My First Steps into the world of Infrared (IR) Photography

Today, I will offer you a little information that I have learned in my new adventure with IR Photography.  First, what is IR Photography?  It is for the most part light we can not see.  There is however some portion of the light spectrum which we can call "near IR" which is slightly visible to the naked eye.  Infrared is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is just above visible light.

The chart that you can see below shows the range of the electromagnetic spectrum.  The wave lengths in the electromagnetic spectrum consists of numerous waves that fall in to one of the ranges in the spectrum – radio, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet or gamma rays waves. The distance between two waves is called the wavelength and is measured in (NM) nanometers (a millionth of a meter). Using light’s wavelength, we can tell what color it is and which range of the electromagnetic spectrum it is in.

Humans can only see light with wavelengths of between 400nm and 700nm, as shown on the chart above. This range is called visible light. Humans cannot see any light with wavelengths above or below this range without special equipment.  

Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light has a frequency of 10nm to 400nm, meaning that it is not visible to the human eye. Its wavelength is longer than that of X-Rays, but shorter than visible light. Ultraviolet has a large number of uses at various wavelengths. Bug zappers use UV at 350-370nm because flies are most attracted to ultraviolet light at 365nm, whereas 250-300nm UV is used for forensic analysis and drug detection.

Ultraviolet is also heavily used for security purposes such as card readers. Many sensitive documents, such as passports or credit cards, include watermarks or images that can only be seen under UV light. 

Visible light

A typical human eye can see light from 400nm to 700nm on the electromagnetic spectrum. This range is called ‘visible light’.  Not all colors that humans can distinguish are in the visible spectrum; for example, pink is not included as it is a mix of multiple visible spectrum colors.

Some species can see light that is not in the visible spectrum. Bees can see ultraviolet light this helps them navigate to seek out nectar in flowers, many other insects and birds can also see ultraviolet light.

Near infrared light

Near infrared light is in the range of 700nm-1400nm on the electromagnetic spectrum and has wavelengths that are longer than those of visible light, meaning that humans can’t see it. Infrared photography most commonly uses near infrared light.   That area of the light spectrum overlaps visible light and infrared light in the 590nm to 920nm range.

A common misconception is that near infrared light is used for thermal imaging, but you actually need far infrared light that.  Near infrared light, is also used in in medicine for a technique named photo-biomodulation for the treatment of oral ulcers caused by chemotherapy and wound healing. 

Far infrared light

Far infrared light is in the 15μm-1mm region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike near infrared, which can only detect reflected infrared light, far infrared can ‘see’ sources of heat. This makes it useful for thermal imaging. An example use of this would be for fire fighters to seek out bodies in smoky, dark conditions.  NOTE:  Everyday infrared photography does not use far infrared light, as it would be too expensive for most people to afford. However, specialised equipment is available for use by businesses and authorities.

In Infrared Photography we want we want to block visible light and only pass infrared light or some quantity of infrared light in order to remove much of the visible color we normally see when light is  reflected on the camera sensor.

My Adventure

My adventure in IR Photography began by purchasing a standard IR Filter rated at 720nm.  This filter was screwed onto the front end of my camera lens.  The images were created by first focusing without the 720 IR Filter and then attaching the filter (which blocked almost all light) and without changing any setting, focus, etc. on the camera and lens, hit the shutter release to capture an image which the Digital camera saw as primarily RED.  I then had to download that strange looking image and adjust it using software to change the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) relationships so that I could create an artistic image that could show unique color or be converted to Black & White for an artistic Monochrome look.

Subsequently, I purchased a filter rated at 590nm which blocked less IR light and experimented the same way.  It was only then that I decided it was worth getting one of my cameras converted to IR.  In that way, I didn't have to mess with putting a filter on the lens because the filter would be after the lens directly on top of the camera light sensor.  In this way, I can see the scene I want to photography and then the image is created with the same results of color removal that I would get with the IR filter attached to the lens.

Sometime in the future when I learn more I will write more about IR Photography for now here are 

some examples of images I have created with lens filters as well as the newly converted camera.

Taken with a standard 720nm lens filter

Taken with a 590nm lens filter

Taken with 590nm converted camera

with color manipulation

Taken with 590nm converted camera

with conversion to monochrome for effect

Taken with 590nm converted camera

with color adjusted for effect

Taken with 590nm converted camera

with color enhanced effects

Taken with 590nm converted camera

converted to monochrome

I see lots of possibilities with this art form.  One very special feature is that I can shoot in any type of light, even harsh mid-day light, and create fine artistic images.

More will following in another blog in the near future.

REFERENCES:  

1.  http://www.lifepixel.com

2.  https://infraredatelier.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/understanding-590nm-goldie-issues/

3.  http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/07/09/how-to-shoot-haunting-digital-infrared-photography/

4.  http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/an-in-depth-guide-to-infrared-photography-processing--photo-9540

5.  http://dpanswers.com/content/irphoto.php

By John D. Roach

Copyright July, 2015

Me and Street Photography

by John D. Roach

I consider myself a nature, flower, weather, landscape (both intimate as well expansive landscapes) photographer with some amount of cityscape and architecture thrown in.  I have never developed comfort or a lot of interest in most street photography although I admire the work of many others.  There are some photographers who make magic with their efforts.   And, yet, I have found myself starting to walk the streets when out for a good exercise with my camera and seeing what I can find. 

I have found that street photographers fit a number of categories.  Many create images that are nicely done compositions that generate a lot of interest, demonstrate tension, and even truly spark our imagination.  Yet, there is an equal number, (dare I say), images I see in that genre which lack interest, are humdrum, lack tension and fail to spark the imagination.

I suspect that might be true for all of photography, but for me it bothers me more when I see cluttered street images of rather mundane people doing mundane thinks or photos of very ordinary things (often decaying things) with ho hum lighting and terrible composition.  While there are many fine images with fine lighting and great composition there are just as many that are just are plain, in my opinion, and that do not take us to another level.  This thing called photography which is about capturing light around us in the city, in my opinion, should always lift us up and excite us about life.

With that said and off my chest, I will now share a few images that I recently captured as I attempt to discover street photography.  I just hope I don't fall in the negative ho hum side of my comments above.

Two Place of Worship?

Ok...the image above might not be street photography in the sense of many.  It might be argued that it is a ho hum street scene.  Indeed, it was taken with my camera through the windshield of my car when I pulled over to the curb to ponder what my eye saw!  What I saw though was a temple built to God (St. John's Cathedral in Milwaukee) framed next to and in front of a temple to finance (US Bank Building).  How does that grab you.  It did me.

Well, that image was selected to be in a Juried Art show through CoPA (Coalition of Photographic Artists) here in Milwaukee at the Art Bar.  The Exhibit is titled Reflections - A Place Called Milwaukee.  The Exhibits extends from July 31 through September 10 this year at Art Bar Riverwest, 722 E. Burleigh, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   There is a reception from 7 pm to midnight on July 31, 2015

The next image was also accepted for the exhibit.  It is a billboard I found on Farwell and Ogden Avenue in Milwaukee that lets you ponder a little about life, direction, purpose and a host of other things.

What is Your Mission in Life?

Now this next image was when I was out walking and decided to stop at the small boutique hotel (The Plaza) with my wife for some breakfast at its little lunch counter.  I think it says something about labor and the world of the kitchen as seen from my lunch counter seat.

The Breakfast Cooks

Finally, for the sake of some humor, here are two images that where found on Brady Street which is a quirky, honky tonk street with quaint shops, saloons, etc.  One has a bar with an interesting name next to a Milwaukee Fire Department Station and the other is one of those quaint shops with such a very interesting name.  I hope you enjoy.

Hosed on Brady

Art Smart's Dart Emporium

Copyright 2015, John D. Roach