text: The term backscatter in photography refers to light from a flash or strobe reflecting back from particles in the lenss field of view causing specks of light to appear in the photo. This gives rise to what are sometimes referred to as orb artifacts'. Photographic backscatter can result from snowflakes, rain or mist, or airborne dust. Due to the size limitations of the modern compact and ultra-compact cameras, especially digital cameras, the distance between the lens and the built-in flash has decreased, thereby decreasing the angle of light reflection to the lens and increasing the likelihood of light reflection off normally sub-visible particles. Hence, the orb artifact is commonplace with small digital or film camera photographs.