A What?!?

Vor-tex \ n. pl vor-ti-ces: a mass of fluid and esp. of a liquid with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action. ~ Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary

This is a Vortex:                         This is a Vortex:

This is NOT a Vortex:              Neither is this:                                 

Or this:                                 Or this:

Nor is it ANY sign of paranormal activity, what-so-ever.

It is a flat ribbon camera strap, with a twist in it.

I suppose one could see the resemblance to the mini-tornado in the pop bottles above, but to start a trend that has the everybody kicking up their heels with delight whenever their strap gets in the way, that's just CHARLATANISM and a marketing ploy. I've seen book covers by "authorities" with the same type of camera mistake right on the front of them, but hey, its selling books. What do they care? And why should they tell anybody what it really is, and lose their reputation and income?

It doesn't have to be a camera strap either. It could be a loose thread from your sleeve.

How can a thread get in front of the lens, you ask?...It can happen, and it apparently does.

How can one of these show up when there isn't a strap on the camera?...We covered that in the "Light, Cameras, and Some Action" section. Its light bouncing around and wrapping around the curvature of the concave lens.

Another amusing claim is the "twin vortex so dense in make up, that it casts a shadow".

Oh, like this you mean?

I'm really not being sarcastic, there are photos out there just like this with that very description. Since it was so "dense" as to cast a shadow, wouldn't they have actually seen it with their eyes?

Since the "white tornado" is supposedly a "gateway" or "portal" to another dimensional plane, why use a term that has nothing to do with it? Why not just say "portal" or "gateway"? (probably because it has an "x" in it and it sounds cool)...And why don't they show some proof that this IS in fact what they claim it is. How did they come to this conclusion? What movie did they see it in as a reference?

Again, this is another example of how the con game works. Claim to be an expert, make it up as you go, and soon the unwashed masses are tossing money your way. These are the same people that want you to dish out 100's of dollars to join their groups, take their "classes" and teach you all the wrong things that made them the successful businessmen they are today. They should be shot...(just my opinion)

In my entire ghost hunting career (20+yrs.), I was only lucky enough just ONCE, to actually see an open "portal". Unfortunately I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor to remember I had a camera in my hand, but by that time, it was gone. I'm not sure if it would've photographed anyway. It wasn't a "light", so maybe...

There was no thunder and lighting booming from it like you see in the movies, no gale force winds, and no monsters slithering from it, nothing being sucked into it...it was...quiet. There wasn't a sound anywhere. Maybe it was just me, but there was total silence. It just looked like a big blurry hole about the size of a beach ball.

This is one I tried to make in my Photoshop as an example. Yeah I know, it kind of looks like the toilet flushing picture, but this is about as close as I can get. This kind of, almost, slightly resembles it, but not really...it was just indescribable. But it surely DIDN'T look like the things being touted as such on the net.

I have another question...Since these are supposed to be "doorways", couldn't YOU go through it too? You know, see how the other side lives...so to speak? I don't know, but one would think.

You see many many "vortex" pictures all over the net, and they ALL have the same subtle characteristic if you examine them closely.

See the pattern in it?...I've read descriptions where its "Orbs traveling from one dimensional plane to another."...Ummm, no it isn't. Its the weave pattern of the camera strap.

Some are even as ridiculously obvious as this, but it still mystifies some people and they think they've gotten something unique.

Then you have the ever-dreaded "Black Vortex" that's sooooo evil, it is recommended that you leave your house immediately!!!

Noooooo...its just another strap picture, only this time the flash didn't reflect off of it.

Any "gallery" photo you look at that says "Vortex" can be compared to one of these photos.

Just look closely and you can tell what it really is.

Merely scanning or downloading a photo is hardly enough. You have to scrutinize it and run it through the entire gammet of your Photoshop program to try to pick up on the tiny details, such as adjusting the lighting and contrast or increasing the gamma of the image, cropping out key areas of the image and enlarging it. By doing this, greater hidden detail will come out that the raw photo didn't show you.

All the details of camera strap vortices will reveal their true identities.

Its ok to strike out once in a while when you think you might have gotten something interesting. I've whined "Awwww maaaaan!" on many occasions, after nit-picking my own photos looking for clues.

~~~copyright 2004 Dr.Ken

None of this material may be used without
the written consent of Dr. Ken