Tunnel 1 (Blue Orb 1), North Centre Bastion, Dover UK

John Latter, on April 6, 2007, said:

Tunnel 1 of the North Center Bastion looking down in a northerly direction to where it passes Drawbridge 1 (sample photo) before ending at the Caponnier complex (sample photo).

This is the second optical oddity - 'Blue Orb 1' - and its located very nearly in the center of the image at the top of an archway (its Image 12 of the 62 I took that day, the first oddity is the 'Ghost Photo', Image 11).

Click to see 'Blue Orb 2' (Image 34).

The main Blue Orb looks 'substantial' on all magnifications, but as the image is enlarged, other, more transparent, discs are discernible.

The one down and to the right of the main Blue Orb in the above image is also bluish with a tinged edge. Dust motes? Water globules? I'm curious and any info would be appreciated.

After looking more closely at the other photos I've since found a third blue orb. Its smaller and less central to the image than the first two but I haven't uploaded it yet.

Several other photos show just the secondary characteristic of transparent discs ('soap bubbles').

The North Center Bastion is part of Dover's Napoleonic defenses, a "Hidden Fortress" on the Western Heights. See tags for the Drop Redoubt, Grand Shaft, North Entrance, or Western Heights for all images. Photos of other locations (St Martin's Battery, Knights Templar church, etc.) will be included later.

John Latter, on April 6, 2007, said:

The second 'optical oddity' that appeared on the photos I took in the North Center Bastion tunnel complex I originally thought of as 'Blue Spots' (primary characteristic) and 'Soap Bubbles' (secondary).

A little research reveals that the spots are more commonly referred to as 'Orbs' which some paranormal enthusiasts believe to be the "Basic Spirit Form" (BSF), the first stage in a manifestation. The orb being the most energy-efficent shape.

Below are two images showing 'solid' blue orbs (again, the best way to see them is in a viewer with variable zoom). The first has the secondary characteristic of transparent discs, one of which - on the righthand side - clearly has the blueness and tinged edge of the main orb:

Blue Orb 1

Blue Orb 2

The second image has a single 'solid' blue orb which enthusiasts argue are less likely to be explained by the following:

With the advent of digital photography numerous images with orbs appeared on the internet and Canon were so inundated with queries that they issued a technical letter which begins:

We have checked your camera and are happy that the camera meets all design specification.

The problem you have been experiencing is due to a phenomenon not associated with the camera.

When a picture is taken and reviewed afterwards, circular spots may be noticed on the picture. The problem does not occur with every picture. Additionally, the spots are randomly positioned throughout the picture. Highest concentration is in aareas closest to the flash unit when the picture was made.

The cause of the problem is common to a lot of digital cameras with small CCDs, not just the Canon digital cameras. Such digital cameras have a greater depth of field compared to 35mm cameras, due to their smaller focal distance. This in even higher degree when the camera is set to wide angle.

Because of the above, small dust particles, droplets of water, etc., drifting in the air close to the camera and not within depth of field for normal 35mm cameras, are within depth of field for digital cameras. Under normal circumstances this is not too big a problem, as these are very small. When flash is used, its light illuminates these dust particles or water droplets, and these therefore show up and are extemely obvious on pictures taken. The problem is worsened, because the flash unit is positioned close to the lens barrel.

Another Canon letter states (under 'User Comments'):

When shooting with flash, you may notice areas sometimes described as “orbs” or “spots” appearing in the picture in front of your subject. These “orbs” or “spots” usually appear as bright white or gray out-of-focus spots. The “orbs” or “spots” are generally caused by particles in the air that reflect the flash. Examples of these particles include but are not limited to; dust, sawdust, snowflakes, rain or even insects that reflect light. The brightness of these “orbs” or “spots” will vary depending on the distance from the camera’s flash, the closer they are to the camera the brighter they will appear.

There are orbs and there are orbs and a lot of the internet images I've seen on the internet I immediately dismissed as being (almost obviously) moisture. Those of Dover's North Center Bastion are different to the photographic images shown in the first Canon letter and do not fit the descriptions of the second.

This does not mean I'm arguing the case for a supernatural explanation. Indeed, another possibility for (some of) the North Center Bastion's secondary orbs is that they are spores: in one completely detached tunnel system (not shown on the annotated map) a white fungus grows which clings to the walls like a fine layer of snow - perhaps there are some colonies in the tunnels where the photos were taken.

Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge", a statement which I relate to - particularly when the 'flights of imagination' are an explorable extension of a known reality, rather than fulfillment of an unacknowledged psychological need. That is the case I'm arguing for :)

rosina lamberti, on April 6, 2007, said:

wow :)

John Latter, on April 6, 2007, said:

Thanks Rosina - glad you liked it! :)

John Latter, on April 6, 2007, said:

Also see: Satellite view of the North Center Bastion annotated with tunnel system locations, surface features, drawbridges, etc.

John Latter, on April 7, 2007, said:

From the second Comment:

Indeed, another possibility for (some of) the North Center Bastion's secondary orbs is that they are spores: in one completely detached tunnel system (not shown on the annotated map) a white fungus grows which clings to the walls like a fine layer of snow - perhaps there are some colonies in the tunnels where the photos were taken.

You can just make out the white fungus on this photo of the entrance steps to Tunnel 5.

Standard Info:

The North Center Bastion is only part of Dover's extensive Napoleonic defenses - click on Western Heights and then check the tag list for all the locations covered (eg Drop Redoubt, Grand Shaft, North Entrance - more will be added as time goes on).

Annotated satellite view of the North Center Bastion showing tunnel systems, drawbridges, surface features, etc,.

VKeith, on September 20, 2007, said:

:)

tessg907, on April 29, 2009, said:

do you know if anyone has been killed at all in the smokey??

John Latter, on April 29, 2009, said:

tessg907 said:

do you know if anyone has been killed at all in the smokey??

There was at least one worker who died during the construction of smokey (which we used to call 'Dead Man's Island'), but I can't find the webpage with the newspaper clipping describing it.

People have also committed suicide on the Western Heights, although I don't know if they were actually inside smokey when they did so.

Hardly a subject to begin the day with, but one chap I knew hung himself with barbed wire in the moats. This was quite a long time ago and I only knew him slightly because he was much older than me. From a psychological perspective, it's quite interesting to speculate if the chap went back to the place where he had experienced his greatest freedom after things got too much to bear in the man-made (ie artificial) world.

There have also been lots of accidents up there. I once knew a pensioner (Stan Newman) who had a bad limp for the rest of his life after he fell into one of the counterweight holes of Drawbridge 1.

John Latter / Jorolat

Part of the Images of Dover website.

John Latter, on July 19, said:

There's now a three-part video of the North Centre Bastion available on YouTube:

Part 1: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK

Part 2: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK

Part 3: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK

John Latter / Jorolat

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