Infrared Photography My Journey Beyond Visible Light by Kathleen Reed Here’S What We’Ll Cover Tonight
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Infrared Photography My Journey Beyond Visible Light by Kathleen Reed Here’s What We’ll Cover Tonight: What is Infrared Photography How Does IR Work? IR Filters Converting Digital Cameras How to Shoot IR What to Shoot in IR Processing IR Images Inspiring IR Photographers My Best IR Shots What is Infrared Photography? Explore a New World of Possibilities Our eyes cannot see IR light Process is created by using an infrared-passing filter which only lets IR light pass through the camera and blocks all or most of the visible light spectrum Allows us to see a world that can often look very different from that we are accustomed to seeing Reflected IR light produces a fascinating array of surreal effects Infrared photos are breath-taking and artistic Have a mystical feel to them Stunning “snow” or “wood” effect Amazing “false colors” Dream-like feel to them How Does IR Work? Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Invisible Light vs. Infrared Light Infrared photography cerates unique images capable of portraying things not normally visible to the human eye. IR Photography Options 1. Use a film camera and an infrared film stock such as Kodak HIE. 2. Use a circular IR Filter to block visible light from hitting your DSLR's sensor only allowing a small amount of infrared rays through. 3. Use a dedicated infrared camera. IR Filters Blocks Visible Light Filter Options • Screw onto lens • Hoya or Cokin • $100 • R72 is most common • Square filters can risk light leaks • Avoid expense and purchase stepping ring Black and White Photo with Visible Light Black and White Photo with Hoya R72 Filter Digital Camera Conversions Permanently Convert to Infrared Digital Sensors • Highly sensitive • Special filters put in front called, “Hot Mirror, or “IR Cutoff Filter” to block radiation Digital Camera Sensors for Visible and IR Converted Camera Conversions • $250 - $450 • Choose a filter • Decide what camera • Ship camera and lens • Custom lens calibration • Or select converted camera Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—590nm Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—665nm Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—720nm Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—850nm Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—Blue IR Filter Choices for Camera Conversions—Full Spectrum How to Shoot in IR Setting Up • Digital camera • Sturdy tripod • IR lens • Shoot in RAW • Turn off long-exposure noise reduction • Turn on exposure delay mode or use mirror lockup • Set up a release/self timer White Balance • Good white balance gets decent images • Use pre-white balance reading from grass • Follow your camera’s settings to save the white balance Focus and Stabilization • Focusing is difficult and can be hit or miss • Use IR focus marks and focus manually • Focus and compose with Autofocus—then switch to manual • Turn off image stabilization Aperture • Set up a small aperture • Ensures sharp shot • Larger depth of field • Minimizes focusing issues ISO • Set low ISO • Minimize noise • Maximum ISO 800 for 10 secs. To 1 minute • ISO 100—8 minutes or ISO 200—4 minutes Shutter Speed • IR filters are dense • Force slower shutter speeds • Calculate similar to ND filter • Experiment or use an exposure calculator Take the Shot • Screw on the IR filter • Careful not to nudge focus ring • Cover you view finder • Press shutter release • Wait for the results! What to Shoot in IR? High-Key Portraits Black and Whites False Color Sepia Tones Hand Tinting Night Shot Still Life Fashion Travel Deep Shadows Landscapes Motion Blur Water Weddings Panoramics Animals Cemeteries Churches Reflections Parks Buildings Trees Space Processing IR Images Software to Use DNG Profile Tool Adobe Camera Raw Photoshop Lightroom Nik Effects Viveza Dfine Silver Efex Pro Topaz Studio DeNoise InFocus Convert to DNG • Download DNG Profile editor from Adobe Labs • Create a profile for your camera to use in ACR or Lightroom • Go beyond normal white balance thresholds • Or use Nikon View/Capture or Canon DPP • Convert one RAW file to DNG format • Save format and apply to IR photos RAW Processing in ACR Open your IR image in Adobe Camera Raw and go to the “Camera Calibration” tab. Under “Camera Profile” click the dropdown menu and select the profile you created earlier with the DNG editor. Adjust the white balance Temperature and Tint to get a neutral look. Edit the image as you would process any other photo. Use the spot removal tool to get rid of any dust spots. Infrared shots are a little flat. Bump up the contrast and clarity a little to give the image some depth Add a few curve adjustments. Set the sharpness and noise reduction. Then click “Open Object” to open the photo in Photoshop Processing in Photoshop In the “Adjustments” panel, click the icon for the “Channel Mixer” adjustment. Under the “Properties” panel, select the “Red” Output Channel. Then reduce the Red value from 100 to 0 and increase the Blue value from 0 to 100. Now select the “Blue” Output Channel. Then change Red from 0 to 100 and Blue from 100 to 0. The channels are now swapped. Next, add a “Levels” adjustment layer. For each of the three channels, drag the left and right sliders across the empty space in the histogram. (Red Slider) Green Slider Blue Slider You should see the colors really pop out now. Next, add a “Curves” adjustment. Select the middle eye-dropper and try clicking various parts of the photo until you get a desirable color balance. You can fine-tune the image further using the Hue/Saturation and “Brightness and Contrast” adjustment layers. Final image! Inspiring IR Photographers Mark Hilliard Laurie Klein David Keochkerian David Wampler Jack Davis My Best IR Shots Thank you!.