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IR photography
Exposure times using an infrared filter
Most of the time the camera will be able to expose well enough to get good shots. You may need to increase the exposure value a few steps. Experiment by taking photos with varying exposure times or bracket.
Exposure times primarily depend on the effectiveness of the built-in IR blocking filter. Some digital cameras have a less effective blocking filter so exposure times can be short enough for hand-held shots. Generally, exposure may need to be increased to around 30 seconds.
Blur and noise in infrared photos
Because long exposures are often necessary, there can be motion blur and noise in the image. Photographers who shoot infrared often consider these affects desirable.
To keep noise at a minimum, shoot on bright days and use low ISO numbers. Shooting on a bright day will result in smaller apertures being used, with a benefit of increased depth of field.
Best subjects for infrared photography
The most popular subject for infrared photography is landscapes. Try to find a scene with some nice trees with white foliage and a bluish sky. There should be little breeze, if any at all. to prevent motion.
Have fun and experiment though.
Take infrared pictures of everything you see including still lifes. Different materials will either absorb or reflect infrared light and result in varied and interesting visual effects, though sometimes things can look bizarre.
Don’t forget to take infrared photos of friends and yourself. But because a long exposure may be needed, people generally don't make the best subjects unless they can remain near-motionless while the shot it taken. Be forewarned, people photographed with an IR lens can look ghoulish.
Editing infrared images
Infrared images do not usually require special editing, but you can change the color effect. For example, swap the red and blue channels if you want images to have a blue sky instead of brown.
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Photos and text by Jonas Förste ©2007
For more information about infrared digital photography, check out these infrared FAQs.