The Uniques Infrared Photography Qualities

The world of invisible light

So what are the unique infrared photography qualities and how are they utilised...

Infrared photographs are indispensable to astronomers, physicists and other scientists, and have permitted many important discoveries to be made.

It was, in fact, with these applications in mind that most of the developments related to infrared films originated. The need to develop films for specialized scientific applications eventually resulted in the availability of infrared films that could be put to more practical uses in a large number of other applications and fields, from medicine and law enforcement to aerial photography, fine art, and many others.

Aside from the scientific uses of infrared photography, why should you create infrared images?

The answer lies in the unique quality of the infrared images, having unusual and unreal tonality, enabling you to produce a new and different view of often otherwise ordinary subjects.

Best Conditions for Stunning Infrared Images

The amount of infrared reflected by materials can be quite different from their visible brightness. This is normally most noticeable with foliage, which generally appears very much brighter due to high infrared reflectance, but other materials are generally also changed, if more subtly.

Image courtesy of  Lifepixel.com

Clear skies also come out dark - often near black - while clouds retain their normal tones. Flesh can also produce interesting effects, showing veins and often giving a subtle glow.

All normal light sources have an infrared component, but there is more in bright sun than on dull days, and more in daylight around sunrise and sunset than in the middle of the day. It is best to avoid dull, wet conditions when taking infrared images, as there is generally very little infrared light around.

Flash is also normally a good infrared source, and tungsten light contains a greater proportion than normal daylight.

---

---