So you are seeking information on Filter and the effects Well, you are not alone; a number of people who are just starting out or wish to know more about digital photography seek information on this subject.
Aside from amateur and commercial photographers, infrared photography is interesting to technologists as well as scientists as it generates images. That are simply not possible with traditional photographic films. So what is infrared photography and what are the effects of adding filter, Read below to get answers on these questions.
What is infrared photography?
It is a branch of digital photography where the image sensor or film used is sensitive to infrared light. The specialty of filter lies in its ability to record. What your eyes can’t see such as shooting images in the dark or capturing hot objects by the long wavelength radiation it emits. All these properties and features enable infrared photography for use as an essential adjunct to shooting images by normal light.
Effects/working of an infrared filter in digital photography
Have you ever wondered how to get those other worldly effects where leaves are white in black and white photos instead of grey?. An infrared filter is all that you need to add to your camera sensor to get such effects. These filters are particularly meant for blocking visible light. They only let infrared light to pass through the lens of the sensor.
Infrared digital photography produces interesting, stunning and creative outcomes. Because objects in a given scene could reflect infrared light differently than normal light. A good example in this respect is foliage. Leaves reflect a great amount of visible light. However, they are able to reflect more infrared light. And this is why they look brighter in color infrared or in black and white light. Due to the characteristics of infrared lighting, filter factor as well as exposure compensation vary greatly from visible light and depend on the lighting condition of the given scene.
Infrared light begins in the high red zone of the visible spectrum at about 750nm and goes well above 1000nm. You can’t see this light with your naked eye. If you look through the R72 filter, it appears almost opaque as the filter only passes light from high red edge of the spectrum and infrared light.
So what is so special about this filter if it passes only infra red light. How you can benefit from adding an infrared filter for desired effects. To resolve these queries, let’s take a look at the effects infrared filters produce in various scenes and fields.
Long distance digital photography
An infrared filter is particularly important for long distance photography. Where the details of distant objects are obscured by haze and due to high altitude. Essentially, infrared filters do not always lead to a marked increase in the vision range. They actually increase the contrast of distant objects allowing you to see the details in the captured photograph. This generates the impact of greater, deeper penetration making the details of the picture clearer.
Portraiture
If you look at infrared portraits (indoors or outdoors) they seem unusual. Because the infrared radiation causes the skin to have a chalky look, red lips to look very pale and eyes to look as dark spots. However, doctors use this infrared digital photography technique for diagnosis. Since infrared radiations penetrate turbid skin, they display veins that lie close to the surface. On the basis of this appearance, doctors can draw particular medical conclusions for further treatments.
Photography in the dark
As infrared radiation is not visible, you can carry out digital photography in total darkness by adding an infrared filter to your camera sensor. Many photographers use infrared flash photography for a number of special purposes. Like press photography in the blackout during wartime for detection of criminals and intruders in the dark. As well as for photographing nighttime landing operations on aircraft carriers.
Document inspection
Infrared fluorescence digital photography has numerous applications in investigations related to crime. In fact, it is considered as a standard tool in various laboratories for studying burned, faded, worn or altered documents. Infrared technology is also used for differentiating between pigments, inks and dyes which are not distinguishable for a naked eye. By penetrating to the depths of the document, the infrared filter lets you see those unearthed details that help to uncover crime.
Industrial and scientific
Infrared digital photography is a widely accepted tool of any applied photographer, and any imaginative worker will have little difficulty in acknowledging its endless possibilities in various fields. In the world of science, especially plant pathology, infrared filters play a pivotal role in identifying and understanding plant diseases. Likewise, they are used for detecting irregularities in fibers where visual examination of the dyed material is almost impossible with a naked eye.
Infrared filers have their importance in spectrography and astronomy too. Through infrared radiation, thousands of new lines have been already recorded in the spectra of elements. Also, a lot has been explored and learned on atmospheres of planets and composition of stars. By opening a new horizon to your camera sensor, an infrared filter lets you explore invisible things in any field. Due to its amazing effects and outcomes, infrared filters are accepted as an important tool in the world of regular photography as well as advanced photo shooting arenas.
Bottom line
Adding an infrared filter to the sensor opens up ways to explore exciting new worlds to photographers as well as technologists and scientists. These filters are mostly used by professionals with a specific purpose in mind, and can do wonders for users and professionals in their respective fields. In case you wish to start with infrared digital photography, get familiar with the working and effects that these filters can do when you add them to your camera sensor. By exploring necessary information, you are on your way to shooting images and films in the best possible manner for your desired end usage.