Infrared Photos

Infrared (IR) photographs are images captured using infrared light, which has a wavelength longer than visible light. Unlike visible light, which is absorbed by most surfaces, infrared light can penetrate through some materials, such as clouds, fog, and vegetation. As a result, infrared photographs often reveal details and features that are not visible in traditional photographs. Some common uses of infrared photography include surveying vegetation and natural landscapes, analysing building and industrial structures, and detecting heat sources.

What are Infrared Film Photos?

Infrared film is a photographic film sensitive to infrared light, which has a longer wavelength than visible light. Infrared film can capture images not visible to the human eye, such as landscapes with a false-colour effect and images of the sky with a solid black effect. It can also be used to capture images in low-light conditions. However, infrared film is less common than other film types as it is more difficult to process and print and requires special equipment to capture and view the images. It is mainly used for scientific research and military purposes, not as a standard photography tool.

Infrared Film

Many years ago, in the 1990s, the infrared film could capture images in the infrared region. I took several photos using infrared film with and without filters. Taking photos with the infrared film was incredibly difficult. Metering with the camera was nearly impossible. I had to rely on exposure and aperture settings that Kodak printed on the film box. I developed and processed these photos. Today, digital cameras and Hoya 72 filters make this process much more manageable.

Infrared Photo of a Caboose — Someone painted over the white letters and numbers on the railcar many years ago. The infrared film managed to capture the previous content. This railcar is in a museum as of 2021.

Currency Photographed Inside an Envelope — The infrared film has forensic uses. Currency in an envelope is captured in an envelope.

Infrared Photo of a Cat — My neighbour’s cat posed for an infrared photo. The green foliage in this photo appears white as snow because it reflects sunlight.

What is Digital Infrared Photography?

Digital infrared photography is a type of photography that uses infrared light to capture images. Infrared light is a type of light that is not visible to the human eye but can be captured by specialised cameras and sensors. In digital infrared photography, a camera has a special filter or sensor sensitive to infrared light. This allows the camera to capture images not visible to the naked eye, such as certain vegetation types, buildings, and other objects that reflect infrared light differently than visible light. These images often have a unique and surreal appearance, with bright whites and deep blacks, and can be used for various purposes, such as scientific research, art, and landscape photography.

Digital Infrared

These are modern-day infrared photos taken with a 2005 Kodak camera and a Hoya 72 Filter (#AD). Some images are processed in Photoshop to greyscale, while others are processed to reverse the red and blue channels for a false colour look.