Home»The Infrared World

All of these images were taken with an IR converted Canon D60 Digital SLR with only minor adjustments made in brightness and contrast.

Recently infrared images have been unfairly associated with digital manipulation. Infrared actually can be traced back as far as 1910. Its roots lie in the film world and its use became popular during the 1960's with the availibility of Kodak High Speed Infrared film.

In the modern age, digital camera sensors have a filter that blocks infrared light and infrared images can only be taken by using an infrafred converted camera (the IR blocking filter has been removed from the sensor) or by the application of an infrared filter over the lens of the camera. The use of an infrared filter (completely black) creates long shutter speed times and sharp images can only be obtained with the use of a tripod and shutter release. Some older cameras with a "night mode" can shoot infrared images without adaptation or the use of a filter over the lens.

Infrared photography work is considered "Fine Art". Images can have a dramatic high contrast starkness to them or a low contrast dreamy quality. Infrared can bring out tones, textures or highlight a subject in way which color photography can not, but it is not for every subject. Overuse of IR filters (traditional filters and in the "digital darkroom") has created the impression that infrared is a "gimmick" but when true infrared capture is employed it requires skillfull technique (knowledge of the "zone system" is helpful) and pre-visualization in order to select subjects that will be truly enhanced by this medium.