Lens Flare Ghost Pictures
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Pictures
Lens flare is often mistaken for ghosts in photographs...
Lens flare is often misinterpreted as being the presence of
ghosts or ghostly orbs in photographs. So, it is good to be able to detect
lens flare when present, so it can be ruled out as being paranormal in
nature.
What Is Lens Flare?
Lens flare is
when sunlight or artificial light shines back into the camera lens and hits the
film or digital sensor often creating a polygonal shape, or balls of light
in photographs, which may vary in color. Polygonal-shaped orbs
are created through the reflection of light within the camera lens, showing the shape
of the diaphragm. A camera lens
with a five blade diaphragm will produce spots
of light that are five-sided. Typically, most lens flare anomalies are
either white, purple or red in coloration, but a rainbow of colors may also be
seen within the photo taken by a digital camera. The shape of the balls
of light may vary dependent
upon the
shape of the lens diaphragm. Other shapes may be detected, such as streaks
of light or a washing
effect similar to a whitish haze. Cameras
can
be fitted with a lens hood
to help block non-image forming light. When taking pictures indoors, it is important
to be aware of all
light sources, so as
not to point the lens toward the direction of the lamps. Outdoors, it is
best not to take pictures in
the direction of direct sunlight.
If you can
keep your camera lens in shadow, then the odds of capturing lens flare is minimized.
Also, be aware that the flash from other cameras, or your camera flash reflecting
off of close objects or reflective surfaces may also produce lens flare
effects.
Below are some examples of lens
flare:
Left:
Lens flare from sunlight can create
white, purple and reddish orbs, coupled with
haze.
Left:
Sunlight
sometimes can be recorded by digital cameras as a rainbow
effect.
Left:
Hexagonal
shapes of different colors are never ghost orbs, but light refelcting the shape
of the camera's diaphragm. This example has five
sides.
Below Left:
A great example of indoor lens
flare created by allowing ceiling lights to shine into the camera lens.
Photo by Laura and Kevin of SIGHT.
Above:
Four lens flare examples demonstrate
various anomalies that are possible to capture by light shining into the camera
body.