IRSTUDIO

Infrared photography offers some latent potential to obtain original and creatively impressive photographs. I am deliberately saying “latent” as the wavelength of light registered by the chip in a digital camera, eventually by film sensitive to IR light is in the range which the human eye is not able to pick up. Nowadays, when digital photography experiences its unprecedented boom, new possibilities have been opened for taking pictures in the infrared spectrum. The sensors of currently manufactured digital cameras are also able to pick up the light that is not visible with naked eyes – ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR).These kinds of light are utilized for many purposes. One of the well known methods is probably the use of UV light in criminology or in forensic sciences to search for routinely invisible traces as we can see it in some of the popular TV series

For needs of digital infrared photography, the so called near infrared radiation (NIR) with the wavelength ranging from approx. 700 to 1000nm is utilized. The human eye perceives the color light spectrum ranging from 400nm to 700nm. To have a better notion, take a close look at the following graph.

For needs of digital infrared photography, the so called near infrared radiation (NIR) with the wavelength ranging from approx. 700 to 1000nm is utilized. The human eye perceives the color light spectrum ranging from 400nm to 700nm. To have a better notion, take a close look at the following graph. As the sensitivity of chips in digital cameras is so high, the manufacturers of digital cameras are forced to place special filters in front of the chips to prevent the undesired light from penetration into the chips. We call them IR cut-off filters or familiarly “hot mirror“. Photographs without them would look plainly and would be shifted in color because the chip would pick up all the light penetrating into it. The same principle is applied when IR pictures are taken. If you wish to take IR pictures, you must filter off a great portion of the light spectrum up to NIR – approx. 700nm. Infrared filters, easily available in camera shops, are used for this purpose. Here, you have several options to choose from. It depends on the fact whether you want to take color or black-and-white IR pictures. If you decide at least on trying to take IR pictures, it is a good idea to gather maximum amount of information about necessary equipment and methods how to take such pictures. In this way, you will surely avoid disappointment which is plain enough here.

The entire process provides a number of stumbling blocks (advanced knowledge of camera work, post-processing, etc.) that may discourage less experienced photographers straight from the start.