Infra-Red Photography

[windowpain]

Hello all.

I searched through the forums but couldn't find anything.

I wanted to know if anyone has any experience with taking infra-red photos?
I recently converted a Nikon J1 to infra-red and have started taking some photos (although the weather has been less than ideal recently) and was hoping others had some advice, or could share their photos too.

It is an interesting experience using non-visible light, and will probably be my focus for this year. It really makes for interesting photos and I love the whiteness of trees etc against the dark sky.

 

[Laird Knox]

I've experimented with an old D70 but have not had results like yours. This is partially due to living in the desert where there isn't a lot of foliage to show off the Wood Effect.

I've been looking to dust off the camera and search out some better scenery but it hasn't made it to the top of the shooting list yet.

What filter are you using and how did you process that image?

 

[themumu]

I have an IR converted D80 that is a pure pleasure to use in the right conditions.

It does not work as well on overcast days, but some clouds in the sky can turn it into magic. I like to use it near water for that extra contrast it tends to add - on sunny days in looks inky black.

Although sometimes images turn out quite okay straight out of the camera, I find that most IR shots benefit greatly from increasing contrast. Sometimes I leave colours as is (especially when they are so unexpected, like it in the night time New York skyline below), but often I just turn them b/w.

I have never tried shooting with a traditional approach of a front mounted filter, and went straight for gutting a second hand DSLR and installing a filter over the sensor, so I can compose easier and shoot handheld. My first converted camera died in action when dunked into a lake, but I liked it so much, I converted another one

If you have more of your IR images somewhere, share a link, would love to see!

Some of them were shared on the picture of the day threads, but here is a small selection of my favourites.



Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Algonquin Park in infrared by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


DSC_4452 by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr

Infrared pine by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Untitled by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr


Gardens, boats and leaning towers by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr

 

[windowpain]

What filter are you using and how did you process that image?

I am using a fujifilm 72nm filter on a modified Nikon J1. Thought it much better to have a dedicated camera than having to put on a filter every time.

Although sometimes images turn out quite okay straight out of the camera, I find that most IR shots benefit greatly from increasing contrast. Sometimes I leave colours as is (especially when they are so unexpected, like it in the night time New York skyline below), but often I just turn them b/w.

If you have more of your IR images somewhere, share a link, would love to see!

Like themumu I basically just played a little with the contrast. I think I brought the shadows up, took the highlights down, and then increased the contrast. There may have been some sharpening there too..

To be honest, I have only taken about 15 photos total with it so far, I was just getting a feel for it and testing it out. I should use a tripod I know..
Anyway, I was just hoping to get advice from others. When spring comes around I am definitely going to get out and use it more.

themumu - those shots are fantastic!
I love the top 2 and the one of central park especially.
I never thought about doing macro/insect shots..I will need to dig out the old 55/3.5.
Is there any lens which you would recommend? I know the IR qualities are often different from visible light.

I have some shots on my site www.convertyourcameratoinfrared.info/ which will hopefully help others wanting to convert.
Its a pretty easy conversion, and looks about on a par with converting a D70, no soldering involved.
Its good to give an older camera a new lease of life.

 

[themumu]

I never thought about doing macro/insect shots..I will need to dig out the old 55/3.5.
Is there any lens which you would recommend? I know the IR qualities are often different from visible light.

I have some shots on my site www.convertyourcameratoinfrared.info/ which will hopefully help others wanting to convert.

Lenses do perform differently in IR, but the most noticeable is the fact that everything seems to focus incorrectly. I have a 50mm lens which misfocuses in such a way that a slight twist on the focus ring after auto focusing, immediately before pressing the shutter all the way - results in very sharp photos. My 18-200mm zoom is not as "wrong" looking, but almost impossible to make perfect. But those are all F mount, the lenses for your camera will have their own quirks, just experiment and see.

I have since gotten rid of my macro lens (it was possibly the greatest macro for F mount - Nikkor 105 mm VR, but kind of heavy ) as I rarely used it, but keep around a fisheye, though this particular selection of photos didn't have any obvious examples with it (the 4th photo is it, but just looks ultra wide, not very fishy). Still have way too much unprocessed stuff on my disk.

Spring cannot come soon enough.

In the meantime, try shooting portraits. People look a bit different in IR too.

 

[windowpain]

Lenses do perform differently in IR, but the most noticeable is the fact that everything seems to focus incorrectly. I have a 50mm lens which misfocuses in such a way that a slight twist on the focus ring after auto focusing, immediately before pressing the shutter all the way - results in very sharp photos. My 18-200mm zoom is not as "wrong" looking, but almost impossible to make perfect.

It should be possible to easily adjust the focusing of your D80. I had similar situation when I changed the focusing screen on my D40.
I forget exactly which one it is, but if you flip up the mirror you should see two allen/hex screws on one side, one of them adjusts the auto focus and one adjusts the manual focus (I believe.) I think you need the one nearest the front of the camera.

Set up your camera on a tripod, point it at a ruler, and focus.
Look at the photo and it should tell you if you are front or back focusing, and give it a half twist of an allen key until you get it spot on.

Edit - sorry, forgot to mention, you should probably use the mirror lock up function if you are poking about.. I mean you could just hold it open, but probably best to be safe than sorry.

 

[Laird Knox]

If you look at many older lenses you will see a red dot or line on the barrel. This is the mark you use to focus IR instead of the normal hash mark.

 

[themumu]

It should be possible to easily adjust the focusing of your D80. I had similar situation when I changed the focusing screen on my D40.
I forget exactly which one it is, but if you flip up the mirror you should see two allen/hex screws on one side, one of them adjusts the auto focus and one adjusts the manual focus (I believe.) I think you need the one nearest the front of the camera.

Set up your camera on a tripod, point it at a ruler, and focus.
Look at the photo and it should tell you if you are front or back focusing, and give it a half twist of an allen key until you get it spot on.

Edit - sorry, forgot to mention, you should probably use the mirror lock up function if you are poking about.. I mean you could just hold it open, but probably best to be safe than sorry.

I have actually done that, but the problem is that the adjustment is not the same for different lenses (or maybe I'm just not doing it right ). I got it to work reasonably fine with my most common lens, but it's not as good for the others.

If you look at many older lenses you will see a red dot or line on the barrel. This is the mark you use to focus IR instead of the normal hash mark.

Most of my lenses are DX and none have the IR dot/line. It's not that hard to get used to it though, after a while of experimenting

One more shot of something different:


Hot Air Balloons in Infrared over Richelieu river by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr

 

[windowpain]

Now that the weather is warming up, I thought I would post some more pics to this thread.

I also bought an adapter to use the 28/3.5H on my Nikon J1 (the FT-1 wouldn't mount it, I used the fotodiox one instead) and unfortunately the results were not great.
It is supposedly a superlative IR lens, but I can only assume I had difficulty focussing it (it is hard to see the J1 screen under very bright sunlight.)

Meanwhile I took out the J1-IR converted with 10-30 kit lens, and the J1-non-converted with 10mm lens, just for some comparison shots between the two.
(Yes, Yes..I have far too many of those Nikon 1 cameras I know..can't help myself as they go for silly money used. I may convert my V1 too..)

I made the mistake again of having the iso too high, I know a grainy photo is better than a blurry one, but I really should use a tripod and do it properly, one of my goals this year. I also need to diversify away from the local park..but I will see what I can come up with in the coming months.

I really enjoy taking IR photos and the ones in this thread are a real inspiration to improve.

 

[themumu]

I'll see your "green" foliage and raise you an iced over lake.

Taken a week ago an hour north of Toronto. In the summer this lake is popular as a casual beach destination, but the time has not yet come...


Lake Simcoe, Infrared by FriskyFreeze, on Flickr

 

[iTiki]

Big Sur river shot with the Fuji X-Pro1, Hoya filter and processed in Aperture.