Image showing initial tests of Kirlian photography using a transparent electrode.

Kirlian Video Tests

Let me first just introduce Kirlian Photography for those unfamiliar with the technique. In Kirlian photography an object is "shocked" with high voltage which when placed upon photographic film produces an "aura" of the object on the developed film.
Wkipedia article HERE

This is part of an ongoing project in collaboration with the artist Jeremy Shaw. Full documentation for the project can be found HERE.

A standard Kirlian device (see documentation) only supports using photographic film (we have been using polaroid), because the image created is always the one facing down, towards the plate. If we wanted to shoot with say a digital camera or even shoot video we need to see the other side of the electrode plate. So in other words we need to make a transparent electrode.

Some companies sell kits in order to make small transparent plates. However they don't really satisfy our needs, namely size, so I have designed a larger and more robust version. Our design basically traps a layer of conductive fluid (salt water in our case) between 2 pieces of perspex glass. A copper ring is also trapped between which is then connected to the high voltage.

If you have the money you can buy conductive glass to use instead of constructing the method outlined here. The glass is however VERY expensive, which is why we have used this other technique.

Initial Tests with Transparent Electrode

The photos below show simple metallic objects taken with different shutter speeds, (from short to longer).

This video shows the initial tests of capturing video using a Panasonic LX3.

Initial observations about the capabilities of this electrode plate:
- Requires higher voltage and frequency for larger/more objects.
- Low light video capture will require better video camera!