This land was ravaged by... IR version

Some of you may recall I posted an image a while back of a standing stone above the M3 motorway, with heavy processing to get the effect I wanted. The old thread is here.

I was up there yesterday testing the converted K20D on the big sky, so I took a different view of it in IR. A Terminator-style landscape comes to mind. So much easier...




Modified K20D, Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm, 1/90th at f/6.7, ISO 200. No extra treatment except boosting contrast and detail with Topaz Adjust, these are black and white straight out of the camera.

I just love these IR photos you have been posting. As someone new to this technique, how do your modified camera photos compare with using an IR filter? Not much on the web about IR.

I'd love to try some myself, but don't have a spare body to be modified. I thought about getting a R72 filter, but don't know how well these work.

Your pictures are just stunning. My daughter's boyfriend's mum is a Goth and a photographer. She's blown away by the graveyard photos you posted before.

That is fantastic Richard. Very dramatic

As it happens I've written a couple of articles on the subject which will hopefully be put up soon for Plus members to see.

In brief though the effect is the same whether the filter is on the lens or the sensor, but the normal body contains a filter which blocks IR. On the older bodies such as the *ist series it is just possible to use a weak IR filter such as the R72 and get hand-held results. On the later bodies (K10D onwards) the blocking is much stronger, so a tripod is definitely required. That implies all sorts of inconvenience with moving foliage, clouds etc.

The modified camera gives the exposures as above, or as in aliengroves remarkable mountain pictures from yesterday.
I'd better do some more then!

Technically I don't know what you're talking about and have lots to learn before I even want to know. Both pictures are great but the later one really made me shiver - as if someone had just walked over my grave.

Always aiming to please

In spite of the apparent bleakness of the scene it was actually very pleasant warm hazy sunshine, although the bushes do look a bit poorly.

Thanks. I have a K-r so subject matter with a R72 will be quite limited. I might try it if I can get one cheaply or save up the pennies for one of your mods.

Much more dramatic than the first time you went there - though that was also a dramatic photo befitting such a statement in stone.

Wonderful. I am really enjoying your IR photos.

Once I've found another body to convert I'm planning on selling the GX1L that was used for my earlier shots, it will be via the For Sale section on here. Not sure of price - probably something like £150 on top of the nominal body cost for these older ones. Does that sound reasonable?

Brilliant shot - I love it. Great stone too.

Why would you only put your article up for Plus members ? Is anyone paying for it ? And if not I can't see why you would do that and deny the proletariate (not that I have any imminent plans for IR but I just found that comment a little strange. Fine if people are willing to pay you for your efforts though).

Great image. Does that stone commemorate the highway's engineers who planned the motorway? It's slightly Ian Hamilton Finlay-esque.

Only if they were in the Thatcher cabinet

No Motorways? How would the travelling comunity manage, they would be forced to set up permanent camps everywhere

Thought provoking photograph.

Would a filter be ok on a *ist DL2

Regards

The DS, DL and DL2 are your best bet for using an R72 in sunshine hand-held. See this competition entry from before I converted the GX1L (DL2 equivalent). A tripod would be handy but not essential, although seeing through even the R72 filter is very difficult so you can compose on a tripod and then attach the filter.

Great shot, I hope you don't wear out that camera before I get my hands on it...