In ghost photography, one reliable measurement tool is a phenomenon that we call sparkles.

When we see sparkles, we’ll usually find anomalies in our photographs, too.

When ghost hunting, we’ve seen sparkles with several flash cameras, but most often with my old Olympus AF-1 Twin camera. You may have seen sparkles with your own camera, too.

In ghost hunting, “sparkle” is a term that I developed in the over ten years ago. (It’s not trademarked, but I was the first to use the term among professional ghost hunters.)

What Sparkles Are

Sparkles are small, brilliant flashes of light that fade within a second, at least ten feet from the camera and usually at 30+ feet away. They resemble the lingering, falling remnants of fireworks as the display fades from sight.

Another paranormal researcher described them in terms of shards of metal, suspended in the air for a few seconds. In fact, since posting this page, we’ve heard from several researchers around the world, who’ve witnessed this same phenomenon.

Sparkles are definitely not pollen or insects, as a detractor tries to assert. Individual sparkles appear to be 1″ to 4″ in height, and perhaps 1″ wide. They are distinct, single flashes of light.

Most sparkles are white, but some are pale pink, a light golden yellow, or icy blue. There may be a dozen of them, or what appear to be hundreds.

Who sees sparkles?

Not everyone sees sparkles. So far, approximately 80% of those who go on ghost investigations with me, see them. The ability to see the sparkles does not seem to relate to how well the person can perceive other paranormal manifestations. Also, skeptics, non-believers, and believers see them–or don’t–and that seems to have no relationship to their belief in ghosts.

When I see sparkles, they are astonishingly beautiful. In fact, I’ll often taking photo after photo, simply to see this amazing visual display. The number of sparkles can vary from one photo to the next, as will the location of them. However, I rarely see sparkles stop occurring before I am out of film.

Sparkles generally indicate that the photos will contain anomalies, usually translucent, milky spheres that we call “orbs.” The sparkles will not appear in the photographs.

What Sparkles Aren’t

If you’ve seen sparkles when you’ve been ghost hunting, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you think you’ve seen sparkles but aren’t sure, rule out these logical explanations first:

Bugs

Bugs – Unfortunately, I’ve seen many people mistake a bug or two for anomalies when they’re taking ghost photos.  When you’re taking photos, either watch in front of the camera (not through the viewfinder) or have a companion check for you, to see if bugs are being highlighted by the camera. If bugs reflect the light immediately in front of you, bugs may also reflect the same light, further away.

Also, if you’re someone who attracts insects, consider not wearing bug repellent when you first arrive at the investigation site. You’ll know quickly if bugs may interfere with your photos. Then apply your repellent, and keep the insects in mind when you see things that they may cause… such as a sparkle effect.

Finally, take a look at streetlights. Are bugs being drawn to the light? Moths are an unlikely cause of anything that could be confused with sparkles.  However, if you’ve never seen sparkles before, it’s possible that large moths can reflect just enough of the flash to confuse you.

More often, bugs cause wavy lines and even winged shapes in photos.  The latter are frequently mistaken for faeries.

Moisture

Sometimes, we overlook the simple explanations. If it has rained in the 24 hours before your ghost hunt, the “sparkles” may be moisture reflecting the camera’s flash from leaves and other surfaces.

Use a flashlight; if the leaves look shiny, they’re probably reflecting your camera’s flash, too.

Or, shake the trees and shrubs if you aren’t certain. If moisture falls off, that’s the most likely source of your reflections; they aren’t “sparkles.”

Reflections

Reflective surfaces – Beer cans, broken glass, stop signs, the eyes of cats or other animals, trail markers, bits of windblown tinsel, foil, or plastic can reflect the light from your flash. If the sparkles appear in the same places in each photo, it’s probably a reflection.

This is one reason why professional ghost hunters recommend that you always take two consecutive photos — or more — as close together as possible and with no movement of the camera in the interim.

An anomaly will usually appear in only one photograph. A natural phenomenon (such as a flying insect or they eyes of a raccoon) will usually move from one photo to the next, or show up in both photos at exactly the same location.

Use a flashlight to check for reflective surfaces.

Pollen or dust

Pollen or dust – These are not likely to be mistaken for sparkles.

Pollen, dust, floating milkweed, and so on, will provide distinctive imagery. The effect is somewhat cloudlike though it may be sparkly in appearance as well.

Pollen and dust can also cause orbs in ghost photos, but they’re usually different from the orbs that professional ghost hunters post online. When the orbs are caused by pollen or dust, there will be dozens of orbs in the photos. (See “This is NOT a portal for ghosts” for an example of too many orbs.)

Milkweed is easily identified if you quickly approach the area in which you’ve seen the reflections off it.

Reminder: Enjoy the sparkles when you see them. They will not appear in your photographs.

Fiona Broome is the founder of Hollow Hill, a published author, and an international ghost investigator.

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