 Leanne M.E. Boyd |
IR Photography. Does anyone know if there is a filter ring, I can get for an SLR camera, for IR photography? And if the technique can be used for portraits? Also any tips would be very helpfull. with Thanks
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Maynard McKillen |
Dear Leanne: Perhaps when you say filter ring, you simply mean a filter? Several filters can be used with infrared film to produce dreamy, otherworldly images. I suspect you ask because you've seen some infrared photos in black and white(?), so I'll suggest a few for black and white infrared film. (By the way, infrared film is also sensitive to the visible spectrum of light. It will give less-than-amazing images until you begin to filter out the visible spectrum, either by putting those filters in front of the lens, or, perhaps less obviously, by filtering the visible spectrum from the light source.) The easy filters to find are a polarizer and a #25 red filter. Many camera stores stock them. Of the two, the #25 is the one in this pair that is carrying the bulk of the workload. Try adding the polarizer for some shots, especially if you do plan to shoot outdoors. It's effect on the image will depend on the angle between your lens and the light source(s). The ones you often need to order from Kodak are the 87, 87C and 89B filters. (Now be aware you are opening a can of worms.) Those last three filters are visually opaque. Hold them up to your eye and you'll wonder why you can't see through them. Each filter blocks most if not all of the visible spectrum of light (Kodak will have data on this.), but the filters do transmit infrared light. Again, Kodak may have data on how well each filter transmits IR light. I've seen several books on infrared photography, including one on using IR film for selected images on wedding assignments, another on IR landscape photography, and I have seen B&W IR portraits. You might check B&H, Calumet, and other national pro photo retailers for books and data on IR photography to broaden your background knowledge and help you decide whether you'd like to jump into it. IR film is in itself a challenge to use. If you don't plan to develop it yourself, it may take some calling around to find a lab that will. I have developed it myself, and followed the precautions carefully. It must be handled in total darkness during development, like most films, but you must also remove any source of IR radiation (like recently turned off light bulbs!!!) from the vicinity. Even if you find a lab to develop it, you still have to load and unload your camera in total darkness(!) and remove any IR radiation sources from the vicinity. IR film isn't given an ISO (I'm laughing as I recall all these challenges.), but exposure guidelines are included with the film, or you can check www.Kodak.com and do a search on the film, HIE-135-36, to obtain initial f/stop and shutter speed recommendations. As if that isn't enough, you can't focus your lens the way you do for visible light! (more on that at the Kodak site, and with the film itself) I'm sure other contributors can relate their experiences with IR film, and no, we're really not trying to talk you out of it!
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Leanne M.E. Boyd |
Can these filters be used with colour film?
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Leanne M.E. Boyd |
Thanks Maynard, didn't meen to be inpolite. The reason I'm asking - is I want to take some photos of a young girl in my Co-Op. She is very pretty with dark hair, eyes, and fair skin. and plays the violin. I want a picture that will show of her dark hair, and the dark wood of her instrument, the rest in high key. And I thought if I could get a filter that I could attach to my camera, to give the effects of ir, cause I only have one camera, and don't want to buy a whole roll of ir film, for one or two shots, with the rest in colour.
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Maynard McKillen |
Dear Leanne: Cool question. So, if you didn't buy a roll of infrared film and it's associated "challenges", could the 87, 87C, 89B, 25 and Polarizer filters be used with conventional film to achieve a shot-with-Infrared look? Here are a few tidbits to consider. If you load your camera with conventional color film and hope to use some filtration method to remove much or all of the visible spectrum, to achieve an infrared look, or at least a look not often seen, you'd have to find a conventional film that had sensitivity in the infrared range. My guess is many color films have a spectral sensitivity in the area between about 350 to 700 nanometers. People with a scientific bent or a passion for categorizing things seem to put the infrared spectrum at around 700 nanometers and up. That doesn't leave much overlap between the IR sensitivity of color film and the IR spectra. (My knowledge of this topic is very far from exhaustive.) There may be conventional color films with more IR sensitivity. If they exist, you'd find yourself seeking out spectral sensitivity graphs from Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and other film manufacturers to find a film that is widely available for conventional color photography and also capable of recording at least some of the infrared spectrum. Maybe a tech rep from one of these companies can steer you right. This idea/image/vision of yours may be more of an art project, though. Another approach is to create the high key setting, light and pose your subject, shoot with black and white film, employ a soft focus filter and perhaps a #25 red filter, and then selectively hand color/airbrush the resulting print. Yes, Co-Op girls can be beautiful. Did I mention my daughters both work in Co-Ops?
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Leanne M.E. Boyd |
Thanks very much Maynard!!
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