Mel Brackstone


Infrared tips and important information

I’ve been a fan of digital infrared images from the first time I saw them, and worked with filters on the front of my cam for a year or so, before finally succumbing to a fully converted camera. Had the camera converted here in Oz, however the company doesn’t appear to be operating anymore.

There’s an Infrared group for those that might be interested.

Anwar Salim has written some amazing journals on infrared with digital cameras:

Journal 1

Journal 2

Journal 3

Journal 4

Journal 5

Naomi Frost has produced a great tutorial on how to get beautiful colour from your infrared camera:

How to do INFRARED

  • PaulBradley

    PaulBradley

    Thanks Mel, some nice links.

    I’m a big fan of IR as well; my 40D is not too good (the IR filtering is just too good, I guess) though it does give some interesting effects. My old (unconverted) 350D has given me some nice shots (and some have sold, too, so it can’t be that bad!). I have a G9 which shows some promise if I ever manage to get a 77mm to 58mm step down ring!

    It’s important to note, though, that shooting RAW and processing with Canon’s DPP won’t work as the software does’t have sufficient adjustment range in colour temp (which needs to be around 1200 Kelvin). I use Capture One.

    P

  • Mel Brackstone replied

    Good on you Paul, thank you for your extra input.

  • Hans Kawitzki

    Hans Kawitzki

    Thanks Mel for the links.
    I’m a IR fan as you know but my Canons,D300 & D40 are just not suitable for IR unless there is a windless day to cope with a long exposure of 6 to 10 sec at 200 ISO and a Hoya 72 R filter.
    Thought of having the D300 converted but then I won’t be able to produce a colour IR
    It looks like the only way to go is to get hold of a second hand Nikon 50 or 70.
    Interesting to read Paul’s comment using Capture One to finalize the IR image.
    I am in contact with Anwar and he has some great Journals.

  • Mel Brackstone replied

    It’s always good to get extra feedback, thanks Hans!

  • lightsmith

    lightsmith

    There’s nothing like mucking around in Infrared. As it clearly says in Wind in the WIllows. (Although due to a misprint it actually says ‘boats’).

    I cannot exist without infrared now.

  • Mel Brackstone replied

    heh…..good one smithy! Yep, me too :)

  • TomBaumker

    TomBaumker

    Thanks for the info my friend. Haven`t done any in years Hugs Tom

  • Patricia L. Ballard

    Patricia L. Ba...

    Mel, thanks so much for giving us the links to all of this wonderful information.

  • anwarsalim

    anwarsalim

    Mel, with shameless promotion. I just want to update with new journal from me about Infrared Digital Photography – false color. Thank you

  • Mel Brackstone replied

    oooo, sorry Anwar, I’ll add it now, thanks!!!

  • Ralph  Olsson

    Ralph Olsson

    Thanks for these mel..i have just purchased an IR filter and not sure if i am doing it right:( It’s so dark i have to compose without and then screw the filter on – using tripod only at this stage:)

  • Mel Brackstone replied

    Hey Ralph, that’s the only way with an SLR….unless you buy a cokin IR filter, which you can drop into place after composing….or getting your camera converted to full time IR….

  • Ralph  Olsson

    Ralph Olsson

    I use cokins but i use a different camera for them, just as easy with a screw on this camera…tend not to use the IR filtered camera for anything else now:) Hey, it slows you down massively and that’s got to be a good thing…love it:)

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.