Kirlian photography, a concept that is still quite new to many people, but contains unlimited appeal and creative potential. While most genres of photography revolve around capturing light reflected from objects through lenses and sensors, Kirlian takes a completely different path. Instead of using traditional cameras, this method relies on high voltage currents to create halos around objects, opening up a visual world that is both scientific and mysterious. This is not only an experimental photography technique, but also a symbol of the intersection between art, science and spirituality.

1. What is Kirlian photography?

To understand Kirlian photography, it is important to understand that it is not like any other type of photography. When hearing the term, many people think that it is just a small branch of creative photography, but in fact, it is built entirely on physics. At its core, Kirlian photography is the recording of the electrical discharge that occurs when an object is exposed to a high voltage source in an environment with humidity or ionized gas.

Basically, the process goes like this: a photographic film or paper is placed on a conductive metal plate, the object to be photographed is placed directly on the film surface, and a high voltage current is passed through. As the current passes through, the gas surrounding the object is ionized, creating small rays of light that emanate from the surface and spread out in a halo shape. It is these rays of light that are recorded on the film, creating a unique image. After the film is developed, the result is a photograph in which the object is surrounded by a shimmering halo, often in a shape quite similar to its natural outline.

What makes Kirlian photography special is this effect. While conventional photography depicts objects as reflected light, Kirlian photography reveals what many believe to be the life energy or “aura” of an object. For humans, this aura represents health, emotion, or spiritual state; for plants, it suggests the life hidden within each leaf. This uniqueness has made Kirlian photography a subject of constant study and discussion for decades.

2. The Origin of Kirlian Photography

Kirlian photography was not the product of a modern laboratory, but was born from the observations and curiosity of a Russian electrical engineer. In 1939, Semyon Kirlian, along with his wife Valentina, accidentally discovered this method. The story began when Semyon was assigned to repair a high-frequency electrotherapy device at a university. While observing how the machine worked, he noticed small rays of light emitted between the electrodes and the patient's skin. This scene aroused his intense curiosity, leading him to ask: could this phenomenon be recorded in pictures?

This curiosity led him and his wife on a journey of experimentation. They placed objects on photographic film, passed high voltage through the metal plate below and observed the results after developing the film. Surprisingly, they discovered that the resulting image not only recorded the shape of the object, but also a layer of light surrounding it. This was the foundation for the birth of Kirlian photography.

Although discovered in 1939, it was not until the 1970s that Kirlian photography became widely known. This was partly due to the book “Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain” by Lynn Schroeder and Sheila Ostrander, in which they described the phenomenon in detail as evidence for the existence of supernatural phenomena. Since then, Kirlian photography has not only been recognized as a scientific technique, but also associated with many spiritual hypotheses, becoming a hotly debated topic in the international research community.

3. The mysterious veil of Kirlian photography

The most famous of Semyon and Valentina Kirlian’s experiments was the photograph of a torn leaf. In this experiment, they photographed a fresh leaf using the Kirlian method, then tore off a portion of it and took another photograph. The strange thing was that when the film was developed, the second photograph still showed the entire leaf, including the torn portion. This image was immediately taken by many as evidence that a “bio-aura” exists around living things, retaining its original shape even after it has been altered.

The incident quickly sparked a heated debate. Some people believed that this was clear evidence for the concept of a soul or invisible life force. Meanwhile, the scientific community offered a more realistic explanation. Researchers asserted that the phenomenon was caused by uneven ionization and residual moisture on the cut part, which created a false halo that made the leaf appear intact.

Charlie Watts, an American photographer fascinated by Kirlian phenomena, once commented: “The origin of many of the mystical elements in Kirlian photographs is actually moisture.” While this explanation somewhat diminishes the mystery, it cannot deny the special appeal that Kirlian photographs bring. Their magic and visual beauty are enough to fascinate both artists and spiritualists.

It is this ambiguity between science and the supernatural that makes Kirlian photography such a unique symbol. It is not just a photographic technique, but also a bridge between two worlds: the visible world that we can understand and the mysterious invisible world that humans always yearn to explore.

4. How to take Kirlian photos

Creating a Kirlian image may seem complicated, but it can be done with some basic tools and some knowledge. The most important thing is safety, because this method uses high voltage, which can be dangerous if not done carefully.

To begin, the photographer prepares a metal plate as a conductive surface, a photographic film or paper placed directly on top, and the subject to be photographed is placed on the top layer. When a high voltage current is passed through, a discharge occurs around the edge of the object, creating tiny rays of light. These rays leave traces on the film, creating the characteristic image of Kirlian photography. The film is then taken to a darkroom for development, and the result is a photograph containing shimmering halos surrounding the object.

The technique does not require a conventional camera, but it is highly dependent on environmental conditions and the nature of the subject. A fresh leaf with high humidity will produce a brighter and clearer image than a dry leaf. Likewise, voltage level, exposure time and humidity also directly affect the result. It is this unpredictable variation that makes each Kirlian photograph unique.

What many people find fascinating about Kirlian photography is its ability to recreate magical lighting effects that no editing software can accurately replicate. However, along with this allure comes potential dangers. Working with high voltage electricity requires specialized knowledge and proper protective equipment. Experimenters should absolutely avoid using live bodies or animals in experiments, as the risk of electric shock is very high.

5. Kirlian: Science or spirituality?

Perhaps no photographic technique has been as controversial as Kirlian photography. To scientists, it is just a normal physical phenomenon: electric discharge and ionization. The halo in Kirlian photography is explained by the ionization of the gas and moisture surrounding the object when subjected to high voltage. The changes in the shape and color of the halo reflect only the physical changes of the object, and are not related to any supernatural factors.

However, for many spiritual believers, Kirlian photography is evidence of the existence of auras, life energy, and even souls. Some spiritual researchers also believe that Kirlian images can reveal a person's state of health or emotions. They believe that when a person is healthy and mentally upbeat, the aura around them will be bright and even, while when the body is weak or stressed, the aura will become dim or broken.

Although there is no scientific evidence to support these theories, it is the intersection of science and spirituality that makes Kirlian photography so appealing. It stimulates the imagination, opening up unanswered questions about the connection between energy, life and phenomena beyond the naked eye.

Today, in addition to being studied as a physical phenomenon, Kirlian is also applied in visual arts. Artists use it to create surreal works, evoking an invisible world, and affirming that photography is not just about recording light, but also a journey to express the invisible through visual language.

6. Conclusion

Kirlian photography is proof that the lines between science and art, between reality and the mystical, are sometimes blurred. What began as a chance discovery by a Russian couple has come a long way from simple electrical experiments to becoming a cultural and artistic icon.

Each Kirlian photograph is not only a result of ionization and electrical discharge, but also a window into the imagination, helping people to question the invisible energy that surrounds life. Whether you believe it is a mere physical phenomenon or proof of the existence of a spiritual aura, the beauty and appeal of Kirlian photography is undeniable.