Infrared Photography

[Marvo]

Some days ago, I went onto a forum, and found a topic about infrared camera stuff. I checked it out, and found, that if you point a remote-control on your camera and press the buttons, you can see on the camera's LCD (provided it's digital ofcourse) screen, whether or not your camera can pick up infrared lighting. The remote-control will emit weird purple/red/blue light. I found that my camera could do this, so I read further, and found, that it's pretty easy to make a visible-light filter. It's quite simple actually. You just take some exposed and developed colour film, and take the ends that are completely black. Get two of these, make them cover your lense, and bam, you have a visible-light filter. Now that you've isolated most of the visible-light, you can take pictures of the infrared light. Also called IR. I've made a pretty smart filter myself, that filters out just about enough visible-light. This creates a very cool effect. I have yet to take good pictures, but here are 2 poor samples. So, what do you think? If the weather fits me, I'll go take some better close-up pictures tomorrow. Pictures taken on distance seem to get blured.

[Oneironaught]

Some days ago, I went onto a forum, and found a topic about infrared camera stuff. I checked it out, and found, that if you point a remote-control on your camera and press the buttons, you can see on the camera's LCD (provided it's digital ofcourse) screen, whether or not your camera can pick up infrared lighting. The remote-control will emit weird purple/red/blue light. I repair electronics for a living and have known about the IR detection of cameras for use as a remote output detector for many years. I only mention that to mention that pretty much any camera with a CCD-type optical sensor will do that. Just about every camcorder and security camera is able to be used in "complete darkness" as long as you have an IR source. So, you can use your camcorder for IR pictures, too, with your filter. I found that my camera could do this, so I read further, and found, that it's pretty easy to make a visible-light filter. It's quite simple actually. You just take some exposed and developed colour film, and take the ends that are completely black. Get two of these, make them cover your lense, and bam, you have a visible-light filter. Now that you've isolated most of the visible-light, you can take pictures of the infrared light. Also called IR. I did not, however, know that you could make an effective IR pass filter like that. That's pretty cool. It makes sense though. Many darkly-tinted plastics will do that (to some degree). Notice that electronic equipment with a remote control sensor always has a piece of dark, smoked plastic covering said sensor. That keeps interference from outside lighting from tricking the sensor.

[Marvo]

Yeah, I thought it pretty weird aswell. 3 layers tops it though. At this point, the IR will start getting weaker. So weak, that the shutter time gets too long to take good pictures. Damn, I need a tripod

[Oneironaught]

You should be able to capture some "ghostly", dreamy photos in the infrared spectrum. The one of the bushes looks cool.

[RooJ]

Nice, you can do the same with phone camera's, i had the same setup with a k750i with interesting results. I like the second pic the best. If you wireup some powerful IR LED's you could make an infrared torch type thing.. It would enable you to see in the dark.. the human eye wouldnt be able to see the light. Remember aswell that the camera has a filter to block out most of the infrared light.. If you ever decide to throw your camera away try opening it up (being careful) and take out the filter inside, then see what results you get.

[Marvo]

I don't think my camera has such a filter? It doesn't look like it's decreasing the IR. By the way, here's my homemade visible-light filter http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6553/p1010193ah9.jpg [pretty darn big picture] I also like the one with the bushes. The white effect is pretty sweet. edit: I also just tried to make my own tripod, but that's not as easy, as it may look.

[RooJ]

All camera's should have an ir filter, it stops images becoming washed out by the infrared light. I really dont suggest you try to remove it unless its a camera you're throwing away as much can go wrong. some examples: http://www.hackaday.com/2006/12/20/d...ilter-removal/ http://www.hackaday.com/2005/03/14/m...frared-webcam/ I love the bottletop filter.. genius , beats my idea of just holding the film up infront of my phone heh.

[Marvo]

That's pretty cool. I'm probably gonna get a new camera with built-in IR stuff, that I can disable and enable (I'm quite sure that exists), but I'm not sure. Either way, I'll get a new camera, and if I feel like trashing the old camera, then I'll try and remove the IR filter. I'm quite smart on such stuff, so I guess it's quite easy. Currently, I have an Olympus Digital 410, also known as µ-mju 410 digital.

[Marvo]

I just went out today and took some more pictures. Man, I really really need a tripod

[jacobo]

a tripod is a must... and it's best not to let the camera do the metering. you might also want to look into black and white IR film. just read up on it before you go out shooting with it.

[Marvo]

I've never heard of white negatives?

[Oneironaught]

Why are some of the pictures blue and some purple? Did you make two different filters or are you changing the tint on the digital end? Is lighting the cause?

[jacobo]

I've never heard of white negatives? the negatives aren't white. the film is just extra sensitive to IR light. you have to load the film in complete darkness and all that jazz. i also think you have to set your ISO to somewhere around 1600, i can't remember. -- i have a couple images i did with my digital on my other computer i think, i'll see if i can find them when i get home this afternoon.

[Marvo]

Oneironaught, some of the pictures are red and purple/blue due to the light, It changes by it self. I can also change it myself, though I don't really do that. Jacobo, what should that help? Right now, I'm filtering out all visible light, without stopping any infrared. It can't get more perfect, as far as I can see.

[blade5x]

To bad our eyes can't pick up on this, or I'd find some glasses and put the filters over them. It'd be awesome. So is this what something that has infrared vision would see? Because it's a lot better quality then I expected. Usually all those infrared cameras that you see on TV... just looks like a bunch of blobs of color with some 3D detail.

[Marvo]

It depends. There are many forms of infrared. If I took my camera to the beach, and took pictures of women with a bikini, I would actually be able to see through the bikini. That is, if the conditions are right. She would have to stand completely still and the sun would be needed to shine at her. The kinds of IR that this kind of camera can't pick up, is body-signatures. Our body emits temperature signatures in a certain IR form, but unluckily, our cameras can only pick up a certain form of IR, and the IR we has to be reflected on something, or someone. There are also other sorts, though I'm sure what they are called. Has anybody made an IR camera them selfs? This is great fun, if you have nothing else to do.

[jacobo]

Jacobo, what should that help? Right now, I'm filtering out all visible light, without stopping any infrared. It can't get more perfect, as far as I can see. i was just suggesting it since you seemed interested in the method. plus like with all film vs digital... the film always looks better. here's a couple of mine i did with my digital and an IR filter. and here are some i found on deviant art. i don't know if they allow linking images so if they don't work just follow the urls.