Report Number: 04VI03-01

Report for Jon Penn

Stephen Weidner

A A P I

REPORT PREPARED BY: Stephen Weidner

DATE: 03/13/04

SITE LOCATION: Gritti Palace in Venice, Italy

CONTACT FOR SITE: Jonathan Penn

CONTACT INFORMATION: jpenn@brightclick.com

RELATIONSHIP TO SITE: Owner of photo sent in for analysis

E-MAIL: jpenn@brightclick.com (please e-mail for permission to use photo)

REASON FOR INITIAL CONTACT:
Jon had taken this photo taken while on his honeymoon in Italy. The photo was originally taken to commemorate their activities while in Italy. Jon contacted AAPI though our web site to discuss the possibilities of an anomaly on one of his photos.

DATE OF INVESTIGATION: 03/13/04

START TIME: N/A
STOP TIME: N/A

PARTICIPATING INVESTIGATORS:
Stephen Weidner

INTRODUCTION & HISTORY:
Communication via E-Mail is as follows:

Jon: If I think I caught something odd (apparition) on camera when I was in a hotel in Venice, should I send it to you?

Stephen: Jonathan, I am intrigued to see what you caught on film. Please send it.

Jon: Stephen - Tell me if you can view this link. I was at the Gritti Palace in Venice at the time.
http://www.ofoto.com/(disclosed)
best, Jon

Stephen: Jon, Thank you for the link. Yes I was able to get there and look at the photo. This is where 20 questions come into play. Just kidding. Can you tell me if the photo was taken with a digital or 35mm camera? Also, do you remember what the weather was like? Even though it is an indoor shot, the weather outside can have an effect on whether there was a humid or dry breeze moving through the building.

Jon: Stephen - It was raining for 2 days in Venice until that day when it was very nice out. I don't remember a humid or dry breeze. It was taken with a digital camera.
What are your initial thoughts?
Jon

Stephen: Jon, my initial thoughts are that you may have captured an orb. What I noticed first off was a lack of spore material, such as ringlets and a center formation in most dust or spores called the 'eye' which appears as a round circular dot. In analyzing a bit further (see photos below) I would have to say that I would lean towards an anomaly apposed to common house dust. The lack of spore material is what I would use as my argument. Also based on the information given regarding atmospheric conditions, leads be to further base my conclusion, as well. I would like to ask more questions, if you don't mind.

Jon: Stephen - Although I am a big skeptic, I did feel a little odd in Venice at the Gritti. Not sure about actually being watched, but quite possibly another spirit around although I never said anything to my wife at the time.
Again, thoughts on the matter? Was that a "ghost"?
Jon

Stephen: Yes, indeed, I do believe it is a ghost. They can take various forms, with the Orb shape being the easiest. Science has taught us that everything is a form of energy. When we die our bodies decompose and return to the form in which they were constructed from. The energy of the body, what drives us and creates thought forms and actions, is released at the moment of death. Einstein discovered all matter is transformed into different types energy when it is no longer contained in the form it was previously released from. It becomes forced into another dimension or suitable state. The consciousness is still present even though the physical form is no longer able to contain it. There are many more the the 4 dimensions that we perceive in our universe and we exist in more than the 3 dimensions and time which we are aware of. According to the most recent research, in quantum physics and string theory this inter dimensionality fits in well with the appearance of many anomalies, especially spirits and ghosts.

It is very possible that there was someone or something there in the lobby with you.

ANALYSIS OF PHOTO:

INITIAL INVESTIGATION DETAILS & FINDINGS:

In my initial viewing of this photo I noticed what looked like a round disk shaped particle of dust in front of the lens. In further investigation by blowing the image up and looking at it in detail, I noticed that this disk was void any strong traits that normal dust or spore particles would carry. There does not seem to be any round ringlets surrounding the body of the particle which would be characteristic of dust nor does it seem to have a trait of the 'eyelet' that would be characteristics of a spore. In further analyzing the photo by reducing the field of depth in the photo I was able to bring up the strong ring around the circumference of the Particle, thus giving it recognition, to my understanding of a legitimate Orb. Below is a copy of the photograph with an arrow pointing to the anomaly in question.

Cropped sections below show in detail what process of of photo resolution brought me to my conclusion. Notice at no time during the manipulation of the object, does it show ring or eyelet characteristics.

Taken from original photo, blown up and cropped.

Reduced to Black & White for pixel evaluation.

Negative conversion to check density of object.

Reduction of color contrast to sharpen and separate pixel articulation of patterns.

Final 2 color depth analysis showing edges and compressed density.

EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS UTILIZED: All computer enhanced; using Photoshop 7.0, Irfanview and ACDSee software that allows the manipulation of JPG data for augmentation and magnification.

SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS: (Emotional, intuitive, etc.) - Jon did not feel anything out of the ordinary, nor did his wife, while this photo as being taken.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS:

Based on the information received by Jon and the nature in which the questions were answered, I believe that there was no reason for any of the questions to be falsely answered nor do I have any reason to believe that Jon would have a motive to do so. In conclusion I believe that Jon has captured anomalous activity based on manipulative tests done on the photo in our lab and given the history of the photo from the photographer himself.

SIGNED BY REPORTING INVESTIGATOR: Stephen Weidner

DATE: 03/13/04
American Association of Paranormal Investigators
Office (contact) Address: 13973 E Utah Circle
City: Aurora
State: Colorado Zip: 80012
Phone: 720-404-8860 Fax: N/A
E-mail: aapi@ghostpi.com Website: WWW.GHOSTPI.COM

Original Photo downloaded from the directed site:

Additional Inquiries

Jon also sent in another photo fro the wedding itself at the Woodmere Country Club, from September 6th, 2003. The photo shows 2 classic Orbs with one in plain sight and the other up towards the ceiling by the heating/cooling duct. Both Orbs are very different from each other and they both are void of classic dust or spore marking, like the first photo sent in. The prominent Orb show a large ring around the perimeter of the object and small globules of matter inside. The second shows almost the exact same consistency as the first photo sent in. It lacks any real form other than the round shape and the fact that it is void of rings or the typical 'eyelet' of most spores and pollens.