EVIDENCE- Vortex

Vortices & "ectoplasm" are similar to orbs: they are an easily explainable, and duplicated, camera effect. I'd say about 99% of Vortices are due to the camera being set on "night exposure", or on a slower shutter speed- I'll show example photos and how it's done below.
However, "ectoplasm" photos ARE just a vapor in the air due to moisture, fog, smoke, breath, aerosol spray, a fine powder, even plant spoors (step on a puffball mushroom, you'll see what I mean). Whether the "ectoplasm" pics are paranormal or not can never be determined due to the millions of possible natural environmental and atmospheric phenomena that will all resemble the same thing on a photo. And the first rule of investigation is- if it can't be proven that it's NOT something natural, you have to THROW IT OUT. "Ectoplasm" photos should not be taken as proof, they should be viewed in the same category as "personal experiences". Meaning, interesting, but not verifiable, and in the long run, just a good story.

Vortices, however, are mostly produced on film in one of three ways.

1. The camera operator snaps a photo in a darkened area (with OR without flash). during the microseconds that the shutter is open, the camera operator is moving the camera. No matter how good you think you are, you are human, and can NOT hold the camera absolutely still. While the shutter is open, an external light source (i.e.- porch light, flashlight, headlight, small led light, tiny light on an appliance) will appear to leave "streaks" on the final image -due to the fact that light moves faster than the shutter- therefore, the camera operators shakiness leads to the final photo of a "vortex".

2.This explanation includes the orb-like vortex phenomena of "solid" vortexes- They are the reflected flash off of a camera strap, human hair, finger, string, bug, -basically ANY solid object, moving or stationary- that is too far inside the camera's focal length.

3. The camera IS perfectly still (i.e.- on a tripod on stable ground that can't vibrate, and the camera is on automatic or remote timer, so there is NO human contact at the time that the photo is taken), and the external light source (anything emitting light) is moving at a rapid rate past the camera. This is the explanation that most ghost hunters would like to believe happened in their photo. However, most of them don't use an automatic timer and tripod to get vortex pics. And even if so- that still doesn't prove that the moving light source was paranormal. Any moving light source BEHIND the camera can reflect off of a surface in front of the stable camera, causing a Vortex.NOTE: Bi-pods and Mono-pods help, but do NOT render the camera perfectly still. therefore, those photos should be included in explanation #1.


COMMON VORTEX EXAMPLE PHOTOS and which above explanation they fit in:

Explanation #1- stationary light in distance. Camera on night setting with flash. The flash illuminates the ground only for a fraction of a second, causing it to look like a stationary photo. After the flash, the shutter on night setting is STILL OPEN, picking up the movement of the camera by 'streaking' the stationary light source in the distance.




Explanation #1- same reason as the picture above, except here we have FOUR external light sources, and TWO reflected-flash sources. Notice the external sources have the same streak pattern, while reflected ones are random. this is due to the fact that the camera movement is duplicated by external light sources (they don't shut off), while the reflected flash streaks are only illuminated for a fraction of the camera's movement. Also notice the dust orbs. See the EVIDENCE-Orbs section in the archive for more info on them.




Explanation #1- This time, the vortex is due to either a stationary light source BEHIND the camera, or the flash itself. Notice the bug-spray can. It's warning label has the same pattern on it as the "streak". This photo is most likely the reflective, metallic can and slow shutter speed combined with a turning movement of the camera operator.




Explanation #2- Camera operator's body part- most likely a finger.










Explanation #2- Camera operator's hair. Notice the "rings" in the vortex. These are made by the scales on the human hair (or even a textured camera strap) that reflects the light in a pattern. Also, note that "hair" vortex photos don't necessarily have to be the camera operator's fault. Any dog or cat fuzz drifting by at the time of the picture will give the same result.






Explanation #2- This is a non-textured camera strap. Notice the "shadow" of the vortex on the wall. If vortexes supposedly are light anomalies, why do they cast a shadow? Well, the NON-paranormal ones do!








Explanation #2- Bug flying by the camera. Notice the regular pattern of the wings as they flap. There was no flash in this picture (this is a still-frame of a video), HOWEVER, it is an I-R camera. IR constantly illuminates. Think of it like a flash that never shuts off, that your normal human eye can not see. As the bug travels quicker than the shutter (but slower than IR light), it's illuminated the entire way it flies, leaving a bumpy streak.



"Ectoplasm". It's an early spring morning (notice no leaves on the trees but daffodils are up) and still cool outside. Most likely camera operators breath.






More "ectoplasm". Again, most likely breath. See the partially melted snow throughout the junipers and mulch? Means it's still cold out (early or late winter).
NOTE- if it feels warmer to you outside, and you swear you cant "see your breath" because it wasn't cold enough, that DOES NOT mean that the camera flash will not pick up the water vapor from your breath! Breath you 'can't see' with your eyes STILL CAN BE PHOTOGRAPHED.