Infrared Photography – A Brief Primer

Infrared Digital  photography is popular due to the unusual effect that it produces; an effect that is appealing to the observer. Infrared photographs showcase unusual tones which are radically different from what people are used to seeing and it is this quality that makes them interesting to look at. For a long time, it has been difficult to take photos using infrared light due to the use of film. The photographer had to handle the film carefully and it was not possible to evaluate the photos taken until the film was completely used up. This made the process unpredictable and often resulted in production of disappointing photos.

Since digital photography started being used, it is relatively easier to carry out infrared photography. The only requirement of a photographer is to acquire some infrared accessories fit them into their digital cameras and its photography time. The sensor array’s reaction to infrared light and the filter used on the photographer’s camera for viewing the visible spectrum’s farthest end determine the quality of the photos taken.

The art of infrared photography entails using invisible light. To shoot infrared photos, the photographer has to get rid of all visible light. This will leave the infrared light only which is then used to take the photos. Thus infrared filters are needed. There are cameras with pre- installed threaded lenses for use of filters and the photographer only has to purchase the appropriate thread-size glass so as to fit the filter normally. Normally, most cameras do not have these threaded lenses and the photographer will need to use his or her creativity to install the filter.

Subjects of infrared photos have different appearances. Leaves usually give a whitish glow and the skin looks like porcelain. The sky as well as water looks black. After the photos are taken, the photographer can use de-saturation to manipulate these photos into the desired image.