Starting out with Infrared photography

We can't see infrared light with our naked eyes but it can be captured on camera using special film and has some unusual, but very interesting, characteristics for creative photographers. The reason we can't see it is because infrared falls just outside the visible spectrum, which forms just a small part of a larger electro magnetic spectrum. The spectrum is a range of wavelengths from short to long, measured in nanometers(nm) and visible light is between 400 and 700nm while infrared light ranges between 700nm and 0.1mm.

What is infrared film?
By using a special film that has extended sensitivity we can capture the infrared light in our photographs. Although Infrared films were initially developed for scientific uses, such as forensic applications, agricultural surveys and painting restoration photographers have found it's perfect for surreal creative effects. Three films can be readily found in the UK -Kodak High Speed Infrared, Konica R750 and Ilford SFX200. Their characteristics can be seen below.

Kodak High Speed Infrared Film is a high-speed film with moderately high contrast, sensitive to light and radiant energy to 900 nanometres (NM) in wavelength and a rating of ISO200. Kodak halo produces glow around subjects. It is available in 35mm and sheet film. If you want the real 'creative' infrared effects, with loads of grain and glowing highlights, this is the film to choose.

Konica R750 is available in 35mm (24 exposures) and 120 formats and has a 640nm-820nm sensitivity range with a peak at 750nm. It's suggested rating is ISO32. This film has anti-halation coating so you don't get the ethereal glow that you achieve with Kodak HIE film, but you can still get decent black skies and foliage goes beautifully white. It also has a lack of grain, but this can be added digitally. Taken on a Kiev 60 with Cokin red filter attached.

Ilford SFX 200 is a medium speed panchromatic film, which has peak red sensitivity at 720nm and extended red sensitivity up to 740nm. It has a rating of ISO 200 and is sold in 36 exposure lengths and recently 120 rolls have been announced. Like the Konica option grain and haliation glow are lacking, but you do see other characteristics, This was shot on a Fuji 645 AF through an orange filter, stronger results are possible with red or IR filter.

Because these films also see visible light you need to block this out to prevent the photograph looking normal and here a special filter is required.

Which filter? Some photographers use a normal 8x red that is designed to increase contrast when shooting conventional black & white, but for the best results you need a special infrared filter. These are very dark and can hardly be seen through, but they block out all the visible spectrum reaching the film. They are available in glass from Hoya with the reference number R72 or in Gels from Kodak and Lee with Wratten numbers 87 or 88A. The Hoya version is available in a wide variety of screw-in thread sizes and the Wratten Gels will fit in Cokin, Lee and Jessop filter system holders when cut to size.

Handling infrared film
Kodak Infrared film has to be loaded in complete darkness so you need a darkroom or changing bag. Ilford and Konica can be loaded in subdued light.

Cameras you can use
Two types of camera will not work with infrared film. Both are fairly easy to check. Look at the pressure plate that's on the hinged film back. If it's dimpled a dotted pattern may appear on the image (Pentax K1000 is an example) and if an aperture is cut out to allow data to be recorded this will also cause an unwanted shape to appear on film. In both cases you'll have to shoot a test roll to see if it affects the film. The more common problem in the latest cameras is the auto film advance that use infrared sensor to count the sprockets when advancing each frame. These will fog the edge of the frame and it's common in many Canon EOS SLRs and a few Minolta Dynax models.

Infrared style photos can be created using some digital cameras. Ones I have tried that work well include the Agfa ePHOTO1280 and the Nikon Coolpix 950. Ones that I managed to get great pictures out of with some manipulation include the Nikon Coolpix 995, Canon D30 and Ricoh i700. I've struggled with the Canon G2 and the Minolta Dimage 5; both giving limited brightness in the foliage and a huge colour cast that dulled the contrast when removed.

Here ivy growing up a tree was photographed using normal film (left) and infrared (right) to illustrate how the light affects the subject. All the green areas have reflected more infrared light, resulting in gross overexposure of those areas. This was taken on Konica R750. If it had been shot on Kodak HIE there would also be a halo around the leaves and coarse visible grain.

Creative portrait photographers can shoot low angle shots of models on beaches making the bright skin contrast against the dark water, bright sand and black sky. While glamour photographers get a similar surreal effect by photographing nudes in outdoor locations. Again the white skin against blue sky for contrast or laid within white foliage for a real high key effect and against dark grainy rocks are sure winners.

In this shot, taken using Konica R750 in a Hasselblad with red filter attached, the greenery on the distant hillside is reflecting the infrared perfectly, creating a blanket of high key tones, while the tree and bracken in the foreground are in the shade and has resulted in a dull grey appearance. You'll become familiar with ways subjects react the more you use infrared film.

Tips on composition
Our eyes are naturally drawn to highlight or high contrast areas of the image so make sure these are in key positions in frame.

Try to use the rule of thirds placing the attracting points on the intersect lines of the thirds or use when shooting people make sure they're looking into the frame rather than out.

Focusing
Infrared light does not focus on the same plane as daylight so this throws out the camera's automatic focusing and the pictures will be blurred. Some lenses have an infrared distance indication that you would use to compensate. First focus as normal and then adjust the lens so the indicated focusing distance is aligned to the infrared mark. If you have an autofocus camera you will need to switch to manual. If your lens does not have an infrared scale and, unfortunately, many modern lenses don't. You will have to guess the distance. As a guide set the focus so it's about 50cm closer than indicated distance and use a small aperture to ensure maximum depth of field. This does vary from lens to lens though so the best thing is to shoot a trial roll using your various lenses and make notes so you can refer back and see what does and what doesn't work.

Exposure
Cameras with automatic metering will adjust the exposure to compensate for the dark filter being placed in front of the lens. For cameras without meters or ones that don't read through the lens you need to allow the following:

• Orange 4x 2 stops
• Red 8x 3 stops
• Infrared R72 3.5 stops

Processing The films are processed in normal black & white developers such as Paterson Acutol, Kodak D76 and Agfa Rodinal or Ilford Perceptol. Data sheets are provided with the developers and films, but there are many web sites with users recommendations too. If you don't have a darkroom at home labs that offer black & white service, such as Jessops will process the films for you.

If you process your own films using a darkroom you could sepia tone the results which can enhance the infrared effect one stage further. This woodland example was shot on Konica R750 film in a Hasselblad using a Cokin red filter.