What are the best camera settings for infrared photography?

A Post By: Alex Morrison

Contact us to discuss your requirements for Pi Ir Camera. Our experienced sales team can help identify the best options suited to your needs.

Photographs captured using invisible infrared light, as opposed to visible light, often result in intriguingly strange and beautiful images that leave a lasting impression. Infrared (IR) photography, highly regarded for landscapes and scenic imagery, has always been considered fine art. Back in the film photography days, capturing infrared photos was complex, costly, and often yielded mediocre results. Yet, for the determined, a successful image made the effort worthwhile.

The introduction of digital cameras has simplified the process considerably, making infrared photography almost foolproof, affordable, and a great deal of fun! You will need a tripod, a special infrared filter, and a camera sensitive to infrared light. With these, you'll be taking infrared photos in no time.

This article aims to provide you with straightforward steps for venturing into this creative photography technique, without delving into the complex physics behind infrared light.

Remember, anything alive reflects more infrared light than inanimate objects. Leaves, foliage, grass, and skin will appear as the whitest objects in your image, while stones, concrete, mountains, water, and the sky absorb infrared light, making them appear darker. The tonal quality differs from conventional black-and-white photography. Note the tone differences of leaves, seeds, and sky in the infrared image below.

Ready to give it a try? Follow these simple steps to create stunning, surreal infrared photos. The first steps deal with equipment and settings, while the latter steps cover the best methods for capturing beautiful infrared light.

Step 1: Test Your Camera

Before purchasing an infrared filter, test your camera's sensitivity to infrared light. Not all digital camera sensors detect infrared light, and the more recent the camera, the less sensitive it may be. Here's a simple test to check your camera's infrared capabilities.

Find a TV, VCR, or DVD remote control. Look at the transmitter end, featuring a tiny bulb or flat black plastic window that sends the signal to your device, usually via infrared light. Although invisible to the naked eye, you'll be able to see it through your camera.

If you have a point-and-shoot camera, use the LCD viewer while pressing any button on the remote. If the bulb lights up, your camera can detect infrared light. For DSLRs, take a photo to see the results, or use the live view feature to see them on the LCD screen.

The whiter and brighter the light from the remote, the more sensitive your camera is to infrared. If the light appears more purple or red, your camera may not be suitable for infrared photography.

Step 2: Gather Equipment

If your camera passes the sensitivity test, you'll need two more pieces of equipment: a tripod and an infrared filter. The tripod ensures sharp shots, as exposure times will be quite long. The infrared filter blocks most visible light while allowing infrared light to reach the camera sensor.

When starting with infrared photography, I used a Hoya R72 screw-on infrared filter. Other manufacturers like B+W and Tiffen offer equivalent filters. If you use a slide-in filter system, such as Cokin or Lee, they also manufacture infrared filters to fit their holders. Ensure the filter is placed in the slot closest to the camera to prevent visible light from sneaking in. The R72 allows some visible light to pass through, making it ideal for creative post-processing.

For more information, visit our website Cmos Module Camera.

Step 3: Adjust Camera Settings

Due to the infrared filter blocking most visible light, exposures will be long. Adjust your camera settings for proper exposure while minimizing noise. Set your camera on the tripod and make these adjustments:

1. Set your ISO between 200 and 400, as low as possible
2. Enable Long Exposure noise reduction
3. Shoot in RAW mode
4. Select Aperture Priority mode (Av mode on Canon) and set the aperture to around f/8 for maximum sharpness
5. Set auto bracketing to +/-1 EV. The series should be -1 EV, 0 EV, and +1 EV. Manual bracketing works too.

Shooting in RAW provides more flexibility for processing and adjusting. Bracketing helps find the optimal exposure at your chosen aperture and ISO.

Setting the White Balance could be another article altogether. For now, use the Sunny or Daylight preset.

Step 4: Compose Your Shots

Composition is critical in infrared photography, just as in regular photography. However, there are additional factors to keep in mind when planning your infrared compositions.

Infrared photography is akin to black-and-white photography, dealing with a limited range of tones. To add dynamism to your photos, include contrasting elements — light and dark, smooth and textured. Mix and match for artistic compositions.

• light
• white
• smooth
• large patterns
• light with fine textures
• light with large textures

• dark
• black
• textured
• small patterns
• dark with fine textures
• dark with large textures

In every infrared shot, include at least one element from Column 1 with the corresponding one from Column 2. You can use light and small patterns with dark and large patterns and vice versa. Foliage and clouds are light elements; stones, bark, water, and concrete are darker. Distant leaves appear rough, while human skin is smooth. This should help you start your infrared composition journey.

Step 5: Shooting Infrared Photos

For successful infrared photography, shoot on sunny days, particularly in the summer when deciduous foliage abounds. Overcast days won’t yield great results, and winter days lack the reflective infrared light. Clouds can add interest, but ensure the sun is out and shining on your subject.

Find a suitable shooting location and adjust your camera settings. I prefer graveyards, parks, and old abandoned buildings. The contrast between stones, pathways, wood, and foliage provides excellent tonal range for infrared photos. Include a few wisps of cloud in the sky for added effect.

Mount your camera on the tripod and compose your image. Attach the infrared filter and use autofocus as usual. The light meter also works, but bracket both ends to ensure at least one usable exposure. Press the shutter button, and you’ll have captured an infrared photograph.

Look out for my upcoming article on post-processing techniques for infrared photos!

Locate a TV, VCR, or DVD player remote control, and use the transmitter end, usually utilizing infrared light. Although invisible to the naked eye, you will see it through your camera.

If you have a point-and-shoot camera, use the LCD viewer while pressing any button on the remote. If the bulb lights up, the camera detects infrared light. For DSLRs, take a photo to see the results or use the live view feature to view them on the LCD screen. The whiter and brighter the light from the remote, the more sensitive your camera is to infrared. If the light appears more purple or red, your camera may not be suitable for infrared photography. Essentially, you'll need two vital tools to capture infrared photographs apart from the camera.

For more Pixel Camera Qr Code information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.