Text: Alternative Science Kirlian Photography: Images of a Life Force? Dateline: Friday, April 7, 2006 By: JOHN IOVINE By: Author Kirlian photography is a high voltage, contact print photography. The process is simple. In a dark room, sheet film is placed on top of a metal plate, and then an object to photograph is placed on top of the film. High voltage is applied to the plate momentarily to make an exposure. The corona discharge between the object and high voltage plate is recorded onto the film. When the film is developed you have a Kirlian photograph of the object. The Kirlian process, being a contact print process, doesn't require the use of a camera or lens. However when a transparent electrode is substituted for the discharge plate it is possible to use a standard camera (with a bulb setting) or video camera, more about this later. I have experimented with Kirlian photography over the years. When first introduced in America, by the book titled "Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain" by Shelia Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder in the early 1970s many paranormal claims were made concerning the resulting images. For instances, it was said that the Kirlian photograph could foretell illness in plants and animals before physical manifestations of the disease became apparent. However the most amazing claim (in my opinion) was known as the "phantom leaf" experiment. Here a small portion of a leaf is cut off; the leaf is then photographed using Kirlian photography. In a small percentage of cases the cut portion of the leaf appears in the photograph as a ghostly apparition. The appearance of the cut portion of the leaf, as claimed by the Soviet researchers is proof of an ethereal bio-plasma body. Although a few Kirlian researchers have claimed to duplicate the phantom leaf experiment in their own labs, the most reported successful results (phantom leaf photographs) are from Soviet researchers. The exact experimental parameters (voltage, frequency, etc) needed to obtain phantom leafs are either not available or didn't work for me. Much of the phenomena claimed to be paranormal by some Kirlian researchers can be explained by employing known physical laws, like changes in subjects skin resistance (due to factors like; stress-lying, illness, fatigue, alcohol consumption, etc) without the necessity of invoking paranormal (bio-plasma) factors. Some variable factors influencing the resulting Kirlian picture including the object's pressure against film, air humidity, air pressure, voltage, frequency, and exposure time. You may question my interest since I have never observed any paranormal claims often associated with Kirlian photography, why do I continue to experiment in the field? Well I have a few reasons. First I like Kirlian photographs, I think Kirlian photographs are unique and often times beautiful. Second I like exploring. I have looked for the phantom leaf effect over the years; so far I have never observed the phenomena. But if the phantom leaf does exist, it may be the starting point of a new paradigm. My excursions into Kirlian photography are sporadic, typically I add a new twist into the old photography apparatus and check for new results. Finally Kirlian photography has the potential for becoming a diagnostic tool (both biological and industrial). Black & White Film Kodalith 2556 Ortho film type 3 is a high contrast B/W graphics arts film available in a 4" x 5" sheets. This film is perfect for beginners because you can use a red safelight and not work in complete darkness. If a safelight isn't readily available you can try using a red LED, neon lamp or wrap red acetate plastic over a dim 4 watt bulb. I advise all beginners to start with black and white ortho film. It is less costly and easier to work with than color sheet film. You also have the opportunity to develop the film to get immediate feedback. Someone who starts off shooting color film must wait to get the film develop to see what has been recorded. Developing B/W ortho film is easy. The chemistry works quickly and is simple and forgiving. You only need two chemicals; developer and fixer. A stop bath is usually employed in between these two steps, but isn't absolutely necessary. Black and White (film or prints) is not as spectacular as color. The experience one gains by being able to observe all the steps under a safelight is invaluable when one has to work in complete darkness with color film. Using a high voltage power supply in the dark can be a pretty daunting task, so it's best to familiarize yourself with the process in the least costly manner. Color Film ñ Daylight or Tungsten Balance Color film requires exposures to be made in total darkness. Working in total darkness can be a problem. Sometimes I sandwich the color film between two black opaque sheets of paper in total darkness, then turn on the safelight. After I make my exposure, I turn off the safelight and place the film in a light tight box for development in total darkness. Both tungsten balance and daylight film give striking color transparencies. The tungsten balance film usually produces colors in the yellows, oranges and reds. Daylight film usually produces colors in the blues and greens. Making Exposures using Sheet Film The top of the kirlian photography device has an insulated discharge plate. In a dark room you place the sheet film on top of the discharge plate. What you are photographing determines whether or not the object involved should be grounded. CAUTION: Whenever you photograph a living subject (person, animal or pet) under no circumstances should that subject be grounded or be allowed to touch a ground during exposure. Being in contact with a ground will lead to a nasty shock. Further anyone with a heart condition or pacemaker should consult with their primary care physician before photographing or allowing themselves to be photographed using this Kirlian device. When photographing an inanimate object such as a coin, keys, leaf, etc. then connect a ground to the object. Grounding the object produces a stronger corona discharge. You can use a natural ground by connecting a wire to an earth ground, such as a cold water pipe. Or you can use a circuit ground by connecting a wire to point B to the object. Whether you're working with black and white or color film, place the film emulsion side up on the discharge plate. Place the object you are photographing on top of the film. If the object is inanimate, connect a ground wire to it. Press the discharge switch for about 7-10 seconds. With the switch pressed you should see a discharge between the object and the discharge plate. This is what is being recorded on the film. Proper exposure is determined by trial and error, making adjustments accordingly. Often times one uses B/W sheet film to determine the proper exposure then switch to a color sheet film for the final shoot. Black and White ortho has the advantages of being able to work in a darkroom using a red safe light and easily developed. If you would like to use a standard 35mm camera or video camera to record Kirlian pictures it is possible, but you need to purchase a kirlian device that has been modified to accept a external HV lead and a transparent electrode. The 35mm camera should be a single lens reflex (SLR) type with one or two close-up (macro) lens. In addition the camera needs to have a Bulb (B) setting on its shutter speeds. The B setting keeps the shutter open for as long as the shutter is held down. Photographers typically use a cable release connected to the shutter to make B exposures. Most cable releases can be set to keep the shutter close when first pressed. The cable has a release mechanism the photographer hits to release the cable and allow the shutter to close after the exposure is made. When shooting pictures using the transparent electrode, video or still photography, the aura you capture will consistently be a white-blue. This is the color of discharge and you can see this shown in a few of the pictures. The reason for this is that air is mostly nitrogen, and an electrical discharge in nitrogen gas produces mostly ultraviolet and blue light. Varying the Frequency The kirlian device has a switch and potentiometer for varying the frequency of the discharge. You can vary the discharge frequency and in effect modify the corona discharge around the object you are photographing. Kirlian Photography Device and accessories are available from Images SI Inc. at www.kirlian-photography.com.

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