not really sure if I believe that or not (I know there ARE technical explainations to them, it's just so strange to me how it's always him with the orbs. Maybe he's just dusty.)

tricia.

 

[jann1033]

...... Maybe he's just dusty.)

tricia.

also my first thought when i read this