lots of infrared talk lately

GristlyEnd

I very rarely make new posts here but noticed a bit of talk recently about infrared photography. It's one of my passions and below are a few examples of my recent shots. If anyone has any questions about my processing or general IR tips, ask away.









All where taken with a Hoya R72 filter on my Nikon D50 and 50mm f/1.8 lens. A custom white balance was taken of the grass in direct sunlight. This eliminates the red hue you would get otherwise but it doesn't work for all cameras.

I have to admit converting IR to shots to monochrome is not one of my strong points so would welcome any tips on this.

Promac

Now I get it.

thebaz

excellent stuff darren - not sure which is my favourite - possibly 2nd or last

sineadw

Oh that last one is particularly gorgeous

I forgot my bloody camera today. Saw loads that would have worked well in IR too. Typical..

trishw78

I love the last one as well I really need to get out and do IR more...

WheresMyCamera?

DarrenG wrote: »

I very rarely make new posts here but noticed a bit of talk recently about infrared photography. It's one of my passions and below are a few examples of my recent shots. If anyone has any questions about my processing or general IR tips, ask away..

I've recently got the same ir filter. I use it with a canon 30D and nifty fifty too. I'd be really interested in finding out how you achieve such fast shutter speeds? For a simular type of exposure I'm usually up around the 4-6 minute mark not 1/2 a second! (using iso 100-200)

Have you converted the D50 in anyway?

Cheers
A

jpb1974

I'm usually up around the 4-6 minute mark

The IR filter that sits in front on your camera's digital sensor will vary in strength from camera model to camera model.

Depending on the filter strength your exposure time can therefore vary greatly from camera model to camera model.

You'll often hear people say "such a camera is well suited for digital IR photography" and what this often more or less means is that the IR filter in front of the digital sensor is very weak letting in plenty of IR light.

WheresMyCamera?

jpb1974 wrote: »

The IR filter that sits in front on your camera's digital sensor will vary in strength from camera model to camera model.

Depending on the filter strength your exposure time can therefore vary greatly from camera model to camera model.

You'll often hear people say "such a camera is well suited for digital IR photography" and what this often more or less means is that the IR filter in front of the digital sensor is very weak letting in plenty of IR light.

I have read that. But can it really vary to such a degree? Minutes vs fraction of a second it both cameras still have their own internal filters attached?

jpb1974

But can it really vary to such a degree?

The quick & simple answer to that question is "Yes".

It's recommended that where the cameras IR filter is strong that you shooter at a higher ISO (400+) and keep your aperture open no smaller than about F8.

I've seen a guy shooting on a Sony A100 in the region of 5-6 seconds whereas on the same day in the same lighting conditions my Canon 40D it was about a 1+ minute exposure.

Ultimately your exposure time will boil down to the strength of your camera's IR filter, your ISO and the aperture you use.

GristlyEnd

WheresMyCamera? wrote: »

I have read that. But can it really vary to such a degree? Minutes vs fraction of a second it both cameras still have their own internal filters attached?

It can unforuntately. I was out with a friend yesterday and he was using a Canon too. His exposure times where 10-20 seconds. I was getting 1/2 second exposure on mine.

The Nikon D50 and D70 are two cameras really suited to IR photography. I'm just glad I never sold the D50 when I got the D700.

WheresMyCamera?

jpb1974 wrote: »

I've seen a guy shooting on a Sony A100 in the region of 5-6 seconds whereas on the same day in the same lighting conditions my Canon 40D it was about a 1+ minute exposure.

DarrenG wrote: »

It can unforuntately. I was out with a friend yesterday and he was using a Canon too. His exposure times where 10-20 seconds. I was getting 1/2 second exposure on mine.

I'll have to bump up the iso so. Was trying the normal practice of looking to get the cleanest file I could but the long exposure times are killing me with burnt out pixels.

Still 5-6 seconds or even 10-20 seconds would suit me nicely if I could get a good file out of it.

Darren I'm only 25 minutes away from Balbriggan, I must head out with you at some stage and pick your brain!

jpb1974

Re: Monochrome Tips

For digital IR B+W conversion what I usually do is either apply a S shaped curves adjustment or run auto-levels before applying the B+W conversion method of choice.

You might then find that you need to apply a little more contrast.

Typically B+W conversions are easier than the channel swap conversions you have posted.

Barname

I like 2 & 4

prefer 4

Promac

Inspired to action:

Dispatch estimate for these items: 1 Jun 2010 - 2 Jun 2010
1 "Hoya 52mm Infrared R72 Filter"

GristlyEnd

WheresMyCamera? wrote: »

Darren I'm only 25 minutes away from Balbriggan, I must head out with you at some stage and pick your brain!

No problem

Promac

You said to "ask away" so - is there anything special I need to know about IR photography or is it just a matter of attaching the filter and mucking around?

I've got a Canon 450D and I've read a little about the IR stuff and I hear that some cameras have built-in IR filters which require you to have longer exposures depending on how good the filter is. That's the entirety of my IR photography knowledge.

GristlyEnd

Just go out and experiment. I remember the first shots I took with the IR filter and was very disappointed with them but I kept at it and I'm starting to get some decent photos now.

Plenty of sunlight, custom white balance, a tripod and that little cover for the eyepiece on your viewfinder so you don't allow light to leak in.

Promac

Cool cheers Darren. I need to suss out the custom white balance malarkey. And get a new tripod - the head fell off the last one...

WheresMyCamera?

Promac wrote: »

Cool cheers Darren. I need to suss out the custom white balance malarkey. And get a new tripod - the head fell off the last one...

I found these two links pretty helpful with getting my head around ir.

Tips For Infrared Shooting on a DSLR

Digital Infrared Processing False Colour

Promac

WheresMyCamera? wrote: »

I found these two links pretty helpful with getting my head around ir.

Tips For Infrared Shooting on a DSLR

Digital Infrared Processing False Colour

Excellent, thanks!

Really looking forward to trying this out now - I love this game.

jpb1974

Re: Monochrome Tips

For digital IR B+W conversion what I usually do is either apply a S shaped curves adjustment or run auto-levels before applying the B+W conversion method of choice.

You might then find that you need to apply a little more contrast.

Typically B+W conversions are easier than the channel swap conversions you have posted.

No probs DarrenG, your welcome

Fionn

been thinking about this for some time now!! i'd like to get an old camera and get it converted - apparently way much better than using a filter, but more spendy

jpb1974

been thinking about this for some time now!! i'd like to get an old camera and get it converted - apparently way much better than using a filter, but more spendy

I use a converted Canon 30D and it's great.

Farting around with filters and long exposure times (blurry grass, leaves etc) does me head in.

*Edit*

But being honest IR photography is both seasonal and goes in and out of fashion. I don't use the camera that often as I've drifted away from landscape photography in recent times.

Spend those sheckles wisely.

Promac

My new Hoya R72 showed up today and of course the sun is gone.