Kirlian photography refers to a form of photogram made with high voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of high voltage, small corona discharges (created by the strong electric field at the edges of the object) create an image on the photographic plate. Kirlian proposed and promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. Skeptics of the paranormal have long disputed the claims made concerning auras and Kirlian photography. The accepted physical explanation is that the images produced are those typically caused by a high voltage corona effect, similar to those seen from other high voltage sources such as the Van de Graaff generator or Tesla coil. [Wiki]

Although the original concept was to create images on a classic photo paper, it is actually possible to capture it with a digital camera. Here is how.

What you will need

- high voltage generator (you can use a neon light transformer or one from an old TV, see http://www.kirlianlab.com/mkcameras.htm)
- transparent glass plate
- salt water
- an object to make a photo
- digital camera

How to make photos

You neet to set up the following configuration:


Here is how it looks like in real life. Note the salt water spill used as a transparent 'electrode':


And finally some examples of real pictures




Source: http://c4r0.skrzynka.org/

Can you elaborate on the camera settings and voltage amount and time. Is it exactly the same as with chemical film or are the values different.

Thanks is advance...

Also what kind of salt water? Meaning how concentrated?

Thanks again...

Yes, voltage is the same as for chemical film.
As for the camera settings - you have to experiment, there is no simple answer. It depends on the camera quality anyway.
The salt solution must be saturated, i.e. you will not be able to dissolve any more salt in it.

Thanks very much for the response. I own an HV device specifically built for Kirlian work. It comes with the traditional copper plate. It will be great to experiment with your design. some more questions:

In the photo of the system setup, do you simply put the end of the HV electrode into the salt water?

Do you need to use any sort of clip?

How far away should the object be from the bottom of the plate?

And lastly, when you show in the diagram that the testing object needs to be grounded, do you mean that the object needs to be placed on a non conductive surface?

Thanks again.

You could just put the electrode into the water, but you can use a clip as well to avoid floating around. Put the clip on the edge of a glass plate and make sure that salt water touches it.

And just to clarify: the original concept is not mine (there is a link to the original one).

Just put your object side-by-side with the glass plate, as close as possible. It should make the picture clearer, unless your HV device is very powerfull. It that case, just use a thicker glass.

Grounded means the opposite - it must be 'connected' to ground. Note that when you make a picture of your finger, you are standing on the ground. In HV environment it is actually hard to perfectly isolate from ground, so you will always get some picture. For better results however, connect or put the object on a metal or half-metal surface. As an experiment, watch the Kirlian glow of your finger with your original device while you are jumping - it will be less intensive when your feet don't touch the ground. That's pretty obvious, but still fun.