Tuesday, May 11, 2021

It is IR Season

So many photographers that experiment with Infrared Photography literally put their cameras away once late fall arrives. 
One of the reasons I've become fascinated with it, is because it is sometimes very difficult. Many times the shots turn out like crap.

I do try to find shots I can take in the winter when there is no foliage to reflect the classic white leaves and grass. But IR is so much more than that.

There are certain elements that really make IR pop and other elements that simply make IR nothing but a HUGE dud.
Here is a winter shot of Weister Creek in infrared with the elements that work in my opinion.
Water
Sky
Clouds [oops, no clouds! Just bright skies!]
Sunlight
Water
Ice
Reflections
Green Pines

I tried this very same shot with my regular camera and it didn't impress me at all.

Shot with a Canon ELPH 180

Other winter photos can be found here: In all things of nature

Now I have to laugh because the standard rule for interesting IR photography is those things I mentioned. Water, sky, clouds, leaves. None of those were in that winter walk. It was overcast, cold, with a gunmetal sky at times. I used my pocket camera that I stuffed inside my winter coat to keep it from freezing. 

I read an article by PetaPixel I think in which the photographer they interviewed said that 90 percent of his photos were tossed when he used IR. He didn't shoot unless it was summer, he didn't shoot unless he had sun, clouds, water, and sometimes a building. He went for reflections in the water too.
Let's note here that this fella was a pro. He sold his photos. 
Me? I'm not a pro and don't want to be. I just want to experiment and explore.

A shot from my adventure last week...shot from the Beaver Dam.


Original File below:



When the clouds moved in  and I tried other shots, they just ended up being total duds.
I just reviewed them and tossed them. Nothing here folks! 

Here is one I would have tossed, but I just had to mess with it a bit.


It was the sky that fascinated me. Without the IR filter, the clouds were nearly invisible. The nice thing about IR is that no one expects certain things to be a certain color.

Just some fun here while I was checking fences. Fence line above the creek in the Wooded Pasture. Yep, I did a channel swap and played a bit. Pink leaves and Turquoise sky? 


Then there are those moments in which elements present themselves and you just have to go for it.






I'll keep experimenting because that is so much fun. 

Time to get back to work. I hear the critters calling my name. 




6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:32 PM

    I love how the clouds show up in IR, great shots. For now I am taking Aurora's photography comment to heart and learning more about both photography and the camera I have. Soon I'll get this year's state park sticker and get out and about a lot more this summer, which is such a great feeling.

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    1. Yes, no need to rush out and get all brand new stuff. See if you are going to enjoy doing it enough to warrant spending money on a camera. For Infrared I first purchased a used pocket camera that had been converted and I found that I loved this type of photography so much that I had my old camera converted. I wore the old camera out!

      Enjoy and experiment!
      I hope you can get out and enjoy the parks this summer.

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  2. Wow, what an amazing collection of chosen photos - love them all!! IR definitely makes photos more unique, which is a good thing.

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    1. Thanks most of those shots were from that little camera I had in my pocket except for the storm shots. IR can be a real dud or it can be a wow.

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  3. That Thunder Head is wonderful! Have you joined Sunday Stills yet? I have to go see what the challenge is this week!

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    1. No I have not tried that yet. Not sure what it is all about. I check it out, thank you!

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