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From the early use of infrared (IR) films, an IR photograph almost always tends to have a very soft, misty or gloomy look. This has been considered as a distinctive feature of the traditional IR photography, and has also influenced the later creation of many IR images through a digital approach.
Since I got my first digital camera, I have been enjoying the adventure of taking IR pictures. I was amazed by how easy an image due to the invisible IR light could be seen right there on the LCD panel, and was further amazed by how striking it could turn out to be after some straightforward post processing.
What I have been experimenting with shooting IR is, however, toward the opposite direction of the traditional IR avenue while retaining its fantasy. I do appreciate the attractiveness of an IR image by its well recognized dreamy appearance. On the other hand, I also found out that an IR image can appealingly wake the viewer up by the possibility of great clarity and crisp sharpness.
One should bear in mind that IR photography is, to a large degree, the same as normal photography. In principle, all the general 'rules' for normal photography are applicable to an IR photo as well. This means that you need to have a subject of main attention, a suitable composition, and a message you want to convey through the image with various photographic techniques.
Of course, an IR photo is unique or specific in its own way. The IR photography of interest here relies essentially upon the IR light reflected rather than emitted from the objects. To visualize an IR landscape image in two simple but most important terms, the healthy foliage of plants usually becomes quite bright, and clear skies and still water become fairly dark. This is because the former strongly reflects the IR light, and the latter effectively absorbs the IR light.
Naturally, if we combine these two most remarkable aspects together, we should expect to see some dramatic effects. The combination should enhance the surreal or otherworldly look of the IR image, and the resulting unusual tonality could make the image eye-catching and esthetically pleasing.
This is exactly true in reality. The pictures shown here are two examples for the above ideas. They were taken when I had my holidays in May of 2008 at West Lake, Hangzhou, China. In the pictures, some classical Chinese architecture is surrounded by trees and reflected on a pond in a peaceful garden setting. The reflection (particularly the white foliage) on the calm water is spectacularly intensified. Meanwhile, the detailed texture of the IR leaves is clearly revealed.
Here is my final message. These pictures were taken with an IR converted camera. The main benefit of a dedicated IR camera is a substantial gain in the infrared sensitivity, which allows normal shutter speeds. As a result, handheld IR photography and the capture of moving objects are not problems anymore, and the image quality is also improved.
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