Pure special effects photography using only light and film
to create dramatic images, 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 for creating
photographic special effects!
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).
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To John Neville Cohen's dedicated site for Painting with Light Limited
Edition
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Juggling a Number of Hats
My Life's Experiences and Business Ventures
John Neville Cohen
Articles for New
Collectors
(Author John Neville Cohen) Invaluable
help for collectors of Asian antiques. How to buy and avoid the most
common mistakes, when buying antiques, particularly netsuke, inro, snuff
bottles and jade.
The Cohen Collection
Asian antiques (645 colour photos of fine Japanese and Chinese
antique; netsuke, inro, ojime, snuff bottles, pendants & jade carvings)
all fully described by renowned experts Neil K. Davey + Robert Hall. An
essential reference work for the serious collector that is beautiful and
very easy to use.
Joseph Cohen
& The History of Jacey Cinemas Ltd
Information on our family business created by my Grandfather Joseph
Cohen.
British Classic Jensen Cars
(Author John Neville
Cohen)
Very informative about the rare Jensen 541S &
CV8 sports cars, particularly about the little known superb Jensen 541S
manual drive, a classic car with lots of photos.
Copyright Free
or Royalty Free Stock Photographs
These are exceptional value 18MB photographs
that will not date!
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.
La Alcazaba
Apartment in Puerto Banus For Sale
Outstanding 3 double bedroom apartment, all on one level, for sale at La
Alcazaba, Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain.
Investment Opportunities
Opportunities, Property items for Sale.
Commercial Photography
Professional photography and graphic design by Actuality photodigital.
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Stamps For Little People
See all the pages and paintings for a unique way of collecting stamps.
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Shows the first sketches and paintings and an amusing letter.
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Marilyn Monroe, Sir Michael Balcon, Arthur Miller, Cecil Day-Lewis &
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