Littleton Long Ago Layering a texture over a sepia-toned infrared-captured image adds a quality of aging to the photo.

Painting on a layer mask above the texture with a soft brush set at low flow was the technique used to remove texture from parts of the trees and the barn wood..

*Editors Note: Please be aware that the modifications described in this article will void the manufacturers warranty on your camera. More than a photographic fad, infrared capture is re-emerging as an important genre of fine art photography, primarily because of the ease of digital capture. Black-and-white photography has always been a significant aspect of the fine art scene, but now infrared adds other dimensions: a dreamy psychedelic aesthetic; penetration of atmospheric haze; high contrast of dark skies with white foliage, grass and shrubbery; a lacy softness that suggests romance; and a snowy look to midsummer scenes. These all are seeming alterations of reality, but not really, for what is captured

Convert Your Camera to Capture Infrared

b y G a i l V . D o h r m a n n

is part of the spectrum of light not visible to the eye in the 700nm (nanometers) to about 900nm range. Historically, infrared photography was not possible until the early 1900s. Robert W. Wood published the first infrared photograph in 1910 using an experimental film. Later, photographic artists could use manufactured infrared film. Kodak introduced Ektachrome Infrared Film in the 1960s, but extreme care had to be taken loading and unloading the film because it was so sensitive. Long exposures were required. Focusing the image was also difficult because the infrared filter required to block the natural light was so dark that the photographer could not see through the

The Road Taken Mid-tones in this color IR image are rendered as a warm or bronze gray; green foliage is pictured as white; and evergreen trees have a faint blue tone. The Japanese Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens was photographed on a cloudy fall day.

ALL PHOTOs COPYRIGHT GAIL v. dOHRmAnn

Yosemite Falls Yosemite Falls taken in early spring utilizes foliage to frame the often photographed scene. This is color IR converted to black and white by using the green filter preset and strong contrast preset in Adobe Photoshop CS4. Lake Helene This basic image of Lake Helene in Colorado began as an infrared picture (captured with the Sony setup) but was toned by a blue layer at reduced opacity in Photoshop. A blue filter was not necessary. Hale Science The original photo featuring Hale Science Building on the University of Colorado Campus in Boulder was captured with the Canon camera fitted with a color infrared filter. The layer was duplicated, blurred with Gaussian Blur and its opacity was lowered.

viewfinder and had to remove the filter to focus and then put it back on. The age of digital cameras has made infrared (IR) photography much easier. Initially, cameras that allowed you to disable

the infrared blocker (such as the Sony F 717 in night shot mode) could be fitted with an infrared filter that blocked most of the visible spectrum and then captured infrared waves at normal shutter speeds and with ease

of focus. This is the camera that I used until late last year to photograph forests, formal gardens, rural scenes and other subjects that captured the romantic look I was seeking. After many years of photographing standard landscapes, travel scenes and ubiquitous wild flowers, I was ready for a new look and a new emotional response. I was drawn to the delicacy of infrared photography. Now I print these images straight from capture (after

color and contrast adjustments) or use them as the basis of creative work. Recently a cottage industry has formed to retrofit used and new DSLRs and compact point-and-shoot cameras. These service bureaus remove the infrared blockers, and fit the camera with either a color infrared filter or a black-and-white version. As generations of digital cameras have improved and customers have purchased the newer models, they find that there is not a big market for selling the castoffs. For a sum of money between $200 and $400, used cameras can find new life being dedicated to the singular purpose of infrared. Once the infrared blocker is removed, it cant be easily replaced, so the refitted camera must be dedicated to its new role. But thats better than just taking up space in the closet. However, because I preferred the spontaneity of a point-and-shoot and the fact that handheld is the norm, I decided to purchase a new Canon SD800 IS that I had fitted with a permanent standard color IR filter by the Life Pixel company. Most of the images in this article are taken with this setup.

Artistic Variations There are many artistic variations that can be accomplished with the retrofitted camera. If a customer opts for the color filter, he or she will be surprised at the interesting, at times surreal, color renditions created. If desired, these can be neutralized by conversion to black and white with the photographers method of choicePhotoshops Channel Mixer being one among many. Any procedure for conversion to grayscale will work. Lately I have used the black-and-white option with the green filter preset followed by a contrast mask preset set on strong contrast. The image of Yosemite Falls was developed in this manner (see pg. 28). In the past, when using infrared film, the photographer could achieve a diffuse glow that is absent from the digital captures. Photoshop can come to the rescue if the photographer wants to recreate the effect by blurring a copy of the original layer with a Gaussian blur and reducing its opacity. The photograph of Hale Science (above) utilizes this technique.

Some photographers use colored filters to add a tint to the basic IR image. However, since it is so easy to use Photoshops photo filters, mechanical filters are really not necessary. An image can be warmed, cooled or sepia-toned or otherwise colored using hue and saturation (while colorizing).

Infrared FAQ

What gear is necessary? One of the following: Infrared film; or a digital camera with its infrared blocker disabled; or a specially fitted camera with infrared filter installed and blocker removed.

On the other hand, the photographer can also emphasize or alter the color elements. Of course, foliage is usually rendered white, but blue skies often will have a deep bronze color. In Photoshop, the red and blue channels can be exchanged in the channel mixer resulting in the bronze sky turning to cyan. With a little tweaking, the sky can be toned to blue, giving a more natural look to the image. The Khromagery site listed (see pg. 30) provides a tutorial on how to switch channels and

Playing Beneath the Oak Trees with light coming through them are good subjects for infrared photography. This California live oak was a playground for the deer beneath.

correct the colors. However, my individual preference is for retaining the odd original

Tips for the IR Capture Process

1. Search out clouds for more interesting shots 2. Underexpose when you have bright clouds in the picture. You can selectively lighten areas of the shot, but you cant repair blown out whites. 3. Avoid dark blue skies and dark rivers because they will be rendered as a dull expanse of black in the final image. 4. White flowers atop green stems dont show up very well. 5. Keying on foliage is worthwhile as it provides delicacy to the image. 6. Including clouds and foliage makes for a busy pictures, so simplify where you can.

colors or converting to black and white. I like to use infrared images as the basis Tips for After IR Capture of artistic compositions by layering other 1. Add contrast because most of the elements over the top like textures, tonimages are converted to black and ing, and vignetting along with positive and white, which requires contrast for opnegative silhouettes. I have a file of textured timum effect. images such as peeling paint, crackles, rust 2. Toning with sepia or colors adds and weathered wood that I use to impart interest and originality. complexity and artistry to the original in3. Layering textures (if the original is frared compositions. Good subjects are fornot too busy) adds patina and aging for mal gardens, lily pads, trees of all kinds and more depth and complexity. shapes, old barns with grassy fields and fur4. Seeking out natural landscapes can rows, ancient buildings, and ferns in forests. capture an otherworldly look that can The creative possibilities are endless. make the viewer look twice. Photographers seeking to convert a camera to dedicated infrared should con- choices page. Many IR-pass filters (not dedsult the following: icated) available for suitable cameras. www.maxmax.com Life Pixel (www.lifepixel.com): Choice LDP Net (www.maxmax.com): of standard color, enhanced color, or deep Converts many camera types and video black-and-white filters. Also, full-specturm equipment. conversion (not dedicated but presents difficulty in focus) tutorials on making cor- Gail Dohrmann and her husband, Russell, are the authors and photographers for Boulders rections in Photoshop and sample photos. Places photographers for Best Khromagery (http://khromagery.com. Favorite Regionand the Trails. More of Gails inBoulder Hiking au): Located in Australia. Specializes frared images canwww.photoduo.smugmug.com be seen at photoduo.smug mug.com in Canon conversions. Contains digital www.photoduo.smugmug.com