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Freerunner18
The Unexplained Flash…

My sister and I were in the living room when a bright flash emanated from the back corner of the room. The flash was intense and lasted only a fraction of a second, perceptually of course it seemed to last longer (due to visual sensory memory). We were not on computers, nor watching television. Also, there were no electrical devices or light bulbs that blew out. We both looked at each other and confirmed the experience. To replicate the event, I took several cameras and took pictures to create a bright flash in the general direction from where we mutually agreed it came from or was localized at. Meanwhile my sister stood exactly where she had been when the event occurred. Then we rotated and I stood where I was when it happened while she took several shots from various angles. Both of us agreed, beyond all doubt, that what we experienced was both far more intense and “different.” After failing to replicate the flash using cameras, I then decided to use a high-powered flashlight, that has more luminosity than a car's bright beams, and still it failed to resemble the phenomenon. All of this was done moments after the event, we both were eager to solve the mystery then and there. Then....

Approximately a year later (possibly longer) my mother and girlfriend claimed to have seen a bright flash appear out of nowhere in the corner of the living room. I had never told them about the “flash” experience before and thus I can say “4” people have experienced this flash in pairs - with each pair confirming the experience among themselves.
Their stories of the experience were remarkably similar to ours, even where they believed the flashed came from was similar. However, no more insights or clues were gained…

Any clues, insights as to an explanation?

JustNormal
QUOTE(Freerunner18 @ Jun 21 2007, 05:38 AM) *
The Unexplained Flash…

My sister and I were in the living room when a bright flash emanated from the back corner of the room. The flash was intense and lasted only a fraction of a second, perceptually of course it seemed to last longer (due to visual sensory memory). We were not on computers, nor watching television. Also, there were no electrical devices or light bulbs that blew out. We both looked at each other and confirmed the experience. To replicate the event, I took several cameras and took pictures to create a bright flash in the general direction from where we mutually agreed it came from or was localized at. Meanwhile my sister stood exactly where she had been when the event occurred. Then we rotated and I stood where I was when it happened while she took several shots from various angles. Both of us agreed, beyond all doubt, that what we experienced was both far more intense and “different.” After failing to replicate the flash using cameras, I then decided to use a high-powered flashlight, that has more luminosity than a car's bright beams, and still it failed to resemble the phenomenon. All of this was done moments after the event, we both were eager to solve the mystery then and there. Then....

Approximately a year later (possibly longer) my mother and girlfriend claimed to have seen a bright flash appear out of nowhere in the corner of the living room. I had never told them about the “flash” experience before and thus I can say “4” people have experienced this flash in pairs - with each pair confirming the experience among themselves.
Their stories of the experience were remarkably similar to ours, even where they believed the flashed came from was similar. However, no more insights or clues were gained…

Any clues, insights as to an explanation?


One question, were these seen from your peripheral vision, as in the corner of your eye? Or was it something you were directly looking at, at the time? JN
misanthrope
It couldn't have been a brief reflection of light at some odd angle... say, a passing car's headlights coming through a window and bouncing off the glass of a picture on the wall, or something?
Loonboy


I have lived in a house where strange phenomena occurred - knocking sounds, objects being moved, dark shapes seen, voices heard et al.

While these things were going on, my sister in her room saw intense flashes of light with no apparent source. They occurred sporadically over a period of about a year then were no more.

Also, flashes of light with no apparent source are often documented in poltergeist cases.

geek.gif
rikitiki
So, both flashes occurred in the same room of the same house?
Was there any sound connected with either flash?
Any odor?
JustNormal
QUOTE(Loonboy @ Jun 21 2007, 09:40 AM) *


I have lived in a house where strange phenomena occurred - knocking sounds, objects being moved, dark shapes seen, voices heard et al.

While these things were going on, my sister in her room saw intense flashes of light with no apparent source. They occurred sporadically over a period of about a year then were no more.

Also, flashes of light with no apparent source are often documented in poltergeist cases.

geek.gif


Very true, I have seen them too off and on. THen I find myself rubbing my eyes to see if that is actually what I saw. When I close my eyes the image is still there. Strange things happen..
coldethyl
I dunno, ball lightning?
Freerunner18
JN, to answer your question, neither my sister or I saw the flash directly, just from peripherals.

Mis, the reason why I don't believe in was from passing headlights or a reflection is because we both felt that the light was centralized, not stray fractures of light. Another reason is because our blinds were semi closed, semi open, and very cloudy from being unclean. The light flash was very concentrated.

Riki, to answer your question, both flashes occured in the same room. My sister and I experienced the light in our dining room while my girlfriend and mom experienced the same except in the living room (same room, there are no walls or barriors between them). None of us remember any strange odors or sounds with the flashes. We thought it was strange there was no smell because at first we thought a light bulb had burned out and expected that sort of burnt odor. We also thought it was weird that there was no sound because our second thought was that someone took a picture and used the kind of retro camera that takes loud snapshots. Shortly after it happened, we both were convinced that it was someone using a camera by checking the backdoor and using our own camera to replicate the intensity of the flash. But nothing provided the same level of light that was experienced. The best analogy I can think of is that it was kind of like a silent explosion of mageniusm.

Cold, we both remember the weather conditions very well. The first experience with my sister and I occured during a late summer night. There were no storms or no cases of lightning -- I remember because we investigated outside fairly intensely (thinking it was a friend playing a practical joke with a camera) before leaving the situation as unexplained. My girlfriend remembers the second time as being in the winter, so it seems unlikely that the conditions were violatile enough.
coldethyl
Well there doesn't have to a storm brewing for ball lightning to occur.

What do you suspect it was?
Freerunner18
QUOTE(coldethyl @ Jun 21 2007, 02:49 PM) *
Well there doesn't have to a storm brewing for ball lightning to occur.

What do you suspect it was?


When I looked up info for ball lightning, I was under the impression that it was associated with thunderstorms -- if not, that opens up possibilities. I also read though that ball lightning is witnessed to be seen as lasting for many seconds. Both flashes that occured seemed to last only a fraction of a second, hence the flash. I don't know much about ball lightning -- does it occur with noises? What is the likelihood that ball lightning would occur in the same proximity twice?
coldethyl
QUOTE(Freerunner18 @ Jun 21 2007, 09:20 PM) *
When I looked up info for ball lightning, I was under the impression that it was associated with thunderstorms -- if not, that opens up possibilities. I also read though that ball lightning is witnessed to be seen as lasting for many seconds. Both flashes that occured seemed to last only a fraction of a second, hence the flash. I don't know much about ball lightning -- does it occur with noises? What is the likelihood that ball lightning would occur in the same proximity twice?


Well according to the link I posted, it doesn't have to be during a storm. Scientists aren't 100% sure on the causes of ball lightning and the exactness of it, so I don't believe anyone could tell you for sure it couldn't appear in the same spot twice. Accounts of ball lightning are of different colors, noises, and times seen.

It's just one theory, it could completely wrong, but at least it's something to go on.

thumbsup.gif
Loonboy


I like the analogy with magnesium - from what my sister said, the flash she saw was very intense and very short lived - almost a hundredth of a second (if that's not being too precise).

Also, from the cases of poltergeist hauntings I have read about, the flashes always seem to be in the upper part of a room - or very close to the ceiling.

geek.gif
fullywired
Could it have been static electricity ?I admit that it sounds a bit unlikely but who knows ?


fullywired
Aztec Warrior
QUOTE(coldethyl @ Jun 21 2007, 01:49 PM) *
Well there doesn't have to a storm brewing for ball lightning to occur.

What do you suspect it was?

Could have been lightning or passing car headlights. It could also have been some paranoramal phenomenon, like in the Entity case. Lightning was emanating from an unknown source in a room.
linked-image

The second time Gaynor and Taff visited the Entity house, things began to happen. Although they never saw the apparition, they witnessed visual phenomena. "We were seeing little pops of light," said Gaynor. "They would happen quickly. We would try to shoot the camera, but they were happening too quickly and we just couldn't catch them. We were shooting with a Polaroid and with a 35mm camera." Link
Lightning kills man beneath cloudless sky
A Dade landscaper died after being struck by an unusual type of lightning that's stronger, hotter, lasts longer and strikes from clear skies. Experts said Canales was killed by a weather phenomenon fittingly called a ''bolt from the blue'' or ''dry lightning'' because it falls from clear, blue skies. Link
boorite
The flash is probably caused by an electrical discharge that ionizes nearby N2 and O2 molecules. As electrons are driven off the molecules and recaptured at a lower energy level, they emit the leftover energy as photons, which you see.

What caused the electrical discharge, I have no idea.
JustNormal
QUOTE(Loonboy @ Jun 21 2007, 09:40 AM) *


I have lived in a house where strange phenomena occurred - knocking sounds, objects being moved, dark shapes seen, voices heard et al.

While these things were going on, my sister in her room saw intense flashes of light with no apparent source. They occurred sporadically over a period of about a year then were no more.

Also, flashes of light with no apparent source are often documented in poltergeist cases.

geek.gif


I agree Loonboy!!
JustNormal
QUOTE(Freerunner18 @ Jun 21 2007, 06:35 PM) *
JN, to answer your question, neither my sister or I saw the flash directly, just from peripherals.

Mis, the reason why I don't believe in was from passing headlights or a reflection is because we both felt that the light was centralized, not stray fractures of light. Another reason is because our blinds were semi closed, semi open, and very cloudy from being unclean. The light flash was very concentrated.

Riki, to answer your question, both flashes occured in the same room. My sister and I experienced the light in our dining room while my girlfriend and mom experienced the same except in the living room (same room, there are no walls or barriors between them). None of us remember any strange odors or sounds with the flashes. We thought it was strange there was no smell because at first we thought a light bulb had burned out and expected that sort of burnt odor. We also thought it was weird that there was no sound because our second thought was that someone took a picture and used the kind of retro camera that takes loud snapshots. Shortly after it happened, we both were convinced that it was someone using a camera by checking the backdoor and using our own camera to replicate the intensity of the flash. But nothing provided the same level of light that was experienced. The best analogy I can think of is that it was kind of like a silent explosion of mageniusm.

Cold, we both remember the weather conditions very well. The first experience with my sister and I occured during a late summer night. There were no storms or no cases of lightning -- I remember because we investigated outside fairly intensely (thinking it was a friend playing a practical joke with a camera) before leaving the situation as unexplained. My girlfriend remembers the second time as being in the winter, so it seems unlikely that the conditions were violatile enough.


That is a very common phenomena, I see them too at times. Sometimes they can mess up your vision for quite some time, yet there is no "rational" reason for them. I have seen black and white ones. Now, they are illusions, caused normally by some form of spiritual activity. Many spirits just pop in and pop back out, and can be a loved one who has passed on, especially if it only happened a few times in the same house. You cant replicate it, because its impossible. When we see things out of our peripheral vision that is an indicator or paranormal activity. I will see something, look at it and its gone, yet it comes back out of the corner of my eye. Reason being, they dont want to be seen, and maybe they have not manifested themselves enough to do anymore than just visit here and there. This is my opinion from experience..
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