Kirlian photography
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A Bit of History
Referring to this photographic method as Kirlian photography is somewhat misleading because the work on it began with Jakub Jodko-Narkiewicz (pictured below).
He lived from 1845 to 1905 and was a physician by profession. Additionally, he was an avid researcher of electromagnetism and an amateur photographer. He successfully combined these two passions and was the first to photographically record corona discharges on the surfaces of objects. However, his discovery was forgotten for several decades. In the late 1930s, Russian technician Semyon Kirlian and his wife, Valentina, resumed work on capturing electrostatic leakage. The Kirlians claimed to have photographed the spiritual aura, which led to the method gaining popularity among parapsychologists and practitioners of other pseudosciences as Kirlian photography. Of course, the metaphysical interpretation proposed by the Kirlians has never been scientifically confirmed. Still, the phenomenon itself has been thoroughly studied, described, and proven by science.
Regardless of spiritual interpretations, these photographs often have aesthetic appeal—they are simply visually captivating. Below is a method for creating them at home.
I do not recommend experimenting with Kirlian photography for beginners who lack experience in handling high voltage. The author assumes no responsibility for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the construction or use of this device; proceed at your own risk!
Kirlian Camera
Kirlian photographs essentially depict recorded images of corona discharges occurring on the surface of objects when high-voltage electricity—on the order of 10kV or more—is applied.
Kirlian's original method involved directly recording the image on photographic film. This required placing the object to be photographed on photographic paper and applying high-frequency high voltage, all in complete darkness. The corona discharge image became visible after developing the film. But what if we lack access to a darkroom and are unfamiliar with the complexities of film development?
Modern technology comes to the rescue with digital cameras. Although this eliminates the need for a darkroom, it introduces another technical challenge: digital cameras cannot directly capture an image on photographic paper. To create a digital Kirlian photograph, we need a transparent electrode through which we can photograph the object. Transparent glass electrodes coated with thin layers of metal or semiconductors do exist, but they are typically too expensive for hobbyists. This issue can be solved using a liquid electrode—specifically, a flat dish filled with an electrolyte solution. I recommend using water with a small amount of table salt dissolved in it. The electrolyte conducts electricity while remaining transparent. The diagram below shows the construction of a simple camera for electrophotography:
The base can be made from any insulating material. A large Petri dish filled with the electrolyte solution acts as the transparent electrode. A spring-loaded metal strip (grounded) is attached to the base to press the object against the bottom of the Petri dish. A high-voltage electrode submerged in the electrolyte supplies voltage from an appropriate generator. A correctly assembled base with the Petri dish looks as follows:
The metal strip should be bent at the end to hold the object in place, as shown below:
In this example, the object is a fragment of a northern white-cedar shoot Thuja occidentalis.
A high-voltage AC generator is ideal as the power source. You can use a ZVS driver or a classic Ruhmkorff coil. I use an induction coil with an added electronic interrupter, allowing smooth adjustment of the discharge intensity. The complete setup, ready for use, is shown below:
Experience with high-voltage equipment is essential for Kirlian photography. Exercise extreme caution! Electric shock can be life-threatening. The experiment produces toxic ozone, so ensure proper ventilation. The author assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages that may result from attempting this project. Proceed at your own risk!
Above the Petri dish is a mount for the digital camera. Photographs must be taken in complete darkness, and exposure time and other settings must be determined experimentally. Below are several Kirlian photographs I captured:
These images reveal interesting patterns. For example, the images of the arborvitae leaf differ depending on whether the top or underside is photographed, due to differences in surface structure. The uneven glow indicates variations in the object's surface texture.
It should be noted that corona discharges can occur on the surface of any conductive object, not just living organisms, as some parapsychologists claim!
Corona discharges mainly occur on protruding elements, which can highlight even tiny scratches, cracks, or surface irregularities on the photographed material. Kirlian photography may therefore have potential applications in diagnosing material structures. In living organisms, the electrical properties of tissues depend on their physiology, so—at least theoretically—such photographs may provide some information about health conditions.
An Unexpected Continuation
I thought my exploration of Kirlian photography was complete. However, it took an interesting turn when I received a message from a user on a paranormal forum.
For convenience, I will use the term "aura", as commonly used by parapsychologists. However, I am referring to the recorded image of corona discharges on the object's surface.
This user asked if I had ever observed what she called the "phantom leaf effect." Curious, I searched for information but found little. A mention appeared on http://www.tpissarro.com/alquimia/fkirlian3-e.htm (no longer active, but archived versions are available), where the author described personal experiments with Kirlian photography. They referenced Robert M. Wagner from the University of California, who allegedly observed this effect in 1975, as shown in the photo below:
accessed: 10/10/2014
(As of 12/01/2017, the source website is inactive)
The photograph supposedly shows the Kirlian image of a leaf whose upper part was removed. However, the aura allegedly appeared around the missing section, forming a "phantom leaf" image. The effect is said to be rare and difficult to observe, and some interpret it as evidence of a soul in both humans and plants.
However, such an image is relatively easy to fake using methods like double exposure. But this does not necessarily prove it was a hoax.
A true scientist should keep an open mind. So, I decided to conduct my own experiments.
Following the information from the website, I used AC voltage of (U = 50kV, f = 330kHz). Fresh leaves were used—photographed within minutes of being picked.
The first subject was a fragment of a western arborvitae shoot Thuja occidentalis. Below are regular and Kirlian photographs of the upper side of the shoot:
These images show no unusual phenomena.
Immediately after taking the first photo, I cut off one of the smaller branches with a razor blade and took another photograph (the removed part is marked with an asterisk):
The aura does not replicate the removed branch. This is even clearer when comparing the Kirlian images before and after removal:
Undeterred, I tried a different subject—a leaf from a garden phlox Phlox paniculata:
As before, I cut off the leaf tip and took another photograph:
Comparison for clarity:
In addition to the photos shown above, I repeated the experiment dozens of times with both plant species. Since my Kirlian camera allows real-time observation, I could visually monitor the effect in real time. Unfortunately, I never observed the phantom leaf effect. It either occurs very rarely or is simply a clever hoax that has persisted for decades.
The latter seems more likely because other logical factors contradict the phantom leaf effect. If Kirlian photography shows the image of a removed leaf fragment, shouldn’t it also display the entire plant, not just the missing part? Thinking critically reveals logical inconsistencies in the concept. Surprisingly few people seem to question this.
Still, I appreciate readers who seek answers to their questions. Curiosity and a desire to understand the world should always be encouraged. I’m glad I could help shed light on some aspects of Kirlian photography and the phenomena involved.
Enjoy experimenting! :)
Further readings:
- Boyers D.G., Tiller W.A., Corona discharge photography, Journal of Applied Physics, 1973, 44(7), pp. 3102–3112
- Ciesielska I.L., Images of Corona Discharges as a Source of Information About the Influence of Textiles on Humans, AUTEX Research Journal, 2009, 9(1)
- Konikiewicz L.W., Introduction to electrography: A handbook for prospective researchers of the Kirlian effect in biomedicine, Leonard's Associates, 1973
- Laycock D., Vernon D., Groves C., Brown S., Skeptical - a Handbook of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, Imagecraft, Canberra, 1989
- Pehek J.O., Kyler H.J., Faust D.L., Image Modulatic Corona Discharge Photography, Science, 1976, 194(4262), pp. 263–270
Marek Ples