| Activity | Orbs in Pictures |
| Category |
Apparition |
| Description | Pictures taken from standard and digital cameras often have perfectly round balls of light. The orbs vary in size, brightness, and location. We have yet to conduct a tour where orbs have not been present in photos. |
| Possible Explanations | Reality-based explanation: Dust particles are reflecting the flash back upon the camera. Dust particles will have dim and poorly defined edges. While this is still plausible, time and again, we have had multiple tour guests taking pictures of the same area, at the same time, with varied results. Paranormal explanation: They are weak energy sources, generated by spirits that have very little power. They come and go like fireflies, briefly flashing before becoming dim and moving on. In the basement, they become more active in the presence of children ages 8 to 12. |
| Tour Frequency |
Very frequent: Generally, orbs are captured on the tour by someone or multiple guests. |
| Conclusion |
The inconsistency of the appearance of orbs makes this hard to quantify. However, we've seen numerous examples of very bright orbs and we have seen them become more numerous in the presence of children. Also, orbs have consistently appeared to be in contact with people, such as resting on out-held hands. We conclude, with nearly the same frequency, normal and paranormal factors are the source of orbs. |
| Activity | Ribbons or Shapes of Light in Pictures |
| Category | Apparitions |
| Description | Long streaks of light in brighter contrast to the area inhabited. Often in the shape of a ribbon, approximately a yard long, they vary in shape from picture to picture, as if in motion. Larger areas of light have taken on shapes that often appear to look like a person. |
| Possible Explanations |
Reality-based explanation: It can be easily recreated if a hair was on the lens. And like a Rorschach test, when anyone looks at a vague shape, it often reflects what we want to see. However, these light ribbons and shapes have appeared only in specific areas of the hotel, and have been captured by multiple cameras simultaneously, so the hair-on-lens explanation is extremely unlikely. Paranormal explanation: These are strong energy sources generated by spirits. We have no control over them and do not know when they will appear. However, when they are present, they can be photographed by multiple guests. |
| Tour Frequency | Infrequent: Appears less than ten times per year. |
| Conclusion |
These streaks of light are best described as beautiful. They move and curve, and each picture shows movement. The places they appear do not lend to lighting distortions or reflections. We conclude, with few exceptions, paranormal factors are the source of light ribbons and shapes. |
| Activity | Dark Shapes |
| Category | Apparitions, Hauntings |
| Description | Large areas of darkness that may appear to look like a person's face and/or torso. While there have been reports of seeing something with the naked eye, most are captured on film. Some are blurry, as if the object was moving. In some pictures, the photo is clear, but the area with the apparition appears to be out of focus. |
| Possible Explanations |
Reality-based explanation: Depending on the camera, there are multiple reasons why it could malfunction, such as overlays of images. Unlike ribbons or shapes of light, however, it cannot be explained away by lighting effects, because they are dark. Paranormal explanation: Usually these shapes are very consistent in their location and movements. Sightings without a camera have been reported by "sensitive" tour guests. Most of the time, though, the apparition is only seen after the picture is taken. |
| Tour Frequency | Very infrequent: Appears less than five times per year. |
| Conclusion | These sightings are eerie, considering they seem to lurk within certain areas, watching us in the physical world. When the shapes have shown up in pictures, tour guests have reported that they felt something nearby, or said they felt compelled to take the picture in a specific area. Over the years, a few hotel guests and employees have reported seeing them with the naked eye. We conclude, with some exceptions, paranormal factors are the source of the dark shapes. |
| Activity | Electronic Equipment Problems |
| Category | Spiritual Influence |
| Description | Devices such as cameras and phones have been known to perform erratically, losing some or all power or functions. Of those, some begin working normally once the device is removed from the area of influence. Also, cameras have been producing image overlays, as if two images were merged, to produce a visual jumble. |
| Possible Explanations |
Real-world explanation: Many people forget to check their battery strength, or they leave the device on much longer without realizing it. As varied and complicated as cameras and cellular phones can be, the possibility for a glitch is not incomprehensible. And failing to advance a roll of film as pictures are taken is also easy to do, causing overlays. Paranormal explanation: Many believe that spirits are made of electrical energy and can draw more energy from other things. If you put a AAA battery into an automobile, the draw of the vehicle is much too great for the battery to work. However, if we take the AAA out of the car and use it in a device it's designed for, it will work. Image overlays are more interesting, considering digital cameras do not require advancing. If a spirit is creating a weak draw of the electronic equipment, it is not hard to imagine that malfunctions might occur. |
| Tour Frequency |
Very frequent: This happens to someone on nearly every tour. Oddly, those with more orbs in their photos tend to be the first to run out of battery power. We recommend bringing extra batteries along. |
| Conclusion | There are so many possibilities for problems with electronic equipment, we accept it can happen just as easily elsewhere. However, local news stations attempting to film at the Hotel San Carlos have also lost battery power and had equipment failure. These are professionals, who always check their equipment, know well how to use them, and use batteries of great strength and duration. The guides are divided on this front. Joe concludes that with nearly the same frequency, normal and paranormal factors cause electronic equipment problems. Linda believes that entities are sucking the juice out of your electronic devices, to give themselves the power boost needed to strike a pose! |
| more to come.... |
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