In my previous post, I have outlined the steps to taking Infra-red pictures. However, if you have followed through the steps, you will realised that the images are reddish brown (or just reddish) in colour. Nothing like what you see on the previous posts.
You might be wondering if this is correct? Have you done something wrong?
If your images are reddish brown in colour, then you are in luck, because that is where you will begin processing the colour. You will not get this colour if you did the pre-set white balance setting wrongly.
"But this is not what I'm expecting," you protested.
Well, in this post, I will share with you the techniques of processing these images so that they will turn out to look like those images that I have posted previously. Do note that I am covering only the colour infra-red post-processing. I might cover the monochrome effect in another post.
Ok, so let's begin. First, you need to import the images into Adobe Photoshop or any other image photo editing software which will support channel swapping (A 30 days trial copy of Photoshop can be downloaded from Adobe website).
Once you have loaded the images, you got to use the Channel option. When you are in that option, change the red channel to read red=0 and blue=100. Do the same for the blue channel, where the reading is blue=0 and red=100. You will start to see a difference in the colours.
Normally following that, I will make some adjustments in the Hue / Saturation setting and do the usual post-processing. Once I am happy with the overall changes, I will do an unsharp mask and voila, you will have post-processed IR pictures!
The processes are a bit tedious and complicated but I hope you are able to follow through the steps that I have outlined above. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email at digital.cubes@gmail.com.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The basic of Infrared Photography
In case you would like to try your hands at infra-red photography, here's what you should do:
Prepare your camera for Infra-Red Photography
First you will need to get an Infra-red capable camera, which in my case is a Nikon D70 camera.
If you are not sure if your camera is IR capable, you can try the following test.
Go into a dark room and turn off all the lights. Then put a TV remote control in front of the lens with the LED pointing at the lens. Snap a photo and if there is a light spot in your pictures, then your camera can record infra-red.
Get an Infra-red Filter
There are several type of Infra-red filter available in the market. I have a Hoya R72 and a Cokin 007 Infra-red Filter
Custom-set your DSLR's white balance
For this step, you will need to know how to set custom white balance for your camera. You might have to pull out your camera manual if you are not sure.
Then go out on a bright sunny day with your camera and your filter fitted on your lens. Point your lens at a bright patch of grass and take a sample of it to set the white balance.
TIP
What I normally do is to set the camera to an auto mode or P in my case and then take a shot of the grass patch.
Once you have set the custom White Balance, you are ready to start to take pictures!
Taking Infra-red Pictures
First of all, you will need to take off your IR filter. Why? It is because the IR filter is almost pitch black and you will not be able to see through your lens if you keep it on your lens. So, what you need to do is to compose your scene and focus. Following that, the filter is placed back and when you are ready, press on the shutter button.
When you look at the LCD, you will not be able to see much of the image as it will be very dark (reddish brown or mostly red).
That's it! You have taken your first IR pictures! In the next post, I will post the post-processing techniques for these pictures. Meanwhile, have fun with IR!
Prepare your camera for Infra-Red Photography
First you will need to get an Infra-red capable camera, which in my case is a Nikon D70 camera.
If you are not sure if your camera is IR capable, you can try the following test.
Go into a dark room and turn off all the lights. Then put a TV remote control in front of the lens with the LED pointing at the lens. Snap a photo and if there is a light spot in your pictures, then your camera can record infra-red.
Get an Infra-red Filter
There are several type of Infra-red filter available in the market. I have a Hoya R72 and a Cokin 007 Infra-red Filter
Custom-set your DSLR's white balance
For this step, you will need to know how to set custom white balance for your camera. You might have to pull out your camera manual if you are not sure.
Then go out on a bright sunny day with your camera and your filter fitted on your lens. Point your lens at a bright patch of grass and take a sample of it to set the white balance.
TIP
What I normally do is to set the camera to an auto mode or P in my case and then take a shot of the grass patch.
Once you have set the custom White Balance, you are ready to start to take pictures!
Taking Infra-red Pictures
First of all, you will need to take off your IR filter. Why? It is because the IR filter is almost pitch black and you will not be able to see through your lens if you keep it on your lens. So, what you need to do is to compose your scene and focus. Following that, the filter is placed back and when you are ready, press on the shutter button.
When you look at the LCD, you will not be able to see much of the image as it will be very dark (reddish brown or mostly red).
That's it! You have taken your first IR pictures! In the next post, I will post the post-processing techniques for these pictures. Meanwhile, have fun with IR!
Infrared Photography
I got interested in Infra-red photography when I saw some of the pictures taken by fellow photographers and I was amazed at the type of images that are generated. They are so different it is from the usual photographs.
The dreamy, soft effects really got me excited and I couldn't wait to try it out. So, before you know it, I rushed out to get a Hoya R72 Filter and started taking my own Infra-red (IR) pictures.
The dreamy, soft effects really got me excited and I couldn't wait to try it out. So, before you know it, I rushed out to get a Hoya R72 Filter and started taking my own Infra-red (IR) pictures.
Welcome to Digital Cubes Photography Blog!
Thank you for visiting Digital Cube PhotoBlog!
I'm a hobbyist photographer who has caught the digital photography bug a while back. I'm using the Nikon D70 camera and a Panasonic LX2 to capture some of my images.
I hope you will enjoy your stay here and if you have any queries/comments, do not hesitate to drop me a note at digital.cubes@gmail.com.
Thank you and enjoy!
Regards
Digital Cubes
I'm a hobbyist photographer who has caught the digital photography bug a while back. I'm using the Nikon D70 camera and a Panasonic LX2 to capture some of my images.
I hope you will enjoy your stay here and if you have any queries/comments, do not hesitate to drop me a note at digital.cubes@gmail.com.
Thank you and enjoy!
Regards
Digital Cubes
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