Ugly blob? Why?

[funkychunkymonkey]

What causes blobs like this one?

This was shot in a well lit kitchen with no flash. Just a nice candid shot of my mom.

 

[AndrewWG]

Well, this one will most certainly generate different responses from dust in the air to reflections to the paranormal. I personally agree with dust or reflections but many do not and I totally respect their thoughs.

 

[annnewjerz]

I agree with Andrew---there seem to be varying opinions on what causes these "orbs." A lot of photo sites say that dust or moisture in the air can cause these spots when light is reflected. A lot of non-photo sites consider these "spirit orbs" and believe that these are signs of paranormal activity in your house.

I'm not sure which I believe, but all of this seems so unimportant compared to the real question, which is:

Why do you have a photo of your Mom in which she appears to be in a state of undress?


As another aside, it seems that your flash did in fact fire, which could account for the orb. If you are using just ambient light, you probably wouldn't have this problem.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

We were having coffee at grandmas and it was hot so my mom was sitting around in her bra and I was joking with her about taking a photo, well I took it and I love the expression on her face. Its priceless to see her show that much emotion. Hummm orbs hey? Funny, we were just talking about grandpa (who passed 10 years ago) haunting grandmas house. LOL

 

[disneyboy2003]

Did you visit Haunted Mansion recently? Did a ghost follow you home, like the Ghost Host promised?

The big blob looks too big to be dust. Dust is usually very tiny black or gray specks, not a big circle.

I wonder if it's lens flare. Was a source of light coming in diagonally from the left?


Edited to add: Sounds like everyone else agrees that the blob is likely dust. I stand corrected.

 

[zackiedawg]

You actually do have an illuminated dust particle in front of the lens (quite close...maybe on the lens) which the camera is focusing through...though you may not have intended to have the flash fire, it appears that it actually did (according to your EXIF information, the flash fired, and that would match what looks like the flash reflection in the pupils). And a compact camera firing a flash will nearly always illuminate the small dust particles in the air between the camera and the subject, and due to the small distance between lens and flash on these cameras, the reflected light from the flash will 'bounce' right back into the lens. Because the dust is outside the lens, the camera is actually focusing past it, which makes a very small particle end up looking like a big, diffuse blob (different than dust on the sensor inside the camera, which often shows up as a smaller, more dense spot or blob).

 

[webshark3]

Yep, dust in the air. I've gotten this regularly on water/dust proof cameras when using the flash. If you want to experiment, find a recent recently drywalled/plastered & sanded room. Take a flash photo and watch the dust magic. lol

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

EXIF information.
What is this and do I find it out?

 

[zackiedawg]

EXIF is the information about the camera's settings which is stored with each photo. Depending on what software you have, there are a few ways to pull it up. In Windows, you can get some limited information by right-clicking on the photo in Explorer, and going to 'properties', then 'summary' tab. If you are using some kind of photo editing software or a photo browser software, they usually have an 'info' or information button or menu option somewhere allowing you to see the EXIF information...sometimes a right-click option, sometimes a separate menu selection. And there are a few free photo browser and EXIF programs you can download if you don't have any other method...do a Google search for 'EXIF software' or something similar.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Quote: "We were having coffee at grandmas and it was hot so my mom was sitting around in her bra and I was joking with her about taking a photo,...."

It's always hot at Grandmom's house!!! She keeps the heat so darn high!!!!
Personally I think what we are witnessing here is the specter of a HOT FLASH!

Signed,
One who knows in Marlton

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Grandmas a little old puddy lady whos awalys cold. Mom and auntie both have hot flashes so being shirtless at grandmas is common. Heck I was running around in a tiny little summer tank top at grandmas!