Digitalsilverimaging

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Photoshop Infrared compared to Digital Camera Infrared

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We asked Mark Soares, Professional Services Representative from Precision Camera, to help explain the difference between Infrared (IR) photography done in Photoshop as compared to converting a digital camera to do infrared capture.

Here is how he explained it to us:

“There are a few differences between the real thing and a Photoshop filter applied in post processing. When you use an in-camera high pass filter you are only allowing the camera to expose for the infrared wavelengths, which means your image will be free of most visible light. This may not seem like a big deal to some people but the fact is, when shooting a true IR picture you want to have an image that is as true to that wavelength as possible. Just like the manufacturer’s applied a lowpass filter to block IR light from affecting the image, you should block out everything else when shooting an IR picture.

When using a camera that is converted to expose for the full spectrum, your camera will expose for all the wavelengths. This causes the image to be soft by nature because the IR focal plane is behind the visible light plane, and the UV plane in turn is in front of the visible light plane – when you sandwich all those wavelengths into one flat image, because they have different focal planes the image will be softer.

The other issue with using a full spectrum camera and performing adjustments in postprocessing is that Photoshop will usually perform an adjustment where one of the channels (green usually) is copied, then blurred on purpose (to create the softness which is natural in IR photo) and overlayed on top of the image. The file is then converted to B&W; and the contrast punched up. There is some deterioration of the image there since you are manipulating it to the point of losing detail in the highlights. The end result will not look like a 100% true IR image because the postprocessing is dependent on the amount of green in the image, whereas the IR image will factor in the actual IR light from the subject being photographed.

The best analogy I can come up with is comparing it to music.
An image captured with a full spectrum camera is like listening to the whole song (guitar, bass, drums, vocals). If you wanted to remove all the instruments and just listen to the vocals, it would be very difficult because all the information is intertwined and embedded with each other. Basically, the instruments and vocals have combined to create one song which cannot be broken down to its basic elements (unless you have the original tracks of course).

An image captured with an infrared camera is like a song with just the vocals (for example), and all the drums, bass and guitar are not audible, in fact, they have never been recorded. The sound will be nice and clear without any distortion because you are not manipulating it to get the vocals out, like you would if you wanted just the vocals from the full song.
A dedicated IR camera is a very limited device, however, it is very good at what it does. It allows for the isolation of a wavelength range with minimal deterioration of the image.
That’s my take on it!

Mark Soares – Precision Camera


© Ron Rosenstock

Great description, Mark! If you’re looking to have your camera converted, Digital Silver Imaging has partnered with Precision to bring you the absolute best Digital IR conversions at a very competitive price.
Click here for more details about our IR conversions.

New Professional RC Print Service. True B&W RC Prints at a great price!

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DSI is pleased to offer a new Professional RC B&W; print service. This service is ideal for the photographer who wants total control of their digital workflow.

We have some specific file requirements as far as sizing and format. We can still deliver stunning black & white prints, with absolutely no color cast, on true B&W; RC paper.

You can get 4×6 prints as low as $0.99 per print and 8×12 prints for $4.99.

Plus get a FREE 8×12 print with your order of 25 4×6 prints. Please visit our promotion page for more details.

Corinne Schippert prints at Jam N Java

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We are happy to let you know one of our favorite customers, Corinne Schippert, has her photographs on display at Jam N Java, 594 Mass Ave, Arlington. Hours are Monday through Saturday 6:30am to 7pm, on Sunday till 6pm.

An Arlington resident, Corinne Schippert has been a professional photographer for over 15 years. She lives with her husband Winslow Martin, also a photographer, and their son Eliot, a first grader at the Brackett Elementary School.

Corinne has always been drawn to people and in particular rites of passage. She is known for her unique ability to capture expression, emotion and soul. Sometimes with humor, sometimes quite seriously, but always with her own artistic style.

Most of her commercial work thus far has focused on weddings, winning Boston Magazine’s “Best of Boston” wedding photographer in 2002, and last year being recognized by the Improper Bostonian as “Boston’s Best” wedding photographer. She is trusted by Boston’s most prestigious wedding planners to cover events from the most intimate gatherings to the largest, most opulent galas.

Now deeply immersed in family life herself, Corinne brings the insight and love of being a parent to her children’s photography. Her approach is to meet the child on their own level and BE with them, to photograph them as they are. This means playing, having fun, living in the moment. It is childhood at its best.

All work is done with the most critical eye for quality and craftsmanship. Black & white digital images are custom printed on true black and white papers, producing the most archival prints available today.

A special thanks to Eric Luden of Digital Silver Imaging in Belmont for his support in printing all of the black and white images in this show.

Commissions are now booking for Summer and Fall 2009.

For more information, or contact the studio directly to speak with Corinne.

corinne schippert photography
20 Coolidge Road Arlington, MA 02476
781 643 1919
cschipper t@rcn.com
www.corinneschippert.com

DSI Launches “Pixels 2 Prints” professional B&W RC Print Service

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We are pleased to launch our new P2P “Pixels 2 Prints” professional RC Print service. This new service still provides TRUE black and white RC silver prints from digital files. This streamlined file prep process allows us to get files through our system more efficiently and provide a cost saving program for portrait, wedding and other commercial photographers. We have a special promotion for June as part of our launch.

Order 25 4″ X 6″ prints, you receive a FREE 8×12 RC print.

Prices
4X6 $1.09
8×12 $4.99
11X14 $9.99

Ron Rosenstock “Infrared” June 30th – Sept 4th. Reception July 31st 6-8PM

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We are proud to announce the next exhibit at the Griffin Museum Gallery at Digital Silver Imaging. Ron Rosenstock’s “Infrared” will be exhibiting from June 30 to September 4 with an artists reception July 31 from 6 to 8 pm. The Gallery is located at 11 Brighton St. Belmont, MA. (Zeff Photo is next door to our gallery)

Ron has been conducting international photo tours since 1967 (www.phototc.com) He specializes in Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Morocco, and the Czech Republic.

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

The first time I saw examples of infrared photography was in 1967. My photography teacher, Minor White, had shown a number of the images he made using infrared film. I was struck by the altered state of reality of each image. Black and white photography is an abstraction by itself, but using only the wave length of infrared, reveals a reality that we can not see with our eyes.

Up until recently the only way to achieve infrared photography had been with infrared film, a tedious and difficult process. With the advent of digital photography it is now possible to have a camera altered to become a dedicated infrared camera. All digital cameras come with a filter that omits infrared light. There is a company, www.precisioncamera.com, that will remove that filter and add a special filter that only allows infrared light to pass through it. Once that change is made, that camera will only be able to make infrared images.

Because of this new technological development, making infrared photographs is as easy as making any digital image. It’s an opportunity to explore a different level of reality. The photographs along this wall were all made recently in Morocco and Iceland and were printed on silver gelatin paper by Digital Silver Imaging. These represent my first foray into the world of infrared photography.

Ron Rosenstock June 2009

For a PDF press release, please click here