Infrared tests (image heavy)

[MargaretR]

First experimentations with my IR-converted EM-10, from last Sunday when the sun actually came out! Just to show the progression through processing, Here's the same shot at various stages, plus a couple of others at the end. I appreciate this kind of thing is not to everyone's



02 Using a custom DNG profile tones it down a little, but I suspect a proper WB (which I've yet to suss out) would be much better




03 WB in Lightroom on neutral grey (cottage brickwork)




04 Red/Blue Channel swap in PS - otherwise untouched




05 Hue adjusted to get back the blue sky. Foliage goes gold-ish




06 Toned down a bit as an option




07 B&W conversion, for the traditionalists




08 A couple of other shots - a different view of the same cottage (what would I do without it for local 'scenic' test matter!)




09 And the nearby canal lock

[Zuiko]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

As a traditionalist I prefer No 7 but I also very much like No 5.

[tomphotofx]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Hi Margaret,

I'm impressed with your results what you have here is a treasure trove of unique creativity just waiting to be teased out from the many variations available to you by blending different versions together,using layers, masks, blend modes, Blendif technique. I can imagine you must be very pleased you had the conversion done.

I'm seriously now considering having my EM-5 converted as it hasn't had much use since I got the EM-1. Please keep posting images and keep us informed of your progress with the camera.

Tom

[timmypreston]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

These are fantastic! I really like the colours and tones in number 6.

[Ralph Harwood]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Hi there Margaret!

You certainly seem to be getting plenty of colour out of the 590nm filter! I like 5, 7 and 9 the best from that set. You are tempting me to get my 590nm filter out again - I didn't have much luck with it last time I tried but having seen your pictures I think I have given up too soon! I do have to admit that I like the black and white conversion very much too though, which I can get close to with a 720nm filter.

Please keep posting, especially with the processing tutorials!

Cheers,

Ralph.

[Ricoh]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Great use of near IR, images look almost surreal, I keep coming back for another look.
You should be well pleased with what you've achieved so soon.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

<snip>
I suspect a proper WB (which I've yet to suss out) would be much better
<snip>

Looks like "good green grass" may be the answer

http://www.lifepixel.com/infrared-photography-primer/ch5-infrared-shooting-techniques-setting-white-balance

http://publiclab.org/notes/nedhorning/11-3-2012/white-balance-and-nir-photography

[StephenL]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

I really like no. 7. If you keep experimenting, you might get the colours to look natural! (Only joking - it's fascinating)

[MargaretR]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

I really like no. 7. If you keep experimenting, you might get the colours to look natural! (Only joking - it's fascinating)

Stephen, I suspect you probably could get green foliage if you tried hard enough!.... .... The fun is in the experimenting though.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Yes, I'm pleased so far ... almost makes all the taxes I paid in getting the darn camera back into the UK worthwhile...

Graham - on the WB - apparently for this particular filter, nicknamed the 'Goldie', a grey WB is 'the best', whatever that means. Hence my recent thread query on how to achieve that. (I still haven't had the time/conditions to try again) I've got two of my custom WB slots now done for WB-on-green-grass, and WB-on-white-card, but neither gets the foliage as 'gold' on channel swapping as the WB in LR on a grey area of the subject, so I suspect an in-camera grey-WB would indeed be useful. I'll get there somehow.

Tom - thanks - I wish I understood even half the techniques you mention there! I've been promising myself for years now, to finally Get To Grips with Photoshop. I think this conversion may well provide the final spur.

To anyone who's thinking about a conversion, and can afford it OK, I'd say go for it. It's another tool in the armoury, and another option for when conditions or the time of day aren't quite right for normal visible-light photography. Plus you can produce a variety of images from the one shot, depending on what works best for it or how you feel on the day! It's a bit of a learning curve, but it stretches you, and maybe gets you out of a rut.

And it's fun! What more do you want?! ...

[OM USer]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

#3 and #4 are very interesting in their departure from the normal. #5 is interesting in a different way as it looks normal and the change in colours does not stand out as "impossible". #9 is however my favourite as the different colours are different enough to show something special as if someone had thrown a magic veil over the scene.

[KeithL]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

E-e-e-e-e-e-e-ekkk The mono one looks best to me. But I'm not a fan of IR. Like I'm not a great fan of HDR.

[alfbranch]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Great stuff I really want an IR camera myself

I think the various colour ways are great.
No4 & 9 for me but keep at it there must be more ways still

[linus1884]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Hi, just a quick question, has anyone here tried the IR screw on filters? do they work? or are they countered by the filter on the sensor?

Thanks

[MargaretR]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

You can test your camera to see if it has any IR sensitivity by this method with a remote control.

As it says, if you see the beam in a test image, you can use screw-on filters for IR shots. The only drawback is that exposures will be very long, which rules out handheld, and you'll need a tripod.

Getting the internal filter converted means you can use it handheld, as a normal camera. I started with a screw-on 720 Hoya filter, but wanted more freedom to essentially point and shoot, hence going for a full conversion.

[drmarkf]

Re: Infrared tests (image heavy)

Like any deliberate deviation from reality, IR and HDR are easily overdone and often are, but both in my view can result in genuinely interesting images.

I really like what Margaret is getting here.