Don Libby
Well-known member
Earlier this week Bob, Jack & Guy were kind enough to post an article (part of a blog series) I'd written regarding infrared photography. Ranger Rick and I have been discussing the merits of different IR filters and color vs. black & white processing since then.
I hadn't thought of it when I posted the last reply that I wouldn't be able to also add a sample or two; thus this new thread.
One of the major reasons I enjoy shooting digital is the fact I can choose which way the finished image will appear; either color or black & white. Or a combination. While I sometimes miss the smells from the old wet darkroom, I find the newer digital darkroom is faster and much more convenient.
My original thought when I began the response to Rick was to add just two samples however now that I find that I couldn't I'll expand. The first consideration is that all of the following images were captured with the same Sony NEX-7 (the one I bought used from Guy) which I had converted to capture in the 665nm IR range; the range that Life Pixel calls their "Enhanced Color IR Filter"
"String Lake" is from The Grand Teton National Park, Jackson WY and was captured during an early morning hike last June. f/8 1/200 ISO 100 and a 12mm lens. It was processed using a combination of C1-Pro, Photoshop CC and NIK software. Much like everything I do, I let the image guide me to where it wanted to go. The finished result is the color in the sky.
"Taos 1a" is from the area around Taos, NM and was captured early/mid morning last June. f/10 1/200 ISO 100 and a 20mm Sony lens.
"Taos 1" is my favorite of the two and shows a combination of black and white as well as a hint of color. I think if I were using the 720nm or stronger filter I would have lost out on the ability to introduce the color that shows here.
"Taos Tree" is located on the High Road to Taos that we passed several times and each time we shot this tree off a busy road. Seeing the tree for the first time I knew I wanted it in black and white and had I actually had a 720 filter with me I would have used it. Shot at f/11 1/160 ISO 100 with a Sony 20mm lens.
In the end at least for me I enjoy the ability to process files either in color or black & white. I just recently sent a Sony A7r to Life Pixel for conversion and after several days of consideration decided to have it converted with a 665nm filter feeling that I can on occasion put either a 720 or 830 filter on my lens, thus giving me 3-IR converted cameras in one.
I want to thank Rick for starting the conversation on IR and hope this continues it. I also hope this gives others some ideas who might be on the fence on IR.
Don
I hadn't thought of it when I posted the last reply that I wouldn't be able to also add a sample or two; thus this new thread.
One of the major reasons I enjoy shooting digital is the fact I can choose which way the finished image will appear; either color or black & white. Or a combination. While I sometimes miss the smells from the old wet darkroom, I find the newer digital darkroom is faster and much more convenient.
My original thought when I began the response to Rick was to add just two samples however now that I find that I couldn't I'll expand. The first consideration is that all of the following images were captured with the same Sony NEX-7 (the one I bought used from Guy) which I had converted to capture in the 665nm IR range; the range that Life Pixel calls their "Enhanced Color IR Filter"
"String Lake" is from The Grand Teton National Park, Jackson WY and was captured during an early morning hike last June. f/8 1/200 ISO 100 and a 12mm lens. It was processed using a combination of C1-Pro, Photoshop CC and NIK software. Much like everything I do, I let the image guide me to where it wanted to go. The finished result is the color in the sky.
"Taos 1a" is from the area around Taos, NM and was captured early/mid morning last June. f/10 1/200 ISO 100 and a 20mm Sony lens.
"Taos 1" is my favorite of the two and shows a combination of black and white as well as a hint of color. I think if I were using the 720nm or stronger filter I would have lost out on the ability to introduce the color that shows here.
"Taos Tree" is located on the High Road to Taos that we passed several times and each time we shot this tree off a busy road. Seeing the tree for the first time I knew I wanted it in black and white and had I actually had a 720 filter with me I would have used it. Shot at f/11 1/160 ISO 100 with a Sony 20mm lens.
In the end at least for me I enjoy the ability to process files either in color or black & white. I just recently sent a Sony A7r to Life Pixel for conversion and after several days of consideration decided to have it converted with a 665nm filter feeling that I can on occasion put either a 720 or 830 filter on my lens, thus giving me 3-IR converted cameras in one.
I want to thank Rick for starting the conversation on IR and hope this continues it. I also hope this gives others some ideas who might be on the fence on IR.
Don