Orbs of paranormal energy?

Question

I took these pictures at historical Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island last August. Are they paranormal orbs or something else? We took many pictures, some have orbs and some do not. Check it out...
http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa201/tripperjj/The%20Grand%20Hotel%20Orbs/

Answer 1

When I first started ghost hunting many years ago I looked for spots like these because I thought they were ghosts. Sadly there was not too many places I could turn to learn the difference from the natural orbs and paranormal.
I kept getting excited anytime I took photos because ghosts were everywhere even in my own home.

After reading several books and searching all the websites and even taking a home study course from the IGHS it was the IGHS that taught me anything about paranormal orbs.
2 people have already given the URL to them so I will not include it. The other well known "experts" taught me nothing. I felt I wasted my money.

I took a college basic photography course and learned a lot about cameras. if you take these photos to a teacher of a photography course they will tell you to clean your lens and be careful when using a flash.

Paranormal is something that cannot be explained naturally. Does not necessarily mean you have a ghost just you cannot explain it.

The paranormal orb I have captured are balls of light and one has a contrail as if in motion. the other casts a shadow. If you capture orbs like these then I will say you might possibly have something paranormal.

Dust is everywhere. Even the IGHS website has many articles where they mention that they get people mad because they examine their photos and honestly tell them it is just dust. People want to see ghosts in everything and everywhere.


The most gullible people I know are the supposed "experts" and "professional" who claim to be scientists. These are the people who claim they are skeptics, but open minded skeptics and warn others of being too eager to believe. One man even posted his website the other day and I tell you if I was part of that team, I would be embarrassed at the so called proof of ghosts they present.

Beware of anyone who claims to be "professional" if they do then check out their proof of a doctorate degree from a real university and if they cannot, just remember these are just hobbyists.

I love ghost hunting and the paranormal, but I hate the way people try to be something they are not and try to make ghost hunting a legitimate science which it is not. Yes, people make fun of me and sing the Ghost Busters song when they hear I am a paranormal investigator and ghost hunter, but that just goes with the hobby. If anyone can not take being laughed at and made fun of they in my opinion have no business ghost hunting and investigating the paranormal.

If you really have something paranormal even hard core skeptics will say they do not believe it is paranormal, but admit they can not explain it.

Ghosts are real, I have seen them, but I do not believe they can be scientifically documented. Yes, I have documented many things that I consider paramoral but not every time I go out and photos are rare. Most of my paranormal experiences are drastic temperature drops in the hot summer outside in isolated areas in the hot sunlight and the temps go from over 100 to fifty. I have also witnessed these cold spots move and have followed them. It was in such a cold spot that I got the 2 orbs I believe are paranormal.

Answer 2

The theory on an actual spirit orb (which I don't subscribe to) is that it has to give off it's own light and have an even texture. Most orbs are dust particles either in the air or on your lens. What I tell people is to smack your couch cushion hard a few times and then take a picture. You will see dozens of dust orbs and this should help you determine what you have is paranormal or not.

Answer 3

There are many things that can cause orbs to appear in pictures. The most common is humidity, dust and bugs. I can tell you that isn't bugs, which is pretty obvious since you are indoors. It probably is not humidity, because I'm sure it was air conditioned. I think that dust caused the orbs. There is dust constantly floating in the air, and sometimes, if the light hits it just right, you have an orb.
I do believe that some photographic anomalies are caused by energy, etc, but not in your photograph. These are definitely dust particles.

For fun, next time you are dusting, snap a photo. You will see what I mean.

Answer 4

Ghost hunters will tell you that spirits, angels, guides, etc use orbs as a way of getting around. An orb is a way for the entity to conserve its energy (materialization takes a lot of energy).

Photographers will tell you the orbs are dust, and sometimes they are. But there's a real difference.

This link has pictures so you can tell the difference: http://www.ghostweb.com/orb_theory.html

Sometimes you can see faces in the orbs. I think you found some ghosts.

Answer 5

Okay when you take pictures or video recording of an area and there are orbs in them they will most likely be dust particles but after looking at your pics these orbs look different from dust. Dust tends to be kind of thick looking where you can't see through it but these orbs are transparent so I think that it is safe to say that these are paranormal. So, with that I'll tell you what orbs are they are not ghosts or spirits of anykind they are angels only angels appear as orbs. So, these are either your angels or someone elses that was with you.

Answer 6

Hello, I'm the author of "Haunts of Mackinac." Orbs are kinda iffy, some are without a doubt paranormal, yet some are just insects, dust, rain, etc..
I have talked with several people who have either stayed at Grand Hotel or worked there and the common consensus is that the place has ghosts. I mention some of the stories in my book, but many more are out there.
I have even hear more stories from people since my book has been published. If you want to see the orb photos I have from Grand Hotel stop by my website @ http://www.hauntsofmackinac.com The photo in the hallway has orbs but only one has a true reflection in the mirror nearby. This looks like a paranormal orb not dust like the others. Hope this helps and keep in touch. P.S. if you want I'll put your photos on my website to share with other fans of Mackinac's ghosts.

Answer 7

You might notice that orbs only show up when you use the flash. Why do you suppose that is the case? I would venture a guess that it has something to do with dust particles on your lens. Take the time to experiment. See if you can consistently reproduce "orbs" via this method. I bet you can. I know I am able to do this.

Orbs are total nonsense. There is absolutely no reason to think that photographic anomalies are spirits in spherical form.

Answer 8

I think your looking at dust in the air. Most true paranormal "orb's" are moving to fast to be seen by the eye and leave a long streak on the picture. Some have faces in them. Also beware of "donut" looking or ones that have octagon like shapes. They are most likely and airy disk or other lens artifacts. These are well known to most people who work with lens and astronomers culminating telescopes.
see--
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/cirapp2.html
It's a little techie and you may not understand it all, But it has a good airy disk photo!

Answer 9

Whether or not the orbs are a lense defect or not, I think it's fascinating. At any rate, I hear there are a lot of interesting ghost stories on Mackinac Island. There's a guy who recently wrote a book called "The Haunts of Mackinac" who might be interested in seeing those photos. I swear he is not me :-), he posted information about his book on my website a few weeks ago. I'll send him a link to this and maybe he'll post his thoughts on it.

Very interesting. Thank's for sharing!

RAS
http://www.mackinac.biz

Answer 10

Sorry, no, but you have ordinary dust particles. Go to the link http://www.ghostweb.com/ which one lady already gave you a link to their orb theory page and read their many free articles and view their many free photos.
BB

Answer 11

I make a living as a photographer, and I can tell you this is dust particles close to the lens that are illuminated by the flash. Nothing paranormal here, sorry to dissappoint you.
...However, the mysterious arrows floating around the room might be something spooky. lol.