Pseudo IR & Filters

[Jocelyn Walker]

I've been experimenting the last couple of days with pseudo IR through manipulation, using Photoshop and using a simulated wrattan filter on the same photo! The pseudo IR seems quite grainy....the wrattan filter on the other hand seemed to make richer transition between the black & white! I personally prefer the effect that the simulated filter gave! What are your thoughts on the subject and any suggestions or critique welcome!

[Tom]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

The second one for me too and the tones of the lighthouse , especially round its base are beautiful. It would have been nicer if there was a little more light on the trees.
The experiment on the first one surely has left a very grainy result. I am not a great lover of IR anyway.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

The second pic was processed in photoshop firstly by adding a simulated kodak wrattan 89 filter, then following the same instructions as found in the tutorial for pseudo IR! ie in layers palette, selective colour mode, then channel mixer adjustment layer coversion to monochrome. I don't think Infra Red is my bag either Tom! It is however, great to experiment with all types of processing as it teaches one a fair bit!

[yoshi]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

It is however, great to experiment with all types of processing as it teaches one a fair bit!

nice words Jocelyn. I think I should try to keep me continuously interested in many aspects of photography - as I know I'm not necessarily doing that these days.

Differences in my impression between the two: (not intended to say which one is better)

the first one - a hot summer day!
the second one - a big storm is approaching!

yoshi

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

Yoshi, it was a hot summers day, just before Xmas. We are having temperatures of 43 degrees & yes, it looked like an approaching storm!
This was the view from the lighthouse, of Airey's Inlet Beach with approaching heavy clouds!

[Patrick]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

Yoshi, it was a hot summers day, just before Xmas. We are having temperatures of 43 degrees & yes, it looked like an approaching storm!
This was the view from the lighthouse, of Airey's Inlet Beach with approaching heavy clouds!

Hi Jocelyn
IR is very much subject dependent, and quite frankly what you have chosen does not use the effect to best advantage. In fact the second shot of the lighthouse looks nothing like IR, yes it got white clouds an black sky's but that can and often is acheived without IR.

Best subject are Puffy clouds and young greenery taken in sunlight or subject that has just been sunlit, IR light is radiated from the subject in greater quantity at such times. Dull days produce low levels of IR light so the effect is much less. Some of the shiny leaved plant from cooler climates emit no significant IR light and therefore photograph normal.
Interesting portraits can be made using IR, gives skin tones a pale softness.

Using IR film with the correct filtering gives white to very pale grey greens, and white clouds against a black skys. IR film is quite grainy but has a glow which frankly I personally have never quite achieved using digital simulation.

Converted cameras (a filter is removed from the sensor and replaced my a plain filter thus allowing the IR in the light to have its full effect) give a very clean image with no grain or noise unless a very high ISO is used and even then noise suppression in cameras is so good these days than can be reduced.
It still lacks that glow film can give, many methods have been tried but don't seem to get that elusive something of the real thing.

Patrick

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Pseudo IR & Filters

Hi Patrick, thanks for your advice & interesting information! My experiment was just that! I read things in photo magazines & on the net & try to learn something from it by having a bash at it! I really appreciate your comments. It probably goes without saying that IR film would always give the best results! When one doesn't have a 'film' camera, it helps to experiment with what you have got, to find out both your own limitations & that of your equipment! The second pic, although using some of the same manipulations suggested for pseudo IR, perhaps should have been under a separate heading of 'Simulated wrattan filters or purely B&W! What interested me in the effect was the seemingly richer toning achieved as opposed to when I convert to monochrome with the channel mixer on its own! I guess I shall have to wait for Winter for a cooler clime in our Southern Hemisphere downunder!