[Leica] InfraRed photos... WARNING, OMG, not Leica!

[klaus.elmquist at get2net.dk (Klaus Elmquist Nielsen)]

Very nice images, Jim!

As for IR photography technique I would suggest the use of bracketing to 
bring out more
shadow detail and give brighter leaves on the trees. I generally expose IR 
film at the
specified speed and overexpose one and two stops. One will have to go deeper 
(overexpose
more) if there is a light cloud layer or when taking images in the shadow. 
Experiment!

A few general hints for IR photography:
- Use a range finder. The Leica M really rules here. Supports slower shutter 
speeds
  and easier use of opaque filers than SLR's do.
- Use a changing bag (or darkroom) when loading and unloading IR films. It 
is the
  safest way of handling IR films and gives a few extra images on each roll 
too.
- IR films are quite slow, i.e. ISO 3-6 for MACO IR 820c.
- Use a deeper filter, i.e. Wratten 89B and below, in particular with the 
MACO films.
  I use a Wratten 88A filter sold by MACO (Heliopan RG 715). Hoya R72 is a 
popular
  IR filter.
- Font lit IR scenes tend to produce a "white out". Use side lit or back lit 
scenes
  as you did.
- Fresh leaves gives the brightest whites. Expect older leaves to be more 
grey.
- IR light tend to focus further away than normal visible light. Hence focus
  adjustments may be needed.

Here are some images of my own IR images taken on the test version of MACO's 
new IR 820/400
film (except for the last two which are taken on MACO IR 820c):

        http://klauselmquist.dk/photo.php?name=ir2

The test version of IR 820/400 film has an antihalation layer between the 
emulusion
and the base, and hence produce sharp IR images. The production version of 
IR 820/400
does not have that antihalation layer and hence should give halation effects 
like MAC
IR 820c does.

The MACO IR 820c film is about two stops slower than IR 820/400 and can 
produce some
really nice IR effects. One example is:

        http://klauselmquist.dk/image/irsolbaer_1_n.jpg
        http://klauselmquist.dk/image/irsolbaer_1_l.jpg (larger version of 
above)

All these images are taken with a Leica M, an Elmar-M 50/2.8 and a Heliopan 
RG 715 filter.

Finally, here are some links that you may find useful for IR photography:

The IR FAQ:

        http://www.cocam.co.uk/CoCamWS/Infrared/INFRARED.HTM

The IR FAQ have a useful section on IR filters:

        http://www.cocam.co.uk/CoCamWS/Infrared/INFRARED.HTM#FIL

MACO films are available from here, a technical application for IR 820c:

        http://www.mahn.net

Another (and quite massive) page with IR information:

        http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm

Andrea Lang have made some very interesting IR-like images:

        http://www.lang-photo.com/german%20romantic.html

Here are some really nice classic IR images:

        http://mitglied.lycos.de/darklight/ir.html

Cheers,
Klaus

Jim Hemenway <Jim@hemenway.com> wrote on Fri, 22 Jul 2005 22:21:37 -0400:
>
> A friend gave me my first roll of Konica IR film... here are some photos
> which I shot with it last week and finally had a chance to scan today.
>
> Ancient Pentax SV with Super-Takumar f3.5/35mm
> and Fisheye-Takumar f4/17mm
>
> All shots taken at f5.6 at 1/60th as per the poop sheet.
>
> http://www.hemenway.com/InfraRed
>
> Notice to Leica aficionados:
>
> I didn't use the Leica R8 or the SL because I don't have a red or orange 
> filter to use on any of my R-lenses, instead I used a 49mm red filter 
> with the Pentax 35mm lens and the fisheye's internal orange,.
>
> Whaddaya think?  Are they IR like?
>
> Gotta go now... no date tonight, but then again Monk, the obsessive 
> compulsive detective is on the telly.
>
> Jim