August
9th
Simulated Infrared
Classic Black & White Infrared photography used film that was sensitive to wavelengths in the 700 to 900 nm range. These wavelengths are not normally visible to human eyes. This is part of what creates a fascination with the eerie beauty of infrared photography.
Modern digital cameras have filters over the sensor to block infrared wavelengths. This is a good thing when taking photographs in the normal light spectrum. Infrared wavelengths increase the chances of blowing out the red channel. There are cameras available without these filters. Additionally you can have your existing camera altered to capture these wavelengths.
If you don’t want to spend extra money on specialized cameras or alterations, you can simulate some of the effects of infrared capture in Lightroom. While there are many styles of infrared photography one of my favorites has the following three characteristics:
- The blues of the sky and water approach black
- Green foliage is snowy white
- The snowy white foliage has a ghostly glow
