Yesterday, the wind rushed through the streets of Montreal with a frankly hostile force.
The proverbial cold of Robert Charlevoix’s songs hit for the first time this winter, and it made my head spin a little. But that’s to be expected, as it’s the last full moon of the year: the Cold Moon.
The season promises to be, as every year, a violent one. My visit to Angélique Dubé’s studio, the first aura photography studio in Quebec, seems to be written in the stars.
The studio just opened at the end of November, and is a must for all Montrealers who want to channel – and photograph – their aura…
Photography, mysticism and scientific research
The Prisma Aura studio is on the 7th floor of a building on rue Sainte-Catherine, and it’s bright and inviting-not at all what I imagined an aura photgraphy studio to be. No heavy velvet curtains, lavender incense or lava lamps.
Angélique Dubé, the photographer and interpreter, offers to take a photo first, before explaining the process of her miraculous camera.
Her camera, one of a hundred in existence worldwide, is a Coggins. The model, which has not changed since the 1980s, was invented by Guy Coggins in California, where it is still produced in very limited quantities.
Coggins was inspired by the 1930s research of Russian scientists Semyon and Valentina Kirlian – used to diagnose plant diseases by photographing the energy emitted by cut leaves.
The camera he invented, and which Angélique now uses in the studio, uses the principle of double-exposure. This means that two images are recorded and superimposed one on top of the other.
On one side, a Polaroid-type camera takes a photo of the subject against a black background. On the other, two silver receivers on which you place your hands record the subject’s bio-magnetic data.
The two images are printed together, and the result is a portrait with the subject’s aura in distinct colors. And the best part is what comes next…
Aura, energy and trust
Angélique is much more than a photographer. While she describes herself simply as an artist who has studied yoga and reiki, her air of mystical wisdom reminds me of an oracle from ancient Greek texts-with a blazer and the skyscrapers of Montreal in the background.
She speaks to me of my aura with an accuracy that’s almost therapeutic, of energy as aura creator and of the photo as a moment to be enjoyed with confidence.
Auras are created by the energy of the person photographed – whether from within or without. They range from earthy red to pure white, magical mauve and freedom yellow.
The mystical intimacy that is created during an aura photography session with Angélique is so soothing that I (almost) don’t feel the cold reddening my hands when I leave the studio, in typical Montreal city chaos.
Some people will want to come back at different times in their lives, or have their photos taken as a couple. Or, for a really special Christmas present, we can offer a photo session to a friend or family member who doesn’t dare book it themselves.
Practical info
Where: Prisma Aura, 460 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, #706 – instagram account: @prisma_aura
When? Wednesday to Sunday, by appointment
How? to book an appointment, click here or email Angélique directly here
For a photo -with an interpretation of her aura- the price is $44
For duos – for one photo each and one photo together – the price is $99.
Thank you, Angelique. And we wish you a sweet aura today!