Infrared images have a magic quality to them. They are almost otherworldly. Green foliage turns white and skies go dark. It is a wonderful world to explore which can make ordinary images extraordinary.
Infrared light is light that is not visible to the human eye and is just beyond the red end of the visible light spectrum (hence the name infrared).
There are a number of different ways to capture an infrared image. You can use infrared film and a film camera, a regular digital camera with an infrared filter on the lens, or a camera that has been converted to infrared.
| Infrared Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared film & film camera | – You can use an existing film camera or get used film cameras for a reasonable price – You can use the camera like you would any camera – Normal exposure times -Works with multiple lenses | – Infrared film needs to be loaded and unloaded in darkness – It may be difficult to find a place that develops infrared film – You can’t see your results until film is developed – There is ongoing expense to purchase and develop (and scan if you want) film – One speed (ISO) of film |
| Infrared Filter | – A filter can go on many lenses if it is large enough (use step down rings to put on smaller filter threads) – A relatively inexpensive way to get started – Easy to carry a filter | – Very long exposure times so the camera must be on a tripod – You can’t see through the filter so you have to compose your shot and then put on the filter – A filter may not fit on all lenses |
| Infrared Camera | – Easy to use like any other camera – Works with multiple lenses – Normal exposure times – Can adjust ISO for different situations – Can create colourized infrared image | – The more expensive option |
Image captured on infrared film
In this challenge, I used a digital camera that has been converted to infrared.
Converting a Digital Camera to Infrared
Every digital camera has a filter that blocks infrared light and UV light and lets visible light through. When a camera is converted to infrared, that filter is taken out and a filter that blocks visible light is inserted. There are different types of filters that block different wavelengths of light that can be used for infrared photography.
If you are interested in converting one of your cameras to infrared or purchasing an infrared camera, check out Life Pixel. Their website is a great place to get started and learn more about infrared photography.
I didn’t personally get one of my cameras converted. I bought a used camera on eBay that had already been converted to infrared.
After capturing an image with my infrared digital camera, the photo on the LCD of my camera looks red.
The white balance you use when using an infrared camera is important so I always set my camera to RAW because then I can adjust the white balance later. I tend to like black and white infrared so when I process my files after downloading them, I end up converting them into black and white.
Focusing
No matter which option you choose to capture infrared images, film, filter or infrared converted camera, focusing can be problematic in infrared photography.
Did you know that infrared light actually focuses at a different wavelength than visible light?
So it is possible that when looking through your viewfinder, the image will look in focus but when you look at the resulting photo, the image is out of focus. The actual focus point may be in front or behind where you focused.
If you send your camera to get converted to infrared, they can actually calibrate the camera to focus with a specific lens (like an 18-70mm lens). As mentioned, I bought my camera second hand so I don’t know which lens the camera was calibrated to focus with or even if any additional focus calibration was done at all.
Is it a problem? Generally, it isn’t a problem because I tend to use wide angle lenses which have quite a lot of depth of field and where focus isn’t too critical when focusing on objects farther away. It can become a problem when I get in close to something and try to focus and I am using a wide aperture. To help with this I can use a smaller aperture to give myself more depth of field.
A mirrorless camera converted to infrared is fantastic because the focusing is based on the light hitting the sensor. So you can see if an image is in focus right away. Perhaps one day I will get a mirrorless infrared camera but for now I still love my DSLR and it gets the job done.
So how did this challenge go? Check out the video below.
I am looking forward to future infrared challenges where I might use infrared film or a filter that you put on the front of a lens and use with a regular digital camera. Or maybe I will try using telephoto lenses with my infrared camera.
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