Watch this before you convert your camera to infrared

Are you intrigued by infrared photography and its surreal colors? I sure am, but I still find it a bit… complex. If you also don’t know where to start, here’s an awesome video from Christian Möhrle of The Phlog Photography. In only three minutes, he’ll give you all the basics you need to know before you decide to shoot infrared yourself.

Christian starts with the technical bit, which is important for understanding how infrared photography works. Standard cameras capture light that is visible to the human eye, and it lies between the wavelength of 380 and 740 nanometers. Infrared photography captures light beyond those 740 nanometers, allowing us to see the infrared light.

This has its applications in science and military, but of course, we’re interested in the art of infrared photography. There are three ways to capture infrared photos. First, you can use a camera with a modified sensor. If you don’t want to modify the camera’s sensor, you can opt for IR filters. They can work on your camera’s lens, but you can even use them on your smartphone. Finally, if you’re info film photography, you can also use infrared film. Remember though that you’ll also need an infrared filter for the lens.

Modifying your camera is a big step. It’s also not cheap, just like buying the second camera to use only for IR. So, if you want a cheap way to try infrared photography, it’s best to try filters. They’re cheap and easily available, but remember that you’ll need a tripod because you need to use longer exposures.

Now that you’ve chosen the method, you can start shooting infrared. But you can now see a brighter spot in the middle of your image. This is called “hotspot” and it depends on the lens that you use. Despite the fact that more expensive lenses usually perform better, it can be quite the opposite in the world of IR photography. Cheaper lenses will often have less visible hotspot.

Infrared photography works great for landscapes, but you can also try it out for portraits. Filters are a good way to start, and if you like how it works for you – you can consider investing in a modified camera and get more serious about IR.

[What is Infrared Photography and how can you shoot Infrared yourself | The Phlog Photography]