orbs in pictures.

[antslake]

A friend of mine took this picture with a A80, and is filled with diffractions.
Besides being way overexposed, what are the technical reasons for these diffractions appearing?

There were bright lights directly above his head.
And that was my baptism :)


http://dockguy.com/orb.jpg

[Jemmind]

not positive, I am a new, but the flash can relect dust particles in the air. Maybe that is it?
Julie

[PhotosGuy]

It reminds me of rain drops on the lens. Could be that dust on it would do that too.

[Tom W]

I've read elsewhere that it is just as Julie says - smaller cameras with a smaller flash diffuser and with the flash close to the lens are more prone to lighting dust particles between the lens and the subject. I believe that I've seen a thread on this before in the "Small Compact" forum.

[Lamplight]

On some sites you would be told they are the wandering spirits of departed souls. However, I am inclined to believe they are something less spectacular, and I agree with the dust partical theory. :D

[Conk]

I work in a fiberglass production shop with lots and lots of air particles and I'll tell you that when I use flash at work I get the same thing.
Bottom line, those are particles in the air.

[richpix]

I'm guessing they're pollen grains or something similar caught by the on-camera strobe.

See some examples made by scanning electron microscope here:
http://pollen.usda.gov/AtlasSEMPlates/SEMicro_Home.htm