1. Understanding Infrared Photography & Why You Want a Conversion:
* Infrared Light: Light beyond the visible spectrum, invisible to the human eye. Different materials reflect IR light in unique ways, leading to the dramatic and ethereal effects seen in IR photography. Vegetation becomes bright white (Wood effect), skies turn dark, and skin can appear smooth.
* Why Conversion vs. Filters: You *can* use IR filters on a standard camera lens. However, filters block almost all visible light, requiring very long exposures (minutes) and making composition difficult. Converted cameras have the internal IR-blocking filter removed and replaced with an IR pass filter. This allows for much faster shutter speeds and real-time viewing, greatly improving usability.
2. Choosing a Camera for Conversion:
* Digital SLR (DSLR) or Mirrorless: These are the most common choices. Mirrorless cameras are often preferred due to their ability to focus more accurately in live view after conversion.
* Sensor Size: Crop sensor (APS-C) or full-frame. Full-frame will give you a wider field of view and potentially better low-light performance, but crop sensor cameras are often more affordable for conversion.
* Megapixel Count: Doesn't need to be the highest. 12-24 megapixels is generally sufficient for landscape work. More megapixels mean larger files to process.
* Live View: Essential for accurate focusing after conversion.
* Reliability: Choose a camera you're comfortable disassembling (if doing it yourself) or sending for conversion.
* Dedicated Camera: Ideal. The best practice is to dedicate a camera body entirely to IR photography. Switching the filter back and forth is extremely difficult.
3. Conversion Options:
* Professional Conversion Service: The recommended option, especially if you're not experienced in camera repair.
* Pros: High-quality results, proper calibration, warranty, reduced risk of damage.
* Cons: More expensive.
* Popular Conversion Services (Examples):
* Life Pixel (lifepixel.com)
* Kolari Vision (kolarivision.com)
* Spencers Camera and Photo (spencerscamera.com)
* Important: Discuss your desired IR wavelength (filter type) with the conversion service (see Step 4).
* DIY Conversion: For experienced electronics hobbyists only! Risky, but potentially cost-saving.
* Pros: Cheapest option.
* Cons: High risk of damaging your camera, requires specialized tools and knowledge, no warranty.
* Resources: Research thoroughly online. Watch videos, read forum discussions. Practice on an old camera first! iFixit.com may have relevant guides.
* Requires: Disassembly tools (specialized screwdrivers), dust-free environment, replacement IR-pass filter.
4. Choosing the Right IR Filter Wavelength:
This is the MOST important decision during the conversion process as it will define your final images. This refers to the wavelength of light the replacement filter lets through. Lower wavelengths allow some visible light and thus more color data in the image. Higher wavelengths block all visible light and thus produce a pure B&W image.
* 720nm: The most common and versatile. Allows a small amount of visible light to pass through, producing images that can be converted to B&W, but also retain some color information that can be used for false-color IR effects. Good for a range of landscapes.
* 830nm: Blocks nearly all visible light. Produces a more intense, surreal B&W effect. Skies will be very dark, and vegetation will be very bright. Requires a little more light for good exposure. Excellent for dramatic, high-contrast landscapes.
* 665nm (Super Color IR): Allows more visible light to pass through, producing vibrant false-color images. Requires more post-processing to achieve traditional B&W IR looks. Less common for pure B&W landscape photography, but allows for more experimentation.
* 590nm: Captures a full color image including a large portion of Infrared information, which results in a full spectrum image. This type of conversion is typically used for scientific applications, or for photography that uses a variety of external IR pass, color, UV, and other filters to achieve different photographic effects.
Recommendation: For general-purpose B&W IR landscape photography, 720nm or 830nm is recommended. Choose 720nm if you want some flexibility for false-color experiments. Choose 830nm for the most dramatic B&W IR look.
5. Lenses for IR Photography:
* Not all lenses are created equal. Some lenses can produce hotspots (bright circles) in the center of the image due to internal reflections of IR light.
* Research lens compatibility: Check online forums and reviews to see which lenses are known to work well with IR.
* Wide-angle lenses: Popular for landscape photography.
* Prime lenses: Often sharper than zoom lenses.
* Manual focus: May be necessary to fine-tune focus, especially with older lenses. The focus point of IR light is slightly different than visible light. Look for a "IR" marking on the lens body.
* Test your lenses: If possible, test your lenses after the conversion to check for hotspots.
6. Post-Processing:
* RAW format: Shoot in RAW format to preserve the most information.
* White balance: Set white balance to grass, foliage, or some other green subject to remove the red tint.
* Black and white conversion: Use your preferred method in Photoshop, Lightroom, or other software. Experiment with channel mixing to control the tones.
* Contrast and Clarity: Increase contrast and clarity to enhance the dramatic effect.
* Dodging and Burning: Subtly adjust brightness and shadows to guide the viewer's eye.
* Spot removal: Remove dust spots.
* Levels/Curves: Adjust the overall tonality of the image.
7. Focusing Considerations:
* IR focus shift: Infrared light focuses slightly differently than visible light. After the conversion, your camera will likely require focus adjustments.
* Live View: Use live view for precise focusing. Magnify the image to check sharpness.
* Manual Focus: Fine-tune manual focus if necessary.
* Focus Peaking: Mirrorless cameras with focus peaking can be very helpful.
* Lens Markings: Some older lenses have an IR focus mark. Use this as a starting point.
* Test Shots: Take test shots and check them on your computer to ensure sharpness.
8. Shooting Techniques for IR Landscape Photography:
* Composition: Apply classic landscape composition principles: Rule of Thirds, leading lines, etc.
* Time of day: Midday sun is often best as it maximizes the effect. Early morning or late afternoon can also work, but the effects may be less pronounced.
* Weather: Slightly hazy or cloudy days can work well, but clear skies are often preferred for the dramatic sky contrast.
* Subjects: Look for scenes with plenty of foliage, water, clouds, and interesting textures.
Key Considerations and Tips:
* Practice: IR photography takes practice. Experiment with different settings and techniques.
* Experiment with different lenses and filters (if you have them).
* Use a tripod for sharp images. Even with fast shutter speeds, a tripod ensures stability.
* Protect your converted camera. Treat it with care.
* Join an online IR photography community: Share your work and learn from others.
By following these steps, you can successfully convert your camera for infrared photography and unlock a world of creative possibilities for stunning black and white landscapes. Good luck!