Lens Flare Ghost Pictures       Back to: Ghost 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


















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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:




Lens Flare Ghost Pictures
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Angels & Ghosts, LLC
AngelsGhosts.com

Lens Flare Ghost Picture?

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.
















Lens Flare Digital Camera Rainbow Effect















Lens Flare Ghosts! Not!
Lens Flare Indoors - Not Ghosts!













Various examples of Lens Flare...not ghosts.










Above:
Four lens flare examples demonstrate various anomalies that are possible to capture by light shining into the camera body.