Gwangju Clicks: Landscape Photography
This month we are going to take a look at a niche in landscape photography: infrared (IR). Infrared is the light at the far end of the spectrum, beyond what the eye can see at the red end of the wavelength. It is also what is used in the remote control for your TV.
Your camera can shoot it.
Why shoot infrared?
The reason for shooting in infrared is that it creates an otherworldly dreamscape. Plants emit infrared light as a by-product of photosynthesis. As a photographer this means that if you set the white balance to record this type of light as white, tree leaves in your photos will look like snow or cherry blossoms. This effect can look very beautiful, especially when there are white puff clouds in the sky.
How do you shoot infrared?
There are two main options available to you if you want to shoot infrared. The first option is to buy a filter to put on the front of your lens, which will block out all light except infrared. The filter of the glass will appear black, since our eyes cannot see infrared. On most cameras the sensor has been shielded against light at the infrared end of the spectrum, but if you expose long enough you can capture an exposure. This means that when you use an IR filter, for example the Hoya IR 720, you will need to use a tripod and expose from anywhere between 30 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on the aperture and ISO you choose to use with your camera. Using long exposure for these shots can be great as well. Water becomes smooth and clouds move across the sky, but you are limited to long exposures.
The second method for taking IR photos is to have your camera modified, basically removing the shielding around the sensor so that you can shoot IR with it. If you are serious about IR photography this is the best thing to do, since you can treat your camera normally. Of course your camera will only be able to take IR photos, so it is best to modify a second camera body.
When should you take infra-red photos?
Remember that IR is all about foliage emitting infrared light during photosynthesis. You need to be shooting on a day with strong sunshine, during the summer when there are lots of green leaves and grass. The best days are those super-crisp days with dark blue skies and some clouds, which can be difficult to obtain in Korea due to summer storms. If you can get a good day, though, then the normal rules of landscape photography should apply when composing your shot. Just try to include some interesting foliage juxtaposed against a temple or a modern cityscape.