Editing Kirlian photography (section)

==Overview==
{{Plain image with caption|Kirlian Photography Cross Section.png|Typical Kirlian photography setup (cross-section)|720px|center}}
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[[File:Kirlian Discharge Tests.webm|thumb|right|200px|Kirlian Discharge Tests on a metal [[Washer (hardware)|washer]]]]
[[File:Kirlian color finger.jpg|thumb|right|Kirlian photograph of a fingertip]]
[[File:Kirlian coins.jpg|thumb|right|Kirlian photograph of two coins]]
[[File:Kirlian Photograph of a Coleus Leaf 1980.jpg|thumb|right|Kirlian photograph of a ''[[Coleus]]'' leaf]]

Kirlian photography is a technique for creating [[contact print]] photographs using [[high voltage]]. The process entails placing [[Sheet film|sheet photographic film]] on top of a metal discharge plate. The object to be photographed is then placed directly on top of the film. High voltage current is momentarily applied to the object, thus creating an exposure. The [[corona discharge]] between the object and the plate due to high-voltage is captured by the film. The developed film results in a Kirlian photograph of the object.

Color photographic film is calibrated to produce faithful colors when exposed to normal light. Corona discharges can interact with minute variations in the different layers of dye used in the film, resulting in a wide variety of colors depending on the local intensity of the discharge.<ref name="Boyers"/> Film and digital imaging techniques also record light produced by [[photon]]s emitted during corona discharge (see [[corona discharge#Mechanism of corona discharge|Mechanism of corona discharge]]).

Photographs of inanimate objects such as a coins, keys and leaves can be made more effectively by [[ground (electricity)|grounding]] the object to the earth, a cold water pipe or to the opposite (polarity) side of the high-voltage source. Grounding the object creates a stronger corona discharge.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Iovine|first=John|title=Kirlian Photography, Part Deux|journal=Poptronics |date=June 2000 |issue=16|page=20}}</ref>

Kirlian photography does not require the use of a camera or a lens because it is a contact print process. It is possible to use a transparent electrode in place of the high-voltage discharge plate, for capturing the resulting corona discharge with a standard photo or video camera.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Iovine|first=John|title=Kirlian Photography: Part 1|journal=Poptronics |date=May 2000 |issue=15|page=15}}</ref>

Visual artists such as Robert Buelteman,<ref>{{cite news|title=Photographer Robert Buelteman Shocks Flowers With 80,000 Volts Of Electricity|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/artist-robert-buelteman_n_1694747.html|work=Huffington Post|access-date=22 August 2012|date=23 July 2012}}</ref> Ted Hiebert,<ref>{{cite news|last=Blennerhassett|first=Patrick|title=Electrifying photography|newspaper=Victoria News|date=9 March 2009}}</ref> and Dick Lane<ref>{{cite news|last=Puente|first=Veronica|title=Photographer Dick Lane gets really charged up about his work|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=9 March 2009}}</ref> have used Kirlian photography to produce artistic images of a variety of subjects.