Infrared Photography
In the coming weeks I will be adding a portfolio of infrared photography images. When using infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Wavelengths used for infrared photography range from about 700 nm to about 900 nm.
A filter is placed over the lens that completely blocks all "visible light." The filter is completely opaque and only allows light in the infrared spectrum into the camera body. Photos taken with these filters and special films (or digital sensors) exhibit what is knows as the "Wood Effect."
The effect is mainly caused by foliage (such as tree leaves and grass) strongly reflecting in the same way visible light is reflected from snow. There is a small contribution from chlorophyll fluorescence, but this is extremely small and is not the real cause of the brightness seen in infrared photographs.
The other attributes of infrared photographs include nearly black skies and penetration of atmospheric haze, caused by reduced Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering, respectively, compared to visible light. The dark skies, in turn, result in less infrared light in shadows and dark reflections of those skies from water, and clouds will stand out strongly.
I have experimented with two types of infrared film, Kodak HIE and Macophot 820c. Kodak HIE is a much "faster" film and is well known for its large grain, a feature of prints from this film. Kodak HIE also does not have an anti-halation layer on the back of the film, this often results in a glowing, or halo effect from strong infrared light sources. Macophot 820c is a much slower film and is much smoother in grain appearance. However, my strong preference is for digital infrared photography. I have shot with both Fuji S2 Pro and Fuji S3 Pro cameras.
Shutter speeds for most IR captures are quite long and lend themselves to capture movement, or ghost like images. I like to use IR photography to portray scenes in a darker mood, or those that express a feeling of emptyness or abandonment.
A filter is placed over the lens that completely blocks all "visible light." The filter is completely opaque and only allows light in the infrared spectrum into the camera body. Photos taken with these filters and special films (or digital sensors) exhibit what is knows as the "Wood Effect."
The effect is mainly caused by foliage (such as tree leaves and grass) strongly reflecting in the same way visible light is reflected from snow. There is a small contribution from chlorophyll fluorescence, but this is extremely small and is not the real cause of the brightness seen in infrared photographs.
The other attributes of infrared photographs include nearly black skies and penetration of atmospheric haze, caused by reduced Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering, respectively, compared to visible light. The dark skies, in turn, result in less infrared light in shadows and dark reflections of those skies from water, and clouds will stand out strongly.
I have experimented with two types of infrared film, Kodak HIE and Macophot 820c. Kodak HIE is a much "faster" film and is well known for its large grain, a feature of prints from this film. Kodak HIE also does not have an anti-halation layer on the back of the film, this often results in a glowing, or halo effect from strong infrared light sources. Macophot 820c is a much slower film and is much smoother in grain appearance. However, my strong preference is for digital infrared photography. I have shot with both Fuji S2 Pro and Fuji S3 Pro cameras.
Shutter speeds for most IR captures are quite long and lend themselves to capture movement, or ghost like images. I like to use IR photography to portray scenes in a darker mood, or those that express a feeling of emptyness or abandonment.
posted by Christian Kiely at
6:00 AM
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