This image was the first orb photograph I ever captured. Up to that point, I wasn’t aware of orbs, so spotting one was quite a shock. A patient had just passed away, and since the family wanted to proceed with the cremation immediately, I didn’t have time to wrap the body in a shroud. I draped a towel over his face as the monks arrived for the ceremony. During their chant, an inner voice urged me to take a photograph. Initially, I ignored it because the lighting was poor and I felt it wasn’t suitable, but the inner voice persisted. Reluctantly, I went to fetch my camera from the office. The camera flash startled the monks, and I felt embarrassed for having taken the shot. I lowered the camera and didn’t look back at the photograph again until the following day.
A year earlier, I had witnessed a light emanating from the eyes of Chhang, a young boy who died from AIDS-related complications. For that reason, I was shocked to see this orb above the eyes of this man who had just passed away—especially because I was subconsciously compelled to take the photograph.
It wouldn’t be the last time we saw these orbs. They would appear many more times in my digital pictures and in photographs taken by other cameras. The picture above was taken after cleaning the temple—easily explained by some as dust on the camera lens.
The image above was captured at night while I was cleaning the crematorium tray after a young girl’s death—some might easily mistake it for ashes on my camera lens.
The orb at the bottom of this picture seems to be gazing at me as I stand in front of the Memorial Room window, which displays portraits of those who have passed away. I was told, “Most likely a dirty spot on the window.”
You never walk alone, and the picture above suggests as much. Someone took this picture while I was walking with one of the children to the crematorium for our nightly meditation. I was not holding anything in my left hand.
This portrait of Chhang used to hang in our outdoor dining area. It was from his eyes that I watched the light shine on the day he passed away. Just before the photo was taken, one of the children called out his name. The rain had ceased moments earlier, and apparently, a raindrop landed on my camera lens.
This image confuses even professional photographers. A moving orb seems to be traveling very quickly over the photo of Chhang on a night when children are out searching for him, with my camera.
Think what you may of the pictures above—I am not trying to prove anything with them. Although they offer me some comfort, I have yet to conclude that these orbs are spiritual. I do, however, believe life is an eternal energy, so some of these pictures may be more than dust on the lens.
Authors Note
Some of the pictures above were enhanced by AI, but the original pictures were not changed. If you have an opinion on this subject, please share it on the Discussion Page.
