Digital camera infrared (IR) photography can be done generally in 2 ways. The cheap but inconvenient way is to attach an IR-passing filter, such as the popular Hoya R72, over the lens and shoot images. The expensive but convenient way is to have the digital camera modified and calibrated for IR photography.
The cheap inconvenient method is slow and clumsy, and it is not always a sure-fire way of producing IR images. This method can sometimes produce a whitish circular flare in the center of the IR image, often called a hot-spot. This hot-spot becomes more visible with images shot at small apertures, and it can be observed that the hot-spot bears the shape of the diaphragm opening. There is no easy remedy for this optical problem.
The expensive convenient method is fast and easy. Not only are hot-spots absent, exposure times are short enough for hand-held photography. Not only can the tripod be left at home, the modified camera can be used at lower ISO values hence producing images with lesser electronic noise and higher clarity, or used at smaller apertures for longer depth-of-field to complement landscape photography which IR photography is popularly used for.
Modifying a digital camera for IR photography requires careful disassembly by a qualified technician, and sometimes the camera has to be optically (focus) calibrated after the modification. The imaging sensor (focal plane) position and lens focus (autofocus shift) can be calibrated to suit IR transmission in the camera-lens system. This calibration is necessary for the camera to correctly focus IR wavelengths and hence produce sharply focused images.
For more information on IR photography and IR modification, please see the Camera Clinic website.
I thank my good Burmese friend Pyay Phyo Kyaw for hosting me in Sydney in December 2009. Photographed in Sydney CBD, Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge (Grand Pacific Drive), and Hunter Valley wine region, these IR images were appropriately enhanced in Adobe Photoshop for an improved visual appearance. Comments are welcomed.
The Canon PowerShot SX100IS camera was modified at my workplace Camera Clinic.
Although my interest in photography is primarily in portraits, I also have some interest in infrared photography. With a modified digital camera, I am able to easily shoot infrared portrait images without the hassle of very long exposure times and the use of a tripod.
These are some simple infrared portraits I shot in 2009.
Infrared image of Averal and I.
Infrared close-up image of her eye.
Infrared portrait image.
Images were shot using modified Nikon CoolPix 5700 and Canon PowerShot SX100IS cameras. I have modified both these cameras and also other cameras at my workplace Camera Clinic.
As of 17 December 2009, Averal was admitted to the Bachelor degree of business and commerce, specializing in management and marketing.
Averal and I at her graduation ceremony in Monash University Clayton campus.
Now on holidays in Singapore and then in the US in early January 2010, Averal intends to continue studying in Monash University in 2010 towards a Master degree.
From time to time, I seek confident and photogenic persons who are interested in modeling themselves for portrait images.
If you are confident about your physical appearance, have been told that you look attractive in many of your images, and have considered posing for a camera held in skilled hands, then contact me.
Everyone starts from nothing, and I am happy to work with amateur or beginner models. If you have a model’s profile or portfolio on the internet, you should include the website address in your correspondence.
Powered by an open mind, and driven by forward thinking, I believe in being non-discriminatory, and strive for diversity in image and versatility in skill. Both women and men regardless of race or religion, and couples regardless of their sexual orientation, may apply.
In 2007, there were 3 major events in Victoria which I went to photograph with my photography friends.
On 24 March 2007, my friend Mark and I drove to the Avalon Air Show at Avalon airport.
I photographing aircraft at the Avalon Airshow at Avalon Airport.
Mark and I photographing aircraft at the Avalon Airshow at Avalon Airport.
On 11 August 2007, my friend Terence and I drove about 4 hours to a small town called Dinner Plain on Mount Hotham to the annual Altitude 5000 Sled Dog Race. We stayed over in a hotel and continued photographing the dogs on the next day before driving back to Melbourne.
I photographing dogs at the annual sled dog race at Dinner Plain.
On 11 November 2007, my friends Terence, Sean and I drove to the Australian Rally Championship racing venue near Yarra Glen, if I’m not mistaken.
Terence, Sean and I photographing cars at the annual Australian Rally Championship.
The images of these 3 events were photographed using Canon EOS 20D and Canon PowerShot A630.
Unlike tiny and crowded Singapore, the beauty of Australia is in her vast open spaces and ample natural assets. As the world’s largest island, Australia can truly fill a person’s entire lifetime with countless scenic holidays. In fact, the travel industry ranks Australia as the world’s best country to visit for her natural beauty.
From September to December 2009, Averal and I have taken 5 road trips out of Melbourne to the countryside in Victoria (VIC) state, and also into New South Wales (NSW) state reaching as far as Sydney.
Our first road trip was on 20 September. We went to the annual tulip festival in Silvan. We stopped along the way at Sassafras for lunch before reaching the tulip farm. After the tulip farm, we had a late afternoon tea picnic at Olinda. The distance traveled was 178km.
Averal and I at the annual tulip festival at Silvan.
Averal enjoying the afternoon tea picnic at Olinda.
Averal and I having an afternoon tea picnic at Olinda.
Our second road trip was on 27 September while hosting a holidaying Singaporean friend named Kenneth. Together with Kenneth, we had an English country-style tea at Sassafras.
Averal and I having an English country-style afternoon tea at Sassafras.
Our third road trip was a 2-day 1-night road trip from 31 October to 1 November. I drove us southeast of Melbourne to Phillip Island, and after a night’s stay at the seaside country town of San Remo, we drove off to Wilsons Promontory the next morning. The distance traveled was 615km.
Averal and I at Bass River winery on the way to Phillip Island.
Averal and I at Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
Averal and I at Wilsons Promontory Tidal River.
Averal and I having a picnic at Wilsons Promontory.
Our fourth road trip was on 5 December. I drove us to the west of Melbourne to Werribee Park Mansion and Point Lonsdale beach. The distance traveled was 292km.
Averal and I at Werribee Park Mansion.
During Averal’s mother’s visit to Melbourne in December 2009, we did our fifth road trip from 9 to 13 December. Together with her mother, we departed Melbourne to Warragul, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, and across the Victoria state border into New South Wales state where we spent 2 nights at Eden (NSW). After Eden, we drove on to Bega (NSW), Tilba Tilba (NSW), Kiama (NSW), Wollongong (NSW), and finally to Sydney (NSW). This 5-day 4-night road trip traveled 1325km.
Averal and I at Lakes Entrance.
Averal and I at Ben Boyd National Park (NSW).
Averal and I having fresh oysters at an oyster farm at Pambula River (NSW).
Averal and I outside the toilets of Bega cheese factory in Bega (NSW).
Averal and I at the Kiama blow hole in Kiama (NSW).
Averal and I outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney (NSW).
Images of our road trip are also in our Facebook profiles.
Infrared (IR) photography is the formation of images with infrared light which is invisible to humans. In reality, most IR photography is actually the capture of near-infrared (NIR) light of wavelengths from 750nm to 1300nm, in simpler words, the lower end of the infrared range. However, most people simply use the term “IR” or “infrared”.
At first glance, infrared images appear to look like old fashioned black-and-white images, but there are some differences. Most people shoot IR images of scenery which contains flora, particularly green grass and leaves, because the digital camera represents them as white in colour, hence creating a snow-covered landscape appearance. For most people, IR photography is a novelty.
I have some interest in infrared photography, and have contributed an article on infrared photography on the website of my workplace at Camera Clinic. At work, I have modified a few digital cameras to do infrared photography.
Some of the digital cameras I have modified for infrared include:
Nikon D1, D70, D200
Nikon CoolPix 5700
Canon EOS 10D, EOS 20D
Canon PowerShot G9, PowerShot G10, PowerShot SX100IS
Pentax Optio W60
The following gallery presents infrared images I photographed in 2009. These IR images were appropriately enhanced in Adobe Photoshop for an improved visual appearance. Comments are welcomed.
The Fuji FinePix S20 Pro and Nikon CoolPix 5700 used to shoot the above images were modified at my workplace Camera Clinic.
In this second gallery are some images I photographed in 2006.
As of 31 December 2009, there are more images to be uploaded into this gallery. These images will be uploaded soon.
In December 2008, I collaborated with a Singaporean photographer David Sim who flew over to Melbourne with his clients Chloe and Zihao to do their wedding images.
As a permanent resident of Melbourne, I was both his local guide and assisting/supporting photographer.
Images of this couple were photographed using a Nikon D300 which I had borrowed from the company I work for, Camera Clinic.
The human eye can see light and its reflected colours of a limited range. Generally, we call this the visible light spectrum, and this light has wavelengths from 380nm to 750nm. Beyond this range, that is, wavelengths below 380nm (ultraviolet) and above 750nm (infrared), the light is invisible to humans. Some insects and animals can see beyond the visible light spectrum.
Infrared (IR) photography is the formation of images with light at wavelengths above 750nm. In reality, most IR photography is actually the capture of near-infrared (NIR) light of wavelengths up to 1300nm, ior n simpler words, the lower end of the infrared range. However, most people simply use the term “IR” or “infrared”.
Near-infrared (NIR) photography can be done using most digital cameras. The CCD/CMOS imagers in most digital cameras can “see” near-infrared (NIR) light, but it is blocked away by an IR-block filter. This IR-block filter is often a clear or bluish-tint glass fitted on top of the imager.
For simplicity in explanation, generally NIR images can be photographed with a digital camera using an IR-pass filter attached in front of the lens. It is much better if the IR-block filter inside the camera is removed and an IR-pass filter is fitted on top of the imager, but this requires dismantling the camera.
Dismantling to repair or modify a digital camera should only be done by a qualified, trained and experienced technician. Electric shock, personal injury and damage can occur if a camera is dismantled by an unqualified person.
Although my interest in photography is primarily in portraits, I also have some interest in infrared photography.
Digging into my archives, I found these infrared images shot in 2007. These images have been appropriately enhanced in Adobe Photoshop for an improved visual appearance.
The Nikon D50 used to shoot the above images was modified at my workplace Camera Clinic.