Some photographers desire to create the most realist visions of our world. Other photographers want to have their pictures escape this reality and look as otherworldly as possible. One of the easiest and coolest way to do this is through experimenting with infrared (IR) and near infrared (NIR) photography. With IR technology you can combine absolute realism of the natural world and make it look like something never before seen.
In infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Traditionally an infrared filter is used; this lets infrared light to pass through to the camera, but blocks all or most of the visible light spectrum. Digital cameras do not always require a filter to capture IR light.
Curiosity about the world beyond natural perception is as natural as being human. Think of the telescope and microscope; these inventions have not only revolutionized science but influenced philosophy and even religion we have always had strong desire to see things that are beyond our natural ability to visualize. Just like telescopes gave us our first visions of planets beyond of eye’s reach; cameras and films sensitive to infrared and ultraviolet light gave us our first glimpses of a world filled with invisible light.
Until the early 1900s, infrared photography was not possible because the solutions used to develop film were not sensitized to infrared light. The first infrared photographs appeared in the October 1910 edition of the Royal Photographic Society Journal in a paper by Robert W. Wood, who discovered the unusual effects. Wood’s photographs were taken on experimental film that required very long exposures; because of these limitations his photos were of landscapes. Infrared-sensitive photographic plates were first developed in the United States during World War I for military uses including spectroscopic analysis of enemy targets.
It was quickly discovered that a great advantage to NIR technology is the ability to maintain astounding clarity over long distances, despite a range of weather conditions. Initially, infrared sensitizing dyes were developed to improve haze penetration in aerial photography. Beginning in the 1930’s, specific emulsions were developed for uses in infrared astronomy. Even some telescopes use this ability to pass through the atmosphere, space gas and dust to see beyond into impossibly far away locations.
Infrared photography became popular with photography enthusiasts in the 1930s when suitable film was introduced commercially. Unfortunately, in the past, the expensive of IR technology placed it firmly out of the range of the average photographer. Now, quality digital cameras have the ability to see just beyond the visible red spectrum in what is termed near infrared, without the use of special filters. For those that are scientifically minded that is at 700-1200nm on the EM spectrum. NIR pictures allow us to take a fresh look at everyday objects.
Try taking a camera with this ability through your house or in your yard and simply look through the LCD screen. Everyone has seen hundreds of pictures of sunsets, but how many NIR photographs of sunsets have you viewed?
