Apparatus for image projection, comprising: at least one illumination device; a cover prism comprising a curved surface positioned to receive illumination light rays emitted by the at least one illumination device, a total internal reflection surface positioned to internally reflect the light rays received through the cover prism towards an asymmetric reflector surface formed within the cover prism and positioned opposite the total internal reflection surface, the asymmetric reflector surface configured to reflect the received light rays back through the cover prism and out of an emitter surface of the cover prism; a spatial light modulator having a surface for receiving illumination light rays from the emitter surface of the cover prism and configured for modulating the illumination light rays with image data to form image light rays; a reverse total internal reflection RTIR prism positioned between the spatial light modulator and the emitter surface of the cover prism and comprising an output surface positioned to allow illumination light rays emitted from the cover prism to travel through the RTIR prism to the spatial light modulator, and further comprising a total internal reflection surface positioned to receive image light rays reflected from the spatial light modulator and configured to totally internally reflect the image light rays from the output surface of the RTIR prism and into a light projection device; and the light projection device positioned to receive image light rays from the output of the RTIR prism and to project the image light rays from at least one projection lens, wherein the light projection device further comprises a series of optical elements arranged to form a pupil, and no more than two optical components are disposed in an image light path after the pupil. at least one illumination device; a cover prism comprising a curved surface positioned to receive illumination light rays emitted by the at least one illumination device, a total internal reflection surface positioned to internally reflect the light rays received through the cover prism towards an asymmetric reflector surface formed within the cover prism and positioned opposite the total internal reflection surface, the asymmetric reflector surface configured to reflect the received light rays back through the cover prism and out of an emitter surface of the cover prism; a spatial light modulator having a surface for receiving illumination light rays from the emitter surface of the cover prism and configured for modulating the illumination light rays with image data to form image light rays; a reverse total internal reflection RTIR prism positioned between the spatial light modulator and the emitter surface of the cover prism and comprising an output surface positioned to allow illumination light rays emitted from the cover prism to travel through the RTIR prism to the spatial light modulator, and further comprising a total internal reflection surface positioned to receive image light rays reflected from the spatial light modulator and configured to totally internally reflect the image light rays from the output surface of the RTIR prism and into a light projection device; and the light projection device positioned to receive image light rays from the output of the RTIR prism and to project the image light rays from at least one projection lens, wherein the light projection device further comprises a series of optical elements arranged to form a pupil, and no more than two optical components are disposed in an image light path after the pupil.