© Images SI, Inc. 109 Woods of Arden Road, Staten Island NY 10312 718.966.3694 Tel. www.imagesco.com Safety Precautions
ReadThisFirst Warning: Kirliandevicesareveryhighvoltagecontactprintphotographydevices. Allhighvoltagedevicesarepotentiallydangerousandmustbeoperatedwith extremecaution. Donotattempttooperatethisdevicewithoutreadingthe instructions.
Disclaimer: ImagesSIInc.oritsaffiliatesassumenoresponsibilityfordamages consequentialorinconsequentialorincidentalfortheuseormisuseoftheKirlian photographyapparatus.Imagesmakesnowarranties,expressedorimpliedtothe fitnessofthisdeviceforanyparticularpurposeotherthanthatwhichislistedherein.
Safety Precautions A) Thisequipmentshouldnotbeusedbychildrenoranyonenotfamiliarwithnormal safetyprecautionstobeusedaroundelectricalequipment. B) Donotoperatetheapparatusinthepresenceofanyonewithimplantedinductive devicesorelectrodessuchasaheartpacemakerequipment. C) Useapairofglasslensedsunglasseswhenviewingthecoronadischargeifyoudo notwearglasses.Commonglassabsorbstheshortwaveultravioletrayswhichcan causeeyeirritation. D) Donotoperatetheequipmentifthereisanyevidenceofdamagetothedischarge plateoritsdielectricmaterial. E) Limitskinexposuretocoronadischargetoabout1minuteaday.Note:Atingling sensationorslightshockcanbefeltwhentouchingthedischargeplateoranobject onthedischargeplate.ThisisinherentinthistypeofKirliandevice. F) Useinaventilatedareatopreventozonebuild-up.Ifmultipleexposuresaredone inarelativelyshortperiodoftimewithgoodventilation,ozoneconcentrationsof0.5 to1.0PPMcouldproducethroatirritation.
2 Contents
Safety Precautions 2 Before You Start
Section 1 4 Short History of KirlianPhotography
Section 2 7 Instructions For Use
Section 3 12 Sheet Film
Section 4 14 Color Polaroid Sheet Film
Section 5 15 Using Standard Lens Cameras; Digital, Film and Video
Section 6 20 Grounding for Transparent Discharge Plate
3 KirlianPhotography –A Short History 1
Thebeginningofelectro-photographycanbetracedbacktothe late1700s.Inthistimeperiod,GeorgChristophLichtenberg appearstohavebeenthefirsttoobserveelectrophotographs. Lichtenbergmade note of his observation of pictures made in dust created by static electricity and electric sparks. In the photograph to the right, Lichtenbergsparks frozen in plastic.
Nicola Tesla (1880) photographed many corona discharges using his famous Tesla coil. In the early 1900s, Russian Engineer and electrical researcher YakovNarkevich-Todka exhibited interesting electro-photographs he made. A little later, but around the same time, Dr. F. Strong of Tufts University Medical School used a Tesla coil to make electrophotographs of his hand.
RussianResearcherSemyonDavidovichKirlianandhiswifeValentinabegantheir workwithhigh-voltagephotographybyaccidentin1939.SemyonKirlianwasan electricalrepairmaninthecityofKrasnodar.Hehadbeencalledtodoarepairata localresearchinstitute.Whileattheinstitute,hehappenedtoseeademonstration ofahighfrequencydeviceusedforelectrotherapy.Asapatientunderwent treatmentKirliannoticedsmallflashesoflightbetweenthepatient’sskinandthe machine’sglasselectrode.Kirlianwonderedifhecouldphotographthatlight.Kirlian substitutedametalelectrodefortheglassoneusedinthemachinetoprevent exposingthefilmtolight.Then,usinghimselfasasubject,hewasableto photographthecoronadischarge.
Kirliancollaboratedwithhiswifeforover30years,developingequipmentand studyingelectro-photographs.Theymadeinstrumentstoexaminehigh-frequency currentsonlivingtissueaswellasoninanimatematerials.
TheKirlians’workwashighlightedinabookpublishedintheUnitedStatesin1970 titled‘PsychicDiscoveriesBehindtheIronCurtain’,bySheilaOstranderandLynn Schroeder.ThisiswhereIaswellasmanyothersfirstlearnedofelectro-photography. Theirworkbecamesowellknown,thatelectro-photographyfromthatpointon becameknownasKirlianphotography. 4 Medical Diagnostic Tool?
Manyparanormalclaimsweremadeconcerningthe resultingimages.TheKirlians’themselvesclaimed thatthistypeofphotographycouldbeusedasa medical diagnostic tool. Stating that disease in subjectsshownasamodifiedordisruptedpatternof discharge, before obvious symptoms became manifested in the subject. Naturally this claim generatedmuchinterestinthiscountry. KeepinmindthatmostoftheobservableKirlian phenomenathat’sbeenreporteddoesnotrequire any paranormal or new bio-plasma field to be explained. Forexample,stressinthe"actoflying" canbedetectedusingaliedetectorthat measures thechangeinaperson'sgalvanicskinresistance.
Stress caused by lying may also be seen in a Kirlian photograph as a change in the corona discharge (aura). However this change in the corona discharge is easily explained by the change in a person's skin resistance.
Anditfollowsthatmuchofthephenomenaclaimedtobeparanormalbysome Kirlianresearcherscanbeexplainedbyemployingknownphysicallaws,likechanges insubjectsskinresistancewhichcanbeduetofactorslike;stress,illness,fatigue, alcoholconsumption,etc.Someothervariablefactorsinfluencingtheresulting Kirlianpictureincludetheobject'spressureagainstfilm,humidity,airpressure, voltage,frequency,andexposuretime.
HoweverthemostinterestingofalltheKirlianclaimsisknownasthe"phantomleaf" experiment.Hereasmallportionofaleafiscutoff;theleafisthenphotographed usingKirlianphotography.Inasmallpercentageofcasesthecutportionoftheleaf appearsinthephotographasaghostlyapparition.Theappearanceofthecutportion oftheleaf,asclaimedbytheSovietresearchersisproofofanetherealbio-plasma body.
AlthoughafewKirlianresearchershaveclaimedtoduplicatethephantomleaf experimentintheirownlabs,themostreportedsuccessfulresults(phantomleaf photographs)arefromSovietresearchers.Theexactexperimentalparameters (voltage,frequency,etc)neededtoobtainphantomleafsareeithernotavailableor didn'tworkforme.
5 Section -1 Kirlian Photography –A Short History Phantom Leaf Experiment
Phantomleafphotographsareveryeasytofakeusingabasicdoubleexposure technique.Takeashortexposureoftheentireleaf.Stoptheexposure,cutoffasmall sectionoftheleaf,andthencontinuetheexposure.Intheresultingphotographthe removedsectionoftheleafwillappearasadistinctghostlyimage,aphantom. Robert Wagner of the University of California, Long Beach, on April 29, 1975 show that the "phantom effect" was obtained. The author did more than 539 attempts before getting the desired picture. The leaf recently picked was exposed 0.7 seconds at a voltage of 50kV by 330kHz. These parameters were always the same for all the pictures
WhetherKirlianphotographsareshowingussomethingnewornottheyareuniqueand oftentimesbeautiful.YoumayuseKirlianphotographytoexplorethephenomenaor takebeautifulpictures.Proofofthephantomleafeffect,ifitexists,wouldbeginanew paradigminbothphysicsandbiology.Kirlianphotographyhasthepotentialforbecoming adiagnostictool(bothbiologicalandindustrial).
Standard 35 mm camera & colorfilm Digital camera image. Exposure 15 shot through transparent discharge seconds shot through transparent plate. (exposure unknown) discharge plate.
6 Section -1 Kirlian Photography –A Short History Instructions For Use 2
TheModel4hasallcontrolandphotographyfunctionsonthefrontpanel;the On/Offpowerswitch,momentarycontactdischargeswitch,frequencycontroland dischargeplate.TheOn/Offpowerswitchprovidesmainpowertothecircuit.The dischargeswitchisamomentarycontactswitchthatappliestheHVpowertothe dischargeplatewhenpressed.Thefrequencycontrolvariesthefrequencyofthehigh voltageelectricalpowergoingtothedischargeplate.TheHi-Lowswitchchangesthe rangeofthefrequency.
Standardfilmanddigitalcameras TheModel4isdesignedtoworkanoptionaltransparentdischargeplate thatallowsonetousestandardcameras,bothstillandvideo.
SheetFilm(4x5) TheModel4isdesignedtoworkwithall4x5color,b/w4x5sheetfilmandpaper, includingPolaroid4x5film.Thefilmisplaced,emulsionsideup,ontheblack dischargeplateinsidetherectanglewhitelineoutline.SeeinstructionalDVDfor completeinstructionsonuse.
7 Kirlian Device Model 4
BatteryOperation Whenportablefieldoperationisrequired,yourKirlianunitmaybeoperatedfroma suitable12-24voltDCsourceusingtheExternalPowerconnections.Connectthe powersupplytothebindingpostsontheupperleftsidemarkedExtPower.Positive voltageoftheDCpowersupplygoestotheredbindingpost.Observepolarity;the unitwillnotbedamagedifthepolarityisreversed,butneitherwillitwork.
ExternalTriggerPosts Theexternaltriggerpostsallowsonetocontrolthedischargeusingaremoteswitch, insteadofthedischargeswitchonthefrontpanel.Asimplecontactswitchwiredto thetwopostswillallowremoteswitchoperationofthedevice.
MonitorPosts Themonitorpostsallowsonetoobservethepulsewidthandfrequencyofthe oscillatingcircuitthatisusedtogeneratethehighvoltageoutput.
8 Section -2 Instructions For Use Factors Effecting Kirlian Images
Exposing4x5SheetFilm:
Caution: ExposingfilmusingtheKirliandevicemustbedoneinadarkroom toavoidaccidentalexposureofthefilm.SeeinstructionalDVD.
FactorsAffectingFilmExposureTime Thereareanumberoffactorsthateffectfilmexposuretime: *Frequency&Voltage * Object * Object’spressureagainstfilm * FilmSpeed&Type * Humidly * Temperature * Dielectricpropertiesoffilm * ConductivityofObject
Tostart,forsmallerobjectuseanexposuretimeofapproximately1/4ofa second.Largerobjectsthatonlyproduceafaintcoronadischargeonemay increasetheexposuretimeto5-10secondsormore.
ToshootKirlianphotographsusingcolorsheetfilm,youusuallyneedto operatethedeviceinalighttightroomordarkroom*.Ifyouareshooting withblackandwhitelithofilmtherearesuitableredsafelightsthatwillnot fogorexposethefilmandallowyoutoseewhatyouaredoing.
*Ihaveloadedcolorsheetfilmincompletedarknessinbetweentwoblack sheetsofconstructionpaper,andthenturnedonadimsafelight.Ithen usedthispaperfilmsandwichonthedischargeplate,mademyexposure, turnedoffthesafelightandincompletedarknessremovedthecolorsheet filmandplaceditinalighttightboxandsentitoutfordevelopment.The developedfilmdidnotshowanyfogging.
ThesheetfilmisplacedontopofthedischargeplateontopoftheKirlian device,emulsionsideup.Theemulsionsideofthefilmcanbeidentifiedin totaldarknessbyanotchonthesheetfilm’scorner.Theemulsionisright sideupwhenthenotchisorientatedonthelowerrighthandside,thenthe sheetfilmisplacedonthedischargeplate. 9 Section -2 Instructions For Use Basic Photography Procedure
Theobjectyouwishtophotographisplacedontopofthefilm,seefigure 1.Iftheobjectisinanimate,suchasacoin,youcanattachawirefromthe objecttoanearth(orcircuit)ground,seepage11.Thegroundwirewill provideamoreintensedischargefromtheobject.
Wheneverythingisready,pressthedischargeswitchtoexposethesheet film.Duringtheexposureyoushouldseeafaintcoronadischargearound theobjectyouarephotographing.Byvaryingthefrequencyofthe electricalenergyyoucanobtaindifferenteffects.Oncethefilmhasbeen exposed,placethefilmintoalighttightboxandbringittoyourlocal photographylabfordevelopment.
IfusingB/WlithoorPolaroid4x5sheetfilm,onehastheconvenienceof instantdevelopment.
Figure 1
10 Section -2 Instructions For Use Photographing People
Whenphotographingaliving subject(humanoranimals) DO NOT permit the living subjecttobegroundedorto touchagroundwhilebeing photographed.Thiswillwill increase the HV current flowingthroughthesubject andwillcauseanunpleasant shock. As stated in the precautions,donotoperate theapparatusinthepresence of anyone with implanted inductive devices or electrodes such as a heart pacemakerequipment.
To photograph a fingertip corona,setupthedevicewith thefilmasdescribedbefore. Warning: Do not photograph or Havethesubjectplacetheir operate the Kirlian apparatus in finger on top of the film. the presence of anyone with Pressthedischargeswitchfor implanted inductive devices or afewsecondstoexposethe electrodes such as a heart film.SeeinstructionalDVD. pacemaker equipment.
11 Section -2 Instructions For Use Black and White Sheet Film 3
Figure 2 Blackandwhiteorthofilmislesscostlyandeasiertoworkwiththancolor sheetfilm.Youalsohavetheopportunitytodevelopthefilmtoget immediatefeedback.Someoneshootingstandardcolorfilmmustwaitto getthefilmdeveloptoseewhathasbeenrecorded.Seefigure2. TheexceptiontothisisPolaroid4x5instantfilm.
DevelopingB/Worthofilmiseasy.Thechemistryworksquicklyandis simpleandforgiving.Youonlyneedtwochemicals;developerandfixer.A stopbathisusuallyemployedinbetweenthesetwosteps,butisn't absolutelynecessary.
BlackandWhite(filmorprints)maynotbeasspectacularascolor.Butthe experienceonegainsbybeingabletoobserveallthestepsundera safelightisinvaluableforwhenonehastoworkincompletedarknesswith colorfilm.
Usingahighvoltagepowersupplyinthedarkcanbeadauntingtask,so it'sbesttofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeprocessintheleastcostlymanner.
12 ColorSheet Film
ColorSheetFilm-DaylightorTungstenBalance
Colorfilmrequiresexposurestobemadeintotaldarkness.Workingin totaldarknesscanbeaproblem.SometimesIsandwichthecolorfilm betweentwoblackopaquesheetsofpaperintotaldarkness,thenturnon adimsafelight.Theblackpaperpreventsthesafelightfromexposingthe film.IplacethepaperfilmsandwichontheKirliandevice’sdischargeplate, andplacetheobjectIamshottingontopofit.Imakemyexposureright throughtheblackpaper,thenafterwards,Iturnoffthesafelightandin completedarknessremovethecolorfilmfromtheblackpapersandwich andplacethefilminalighttightboxtobesentoutfordevelopment.
Bothtungstenbalanceanddaylightfilmgivestrikingcolortransparencies. Thetungstenbalancefilmusuallyproducescolorsintheyellows,oranges andreds.Daylightfilmusuallyproducescolorsinthebluesandgreens.
Figure 3 Figure 4 Daylight Type Sheet Film Tungsten Balanced Sheet Film
13 Section -3 Sheet Film Color Polaroid 4 x 5 Sheet Film 4
Before the widespread use of digital photography, many electro photographshavebeenmadeusingthistypeofmaterialfor the convenienceofinstantdevelopment.Polaroidfilmmaystillbeemployed asitprovidesrichvibrantcolors,notusuallyfoundindigitalphotography ofkirlianimages.ExposingfilmusingtheKirliandevicemustbedoneina darkroomtoavoidaccidentalexposureofthefilm. CompleteinstructionsforshootingPolaroidfilmcanbefoundonthe instructionalDVDprovidedwiththisdevice.Stillimagesfromthevideoare shownbelow.
14 KirlianPhotography Using Standard Lens Cameras: Digital, Film & Video 5
ToshootKirlianphotographsusingstandardlenscamera;digital,filmand video,requirestheuseofaoptionaltransparentdischargeplate.
Thebasicprocedureisthesameforallcameratypes.ToshootKirlian photographsusingatransparentdischargeplate,theobjectisplacedon onesideofthetransparentplateandthecameraontheother.Thehigh voltageisappliedtothetransparentdischargeplateandthecamera shootsthroughthetransparentdischargetocapturethecoronadischarge aroundtheobject,seefigure4below.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Thetransparencyofthetransparentdischargeplatesurpasses90percent. Itconsistsofthreecomponents.Thetransparentdischargeplate,HVwire, andtransferplate,seefigure5above.
15 Energyissuppliedtothetransparentdischargeplatethroughthetransfer plate.Thetransferplateisplacedonthedischargeplateontopofthe Kirliandevice,seefigure6.WhentheKirliandeviceisactivated,high voltageistransferredtothetransparentdischargeplate,seefigurebelow. AllcontrolsontheKirliandeviceworkwiththetransparentdischarge plate.
Figure 6
Figure 7 Coin shot with transparent discharge plate and digital camera. (Exposure 12 seconds)
Typicalexposuretimeisusingastilldigitalcamerais10-20secondsor greater.Filmcamera’swithbulbsettingmaymakemultiminuteexposures ifneeded.
16 Section -5 KirlianPhotography Using Standard Lens Cameras Still Photography using standard SLR cameras; digital or film.
Usingatransparentdischargeplateforstillphotographyandvideo photographyisdemonstratedintheinstructionalvideoontheDVD. Thedigitalcamerausedforstillphotographyinthevideohasa maximummanualexposuretimeof15seconds,andiscapableof closeupphotographyusingamacrosetting.
Stillimagesfromthedigitalcameraportionofthe videoareshown below.
17 Section -4 Digital Still Photography Description of Still Photography Segment
Inthevideotheproceduretoshootaleafisdemonstrated.Theleafisat groundpotentialandthetransparentelectrodeisattheHVpotential. Makethesetupinaroomthatcanbemaderelativelylighttight.Theleaf isplacedonablacknon-reflecting,nonconductivesurface.Thisimproves backgroundcontrast.Thetransparentelectrodeisplacedovertheleaf.A thinonesidedcoppercladboardisconnectedtogroundusingbyan alligatorclipwireandtouchestheleafthroughtheblackbackground material,seepage20onthistypeofground. Thecameraispositionedinfrontoftheassembly.Theviewthroughthe camerashouldonlyshowtheobjectunderthetransparentelectrode.This isaccomplishedwithacloseuplensormacrosettingoncamera.The cameraismanuallyfocusedontotheobjectwiththeroomlightson. Opentheaperture(f-stop)ofthecameraaswideaspossible(2.0or2.4).If youareusingadigitalcameramanuallysettheexposureto10-20seconds. Ifyou’recamerahasaB(bulb)setting,settheshuttertoB(bulb)tomake longtimedexposures.WiththeshuttersettoB,Theshutterremainsopen aslongaspressureiskeptontheshutter.Usingashutterreleasecable attachedtothecamerawillmaketakingpicturesusingBmucheasier.If usingafilmcamera,youcanuseanytypeofcolorfilmIadviseusingthe fastestfilmavailable,eitherISO400orISO1000. Witheverythingsetupandthecamerafocused,shutoffalltheroom lights.Youcanuseaflashlightwithafiltertonavigatearoundtheroom. Opentheshutterofthecamera,andturnonthehighvoltagepowerfrom theKirliandeviceusingtheDischargeswitch.Keepthedischargeswitch pressedforthelengthoftheexposureinthevideoits15seconds.Turnon theroomlightsandlooktoseewhatpictureyourcameracaptured.You canthenrepeattheprocesstotakeyournextpicture.
18 Section -5 KirlianPhotography Using Standard Lens Cameras Shooting Real Time Kirlian Video
Asimilartechniquedescribedfortakingstillsisalsobeusedto recordrealtimeKirlianvideothroughatransparentdischargeplate. Ideallythevideocamerashouldbecapableofcloseupphotography andbeabletorecordvideounderextremelowlightlevels.
CompleteinstructionsforshootingrealtimeKirlianvideousinga transparentdischargeplatecanbefoundontheInstructionalDVD includedwiththisdevice.Stillimagesfromthevideoareshown below.
19 Section -4 Color Video using Transparent Discharge Plate Grounding for Transparent Discharge Plate 6
Youmaygroundtheobjectyouarephotographinginanynumberofways. Thegroundingillustrationsbelowinfigure8detailtwomethods.Thefirst illustrationshowsthegroundwiredirectlyattachedtotheobject.When shootinglikethismanytimesthegroundwirewillbevisibleinthe photograph.ToremovethewireinthephotographIusethesecond methodillustrated,asmallholeismadeintheblackpaperbackground. Thegroundwireisfedthroughtheholetotouchtheobjectbeing photographed.Restingtheobjectontopofthegroundwire,givesanice blackbackgroundandagroundfortheobjectwithoutanyobtrusivewires. Youmayalsouseasmallgroundedcopperplateinplaceofthewireas longastheobjectyouareshootingmakescontactwiththeplatethrough theholeoftheblackpaperbackground.
Figure 8
20 Optional Equipment
KirlianPhotographyBook InKirlianPhotography,JohnIovinegivesyouallthe hands-on guidance you need to produce Kirlian photographsusingstandard35mmorvideocameras.
You'll also learn about the history of electrophotography and many of its possible applicationsinmedicine,industry,andthemilitary. Especiallyilluminatingishisdiscussionofthe"phantom leaf"aurathatcontinuestobafflescientists.
TransparentDischargePlate Theoptionaltransparentdischargeplate allowsonetousestandardlenscamerasto take Kirlian photographs, as described beginningonpage19.
FootSwitch Thefootswitchplugsintothe¼jackonthesideofthe Kirliancase.Youcanuseeitherthedischargeswitchon theKirlianphotographydeviceorthefootswitchto activatethedischargeplate.
Thefootswitchhasasmallswitchinfrontthatyoucansettooneoftwo positions:‘NormallyOpen’(NO)and‘NormallyClosed’(NC).
IntheNormallyOpen(NO)position,pressingthefootswitchactivatesthe circuitaslongasyourfootremainspressedonthefootswitch.
IntheNormallyClosed(NC)positionthedevicewillbeactiveassoonas themainpoweristurnedon.TodeactivatetheHVcircuitpressdownon thefootswitch.MostpeopleusethefootswitchintheNormallyOpen position. 21