Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.
–Bruce Garrabrandt
Interest in infrared photography is on the rise, and with that interest and the options for filters and conversions and post-processing come the questions. First, I’ve taken an infrared picture, now what? There are lots of questions that follow about white balance, channel swaps, using filters or converted cameras, lens choices and hot spots, and a slew of other technical and creative issues to address. That is NOT what this post is about. Instead, I will share some thoughts on the creative process – or rather MY creative process – for interpreting infrared images. Everyone follows their own path, and I’m sharing mine.
While driving through one of the wildlife refuges in Eastern North Carolina, I photographed this log in the canal surrounded by foliage. This is the faux color version of the image from 590nm conversion. You can be subtle or bold – You choose. This is Step Two in the processing workflow for me (first the raw, then faux color, then black/white).
And, here is the black/white version of the image to the left. As mentioned in this post, working the faux color version gives the black/white software of your choosing the most data to work with to give you a good starting point for refining that version. This is Step Three in the processing workflow for me (first the raw, then faux color, then black/white versions).
The Backstory on Me and Infrared.
It was probably in March of 2010 when Mark Hilliard approached me and said that I should be shooting infrared. He said that he would send me a Canon 20D at 590nm to shoot. “Okay”, I thought. “So, I’m a Nikon shooter, and what the heck is a nanometer?” I got the camera with no instructions, no manual – simply, “Just go shoot.” So, I did. Months and many images later, I ask, “Now what???” And, so began my healthy addiction to invisible light and another way to keep shooting when the light is most unfavorable for color photography. I picked up a Nikon D90 and had it converted to 590nm. Why 590? Because I simply LOVE color! And that wavelength invited me to a color party every single time I sat down to edit. A couple of years ago, a friend gifted me his Nikon D800. I had it converted to 850nm, which now gives me coverage in both ends of the spectrum. There may be more conversions down the line, but this combination suits me well for now.
In 2011, Mark and I began leading workshops that focus on infrared immersion. One of the great perks of these workshops is that there are no 4:00am wake-up calls, and we get to share the ordinary and extraordinary places in a new way. Simple scenes and subjects are transformed. Our workshop clients experience infrared and learn in the field and how to post-process images at any wavelength. Note: All of our workshops incorporate and are suitable for color and infrared; and we have loaners available for those without converted cameras or for those curious about other wavelengths. In fact, our Blue Ridge Infrared Workshop is coming up fast in June, based in Blowing Rock, NC. For info on workshops, visit https://www.newlifephotos.com/photo-tours-workshops/ .
Back to the Creative Process for Interpreting Invisible Light.
When I go out to shoot infrared images, what am I looking for? In a perfect world, the sky would be blue and filled with puffy, white clouds; the scene filled with green trees and fields, some water feature and a barn or two with a big, rusty tractor for good measure. Good luck with that. The beauty of infrared though is that many, many (did I say many?) subjects beyond the scenario described above work incredibly well. I am open all the time to exploring all options. Trees are among my favorite subjects in all flavors – color, infrared, monochrome. Their “bones” are alluring in every way. Rural landscapes work for me anytime, and so do seascapes and shrimp boats and architecture of any style. Dramatic skies paired with long exposures in infrared are magical and impactful. Graphic elements, leading lines, curves and objects with great texture and varied tones work well also. The only subject that is not for me is people and portraits. They make intriguing images in infrared, but not for me. I choose not to photograph people, not even in color. I remind myself that photography is my soul feeder. And, not one thing I ever shoot complains about how I make it look. I am good with that.
Regardless of where I am, I’m looking for an interesting subject, something that holds my attention and makes me stop. I’m looking for light that works for and with the subject. I have been doing this long enough to know what will translate well and how to work with it in post processing. Sometimes I can see where I might go with an image, sometimes not. The key for me is to be open to the process, to shoot what moves me and not worry about the next step until I get there. Being present and intentional is valuable.
I get my exposures and compositions “right” in the field to the best of my ability based on the situations. For example, when shooting at 590nm, I am careful to watch the red channel in my histogram and not blow it out. This helps to retain all the color information I might use in the faux color process. I’m also mindful of how I arrange the elements in the frame. I do not and will not adopt the “I’ll fix it in Photoshop” approach when the opportunity is possible to do the fixing in the field. Is every image meticulously arranged and perfectly exposed? No, not always. However, I do strive to end up with the best possible frames to match my vision. I don’t want to get out my boots to wade through the slop of mindless, lazy, hit-and-miss shooting.
The Other Party in Post.
The beauty and challenge of post processing our infrared images (or any image, for that matter) is that we have choices – lots and lots and lots of choices. And we have voices — the voices of uncertainty, of the critics and the voices of encouragement. I prefer to listen to the last one. What is the correct choice for processing and interpreting our images? It depends. As with any image, we must evaluate where we want to go with them and what choices work best for achieving an image that mirrors our unique vision. There are definitely benefits for starting with a workflow – some clearly defined and orderly steps – to get you going. For me, consistency and developing creative muscle memory open doors and windows to deviating and experimenting successfully. The “Willy Nilly” approach (who is he, anyway?) has never been helpful for me. I don’t want to get “lucky” once and not know where to find lucky again.