Infrared Photography

I LOVE black and white infrared pictures, and the dream-like state they portray.

Copyright (C) 2009 Mary Weiland

I have been slowly testing my hand/eye at it over the last few years, with my most recent shots taken in Amish country [Lancaster, PA]. Because of the beautiful farmlands and old barns, I thought Lancaster would be a fun place to experiment. Here are a couple shots from that trip, followed by some challenges/considerations of working with infrared film.

Copyright (C) 2009 Mary Weiland

Copyright (C) 2009 Mary Weiland

It is a challenge working with infrared film for various reasons. Below is a list of difficulties I encountered, as well as some things to consider when shooting infrared:

1. Cost: The cost of the film is very expensive.


2. Handling: You can only load and unload the film in complete dark. This means the amount of shots you have is limited to the roll of film in the camera…or you buy yourself a cumbersome dark-room bag where you can change out the film at any time.


3. Exposure: As with any film, you do not know if the exposures are correct until the film is developed. You lack the immediate knowledge of how to better expose the picture or perhaps compose it differently.


4. Processing: It is expensive to have the film processed, not to mention the time to drop off the film and pick it up. Additionally, there are few labs that process infrared film. The one lab I was using started to go downhill - the negatives would come back scratched or under-developed, and were not usable.


5. Post-Processing: After the negatives are back from the lab, you still have to scan the film to digitize the images (unless you trust your lab to do it without scratching them). This is extremely time consuming...especially when you are not good at removing dust before scanning and subsequently have to use Photoshop to do so.


6. Air Travel: If you plan to bring infrared film with you on a flight, do not pack the film in checked baggage - it will most likely be destroyed by the X-ray machines. Bring the film in your carry-on bag and have it hand-inspected.
   

With all of these challenges, I decided to convert my Nikon D80 to be a dedicated B&W infrared camera. I am SO excited about the conversion. I ship the camera off on Monday to Lifepixel, and should have it back within a few weeks. The cost of the conversion was expensive, but I am confident the costs will be recouped over a short period of time.

Copyright (C) 2009 Mary Weiland