Miranda July, 2009

Terence Koh, 2008

James Frey, 2010

The information about the model's energetic and auric qualities are then projected as vivid colors onto the instant film.

'You get a mix of association between this information about the subject and a likeness of them in the final (photo),' Van de Roer told Slate.com.

Different aura colors mean different things, and Van de Roer has published a book called The Portrait Machine Project, which explains his subject's auras.

Generally, blue represents feelings, emotions and instinct while green suggests growth, healing and abundance. Yellow represents optimism, youth and dreaming while orange highlights kindness, vitality and communication. A person whose aura is red is often dynamic and creative but nervous.

Yoko Okutsu, 2008

Waris Ahluwalia, 2011

James Frey, 2010

Van de Roer told Slate that the camera can be controlled only one way, forcing him to simplify the photography process.

'In the end it forced me out of my comfort zone,' he explained. 'I became more involved with the subject. The act of making the portraits became almost a kind of theatrical performance, trying to affect the subject who in theory could affect the portrait by being connected to the camera.

'Of course, the more involved I got, the more involved the subject became—and I became more aware of the power-play involved.'

Aurel Schmidt, 2009

Sara Rossein, 2009

Taika Waititi, 2008

Martynka Wawrzyniak, 2008