Information
What is infrared photography?
Infrared (IR) photography captures a longer wavelength of light (typically 700-900 nanometers) than our eyes can normally see within the visible light spectrum. Visible light ranges from 400nm (violet/blue) to 700nm (red). Wavelengths above 700nm and up to about 5000nm are known as near infrared - but most digital sensors lose their sensitivity around 950nm, so “infrared photography” is really about capturing light at wavelengths between 700 and 950nm.
The result is a truly unique and striking perspective on the world… perhaps keeping us fascinated with mother earth, and what we treasure about this amazing rock we live on. Returning to our geek talk … because chlorophyll is transparent at infrared wavelengths, green foliage will look white. (Remember from Science class chlorophyll makes the leaves green.) Therefore, a picture taken in the middle of summer with lush green trees and grass will look like a winter wonderland at first glance.
Infrared photography isn't all that new. It was first discovered in 1910 by Robert W. Wood. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Grateful Dead even used IR photography on their album covers in the 60's.
Color channels can be manipulated to bring out certain colors in a photo or block certain colors. For example, the picture at the right shows a raw IR image right out of the camera. Altering the color channel results in a photo like the one displayed on our home page ... a black and white image having visible blue tones perceivable to the human eye."
If what you’ve seen here is intriguing to the human eye, what you’ve learned is fascinating to the human mind, then enjoy some of our IR Artscapes and enlighten the human soul.