Pure photography using only
light and film
to create special effects,
even with colour reversal film
without any digital software,
or darkroom chemistry!
By John Neville Cohen
A
lot of information and examples can be found on the
Internet about ‘Painting with Light’ and they are all
only about moving lights within a prolonged exposure.
There are also a lot of examples about ‘Projection
Photography’, but these are limited to the idea of
simply projecting patterns, or text onto people, or
buildings.
My own form of ‘Projection Photography’ was discovered
in the early 1960’s, and this pure form of special
effect photography provides far more opportunities and
is so much more sophisticated. The magic lantern truly
lives up to its earlier name, as it really provides the
best magical method of painting with light!
So
much that is possible digitally such as: image blending,
masking, distorting, changing colours, and adding
textures can be achieved with the projector. In
addition, images can easily be manipulated with crystals
and reflections too.
Since
there is growing interest in analogue photography,
these original special effect techniques, are now
proving to be of interest again, as most of the
possibilities available digitally, are surprisingly
also possible with film, and all my creative
photographs were taken on Kodachrome (the film
had to be posted and processed by Kodak), so
unlike other techniques, all these creations could be
seen before exposing any film.
I
did not always project onto a flat screen, but instead I
projected images onto many other things that were to
become the subject of the picture, for example I have
created photographs of projected images on a butterfly
wing, a feather, a shell, a flower, a leaf, and even on
to the edges of the pages of a book.
Images
(transparencies and negatives, both in colour and
black and white) were blended too, by using more
than one projector. These techniques enabled the freedom
to create amazing new photographs, without any digital
software, or darkroom chemistry.
My
most famous, unique, and historical Kodachrome
transparency is ‘Spirit of Spring’ consisting of a
negative of a tulip combined with a portrait. This was
the first ever Kodachrome transparency that had both a
positive and a negative image, on the same emulsion.
Spirit of Spring
This
photograph won the London Salon Trophy in 1967 and there
were over twenty major one-man exhibitions of about 70
of my photographs the following year (many were
organised by Kodak in the USA and UK). At that
time, my photography was described as ground-breaking!
There
are many more award-winning special effect photographs
on my website as well as detailed information in ‘The
Magic Lantern’ section, describing exactly how anyone
can do it.
"...regarded
as one of Britain's most original photographers."
The Times. 16th December 1967 The Times Diary.
"A
woman's face was exquisitely metamorphosed with the
cup of a yellow tulip - a Femme - Fleur Picasso might
have perpetrated had he taken to photography."
Arts Revue. 11th Oct 1969, Vol XXI No 20.
"Very
marketable as well as interesting and adventurous in
themselves with congratulations."
Cecil Beaton C.B.E. 8th March 1968
"…
extends the boundaries of the possible in photography
and shows us all how we can do so too."
Sir George Pollock Bt., M.A. (Former
President of The Royal Photographic Society 1978).
National Science and Media Museum
Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1NQ UK
NSMM Research Library Book database. Reference:
770.05.COH
Author: Cohen, John Neville
Title: Painting With Light By
Projection Photography: Pure Photography Using Light
& Film,
Description: Essay and references to
the pioneering technique developed by John Neville
Cohen, which enabled the creation of ‘Spirit of Spring’,
the first ever Kodachrome transparency that had both a
portrait and a negative image of a tulip, on the same
emulsion.
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John Neville Cohen, projection photography, light
painting, special effects, painting with light, film,
Kodachrome, photography, portraits, analogue photography,
creative photography, artistic photography, visual arts,
photographer, technique, conceptual, surreal, dramatic,
fantasy, expressionist, art, artworks, contemporary,
impressionist, limited edition, pictures, Photo Expo,
Kodak. |
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(Author John Neville Cohen) Invaluable
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The
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Joseph
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Information
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British Classic Jensen Cars
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Very informative about the rare Jensen 541S
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These
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A 'Special Effects' Course
(Author John Neville Cohen) Amazing
to see what can be done in pure
photography without any expensive equipment,
computer, or darkroom. All is achieved
with a projector - the magical 'Magic
Lantern'. All details of this
extraordinary technique is clearly explained and
all for free!
Poetic
Portfolio
Fascinating
photographic exhibition of 'The Magic Lantern'
award winning 'special effect' photographs by
John Neville Cohen.
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