The Reality Behind Kirlian Photography’s Glowing Auras

Kirlian photography is a branch of photography said to be capable of capturing the human aura, an energy field that some believe surrounds all living beings and reflects their physical and emotional state. The images produced are undeniably impressive, showing a vivid, glowing outline surrounding an object.

The technique is named after its inventors, Semyon and Valentina Kirlian, who discovered the method of capturing the electrical coronal discharge around an object in 1939. It involves placing an object on a photographic plate, applying a high-voltage electric field, and capturing the resulting image. This process creates a glowing outline or corona around the object, often interpreted as some kind of mystical or energetic aura.

One of the key claims about Kirlian photography is that it reveals the aura of living beings. In paranormal circles, it is often said that these images can display a person's health, mood, or even spiritual condition. Believers claim that changes in the aura, such as fluctuations in colour or intensity, can indicate emotional shifts or even disease. Some believe that Kirlian photographs can be used to diagnose physical ailments or predict future events.

Skeptics argue that Kirlian photography isn't capturing anything paranormal or mystical. The glow in the photographs is caused by the ionisation of air around the object, a natural consequence of placing an object within a high-voltage field. The glowing effect occurs because the electric field causes particles in the gas around the object to become electrically charged, which results in a visible discharge.

This effect is not limited to living things. Kirlian photographs can be taken of anything, from a leaf to a coin, producing similar results. Environmental conditions such as humidity, pressure, and temperature can significantly influence the appearance of the glow, further demonstrating that the effect is more about physical factors than any mystical energy.

One popular myth in Kirlian photography is the so-called "phantom leaf" effect. This is the claim that even when part of a leaf is removed, Kirlian photography will still show the entire leaf, including the missing section, as if its aura remains intact. However, attempts to replicate the phantom leaf effect under controlled conditions have consistently failed. Skeptics argue that the effect is likely due to moisture or residue left on the photographic plate, or simply photographic artefacts.

Kirlian photography is a stunning combination of art, science, and pseudoscience. While the images produced are undeniably eye-catching, they are not evidence of a mystical aura or spiritual energy field. Instead, they represent a natural electrical phenomenon, an effect that is easy to misinterpret without understanding the underlying science.