Orbs, Orbs, Orbs
Orbs are balls of light that commonly show up in photographs. Some people think they are paranormal energy--possibly even spirits or ghosts. In reality, 99.9 % of orbs are dust, pollen, moisture, bugs, and lens reflections.
Dust Orb Bug Orb
The fact is that we get orb pictures during every single investigation--and orbs show up in control pictures taken in our backyards.
Any paranormal group that asserts or insinuates otherwise is being intentionally misleading or inexperienced and/or incompetent.
Paranormal versus Non-Paranormal Orbs
We can't discount the possibility that some orbs are paranormal in origin. Many--even reputable--groups offer explanations on how to tell the difference between genuine 'ghost' orbs and ones that are not.


Pollen Black Fly
For example, some groups feel that if an orb leaves a trail it's paranormal. Free-lance Paranormal Investigator and Sights Unseen Paranormal member, Werner offers this more obvious and logical explanation:
"The reason the orbs look like they are moving is that when the picture [is] taken the [dust, raindrops, bug, etc.] was moving [sic] when the flash went off. [As the movement] continues [they] leave a fading trail as the light diminish[es]. All of this happens in a fraction of a second."
Obviously this (a trail) depends more on the camera settings and movement then anything else. We feel that anyone who uses this rationalization in an attempt to justify the paranormal origin of orbs is ignorant of the basics of photography.
Others feel that if the orb is colored, its more likely a ghost. This theory also demonstrates fundamental inexperience with photographic equipment and illogical rationalizations.
Rain Orbs Dust Orb Dust Orb
Some groups present an orb photograph and a photo taken immediately before and/or after that don't show the phenomena asserting that this proves that the orb is paranormal in origin. Again, this may reflect ignorance of the process and physics of photography and certainly is not proof that the orb is paranormal. Orb photos that show an orb partially obscured by an object in the foreground are definitely worth a closer look, but still not proof of anything paranormal.
How do I tell if a an orb is paranormal?
If you see a ball of light with your eyes and/or on video, and it behaves strangely--for example, following someone or moving in what appears to be purposeful manner--and there are additional indications of paranormal activity occurring simultaneously, the phenomena may be paranormal in origin. However, in photographs it is nearly impossible to discern any 'behavior' so it becomes necessary to rule them out.

Bube's Brewery
Mount Joy, PA
Occasionally, orbs will show up by the hundreds in a haunted location, as in the above photograph taken at the infamous Bube's Brewery in Pennsylvania. A similar effect can be generated when taking a photograph during a snow storm.
What do the "experts" think?
The majority of leading paranormal investigators agree with us--99.9 % of orbs are not paranormal in origin. We feel that ghost hunting teams that present orbs as evidence of the paranormal--sometimes declaring them spirits beginning to manifest--generally don't attempt to thoroughly debunk the phenomena and may have have a predisposition to identifying any unusual phenomena as paranormal.
Of course, pictures of orbs are fun to look at and we post orb photographs on our Web site solely in an attempt to educate people.
Do your own debunking.
Take a few hundred digital photographs in your house or backyard. Whether
haunted or not, you're likely to get a few orb pictures. Open any basic photography book and educate yourself on the basics. Many photographic anomalies are caused by inexperience utilizing the camera, then are mistakingly identified as paranormal.