Infrared Photography

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jomantha

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Our college tutor wants us to step outside of our comfort zone, so I saw some pictures I really liked - I've been told they are infra red so I fancy giving it a go.

I'm thinking of getting a Hoya filter for my d3000, but I wouldn't know where to start after that.

Any tips!
 
Difficult without a camera converted to IR.

DSLRs have filters over the sensor to cut IR but some of them have a little bit of headroom so, depending on the characteristics of your camera and the filter you use, you can sometimes get some quite nice semi-IR effects. But sometimes hardly anything.

Someone here might have more direct experience or google around for more info, but I have to say there is a difference between getting out of your comfort zone and doing things that are technically very difficult without specialist equipment.
 
The Hoya filter works pretty well.. but do check specifically that the *lens* you want to use works well for IR (just google you lens and infrared). My default lens for funny-filters (IR, WG, etc) is the Sigma 30mm, unfortunately this suffers from hotspots when used for IR. This is a function of the lens design. It's not so bad I can't work with it or round it though.

It would be worth getting an IR filter larger than you need and using a set of step-down rings so that you can fit it to as many lenses as possible (isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?).
 
:agree:
IR togging with unmodified cameras involves a complex workflow of composing and focusing on a tripod in manual mode without the filter, then adding the filter and using a remote release to take a shot lasting from several seconds to several minutes (dependent on camera/lens/conditions/etc.)
Results will vary from quite good to mediocre, depending on the specs of the internal IR cut filter, and your lens.
Modification of DSLR cameras to IR costs around £250 and up, and you generally can't then use them easily for "normal" togging.

I see you're a Nikon user, so this thread in the classifieds section may be of some interest to you...?
 
Thanks for all that - think I may scrub that idea then!! May well try it in Photoshop.

Perhaps I'll try water droplets - I have the equip for that and I've never tried it!!
 
Could not be easier, buy a used SLR NOT digital, £30 and IR Film £6

http://www.mailshotsuk.co.uk/acatalog/Efke_IR_820_36_Aura_Infrared_Film.html

And a filter £15ish

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ir.htm

Use google for film and remember THAT is what the "RED" mark on the focus on the lens barel is for as IR comes to focus at a different point, who needs a digi conversion, I have used IR for years.

LOAD THE FILM AND UNLOAD IT IN A CHANGING BAG. (GOOGLE that)

Fine but processing please as this is interesting

Thanks
 
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I have the hoya filter. Used it a couple of times. Can't say it has produced anything interesting!

Better to shoot in RAW then fiddle with the colour balance to move it to mono or do some colour swapping otherwise the results are surprisingly bland and don't seem to have that ethereal quality that I remember from seeing IR film photos.

Not all cameras are suitable for IR film. None with DX coding are and most minoltas from what I remember.
 
I was going to suggest a similar thing, get an older manual camera like a Spotmatic with a prime lens or two (makes IR photography much easier than using a zoom) and use some Ilford SFX 200 as you don't have to be concerned about freezing, loading in total darkness etc as its not 'proper' IR film, its extended red sensivity so it gives the same effect. Get a cheap R72 (720nm) IR filter and your all set (SFX is not sensitive past about 750nm). It wouldn't cost you too much as there are tons of Spotmatics and M42 lenses about and they normally come with a 55mm f1.8 or F2; you can also normally get M42 28mm or 35mm lenses for not too much.

If your interested you might want to read this post I made on film IR photography a while ago (note that 7dayshop no longer stock Ilford film, try AG Photographic instead):

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=2954752&postcount=3

BTW, its nothing to do with the DX coding that makes some cameras unsuitable for IR photography, its because they use IR diodes for the frame counter.
 
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What's with all these suggestions of buying a cheap SLR? SLR is about the only camera type which sucks for IR work. Get a rangefinder or TLR, then you can focus and compose without faffing around with your filter.
 
IR photogrpahy with an uncobvrted DSLR is easy. All you need is a tripod, remote release and the IR filter, not exactly exotic specialist stuff! Compose, filter on, focus (AF). Probably need a bit of trial and error initially to judge the strength of the IR filter but F8 and around 30 seconds is good on your average UK day. Only think you may need to watch is hotspots from your lens - google will tell you whether or not your intended lens will be a problem.

My avatar is Infra Red, 1/20 ISO3200 F3.5 on an unconverted GH1.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
IR photogrpahy with an uncobvrted DSLR is easy. All you need is a tripod, remote release and the IR filter, not exactly exotic specialist stuff! Compose, filter on, focus (AF). Probably need a bit of trial and error initially to judge the strength of the IR filter but F8 and around 30 seconds is good on your average UK day. Only think you may need to watch is hotspots from your lens - google will tell you whether or not your intended lens will be a problem.

My avatar is Infra Red, 1/20 ISO3200 F3.5 on an unconverted GH1.
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That makes the point really, it doesn't look very IR at all.
 
It sounds scary - I am not very confident anyway so I think I will give it a miss - but thank you for all the replies - this is the first assignment - there are 4 - so maybe it's something for later on in the college year.
 
jomantha said:
It sounds scary - I am not very confident anyway so I think I will give it a miss - but thank you for all the replies - this is the first assignment - there are 4 - so maybe it's something for later on in the college year.
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OK, why not have a look on the Photography Technique tutorials forum then, and see if there's anything there you'd like to try. :thumbs:
 
Tori_T said:
OK, why not have a look on the Photography Technique tutorials forum then, and see if there's anything there you'd like to try. :thumbs:
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As it's about getting out of comfort zones.. surely he should be looking for something he doesn't want to try..
 
Alastair said:
As it's about getting out of comfort zones.. surely he should be looking for something he doesn't want to try..
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I was thinking more along the lines of something new, not necessarily something unappealing...
 
I wouldn't worry about the icon too much.
The absorption/reflection characteristics of humans to NIR is pretty much identical to that of visible white light.* It's water, vegetation, and some synthetic materials that have the dramatic contrasts.

If you want something really unusual, get yourself thermographed. :thumbs:


*There are some differences, but they aren't really going to be noticeable in an 80x80 icon
 
Thanks everyone - IR is too far out of my comfort zone - thanks for the tutorials links - Last night I did macro flowers - (thanks BIgAndy) I think next week I'm going to try water droplets from the tutorials - although I have a feeling it's harder than it looks!
 
For IR, the Hoya R72 filter does give interesting results. The 2nd step is the processing. There are some helpful text/video tutorials available at IR masters Life Pixel.

http://www.lifepixel.com/

The only drawback you may encounter is the 'hot spot' issue. Some lenses do not like the R72.
 
My course teacher said you can replicate infrared buy removing the lens and pointing a infrared tv remote into the camera and taking a photo, then use that as a white balance.

I have not tried this though.
 
SAVA9E said:
My course teacher said you can replicate infrared buy removing the lens and pointing a infrared tv remote into the camera and taking a photo, then use that as a white balance.

I have not tried this though.
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What? :thinking: Makes no sense.
 
HoppyUK said:
That makes the point really, it doesn't look very IR at all.
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Alan Clogwyn said:
:thinking:
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Richard's right, had you not said it was ir no-one would have been any the wiser

SAVA9E said:
My course teacher said you can replicate infrared buy removing the lens and pointing a infrared tv remote into the camera and taking a photo, then use that as a white balance.

I have not tried this though.
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What is it you're studying, bricklaying? I sincerely hope it's not photography......:lol:
 
Just telling you what he said, i will give it a go one day to see how that works.
 
SAVA9E said:
Just telling you what he said, i will give it a go one day to see how that works.
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When you do, remember to do it at night, with the lights off. You don't want all that bulb/daylight messing up the white balance. :thumbs:
 
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