Today’s Post by Joe Farace
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”― Martin Luther
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that I like photographing trees. I even wrote a post about this passion— “A Tree is a Tree is a Tree.” The only think I like better that photographing and writing about photographing trees is photographing trees in infrared.
I’m often asked about what kind of camera a photographer should choose to get converted for infrared capture. For me, that has always been a simple question: I pick the a camera that’s the oldest one I own or maybe one that I use the least and then that’s the one to convert for infrared capture.
Having that camera converted to infrared gives it a new lease on life and while it may lack the so-called IQ factor of a new camera, I usually compensate for that fact by shooting all the images at a modest ISO setting—usually a maximum of 400—and shooting in RAW format as I did with today’s featured image that was made at one of the picnic grounds at Barr Lake State Park, near Brighton Colorado.
How I Made this Photograph: Shooting in RAW format is exactly what I did here, when using a converted Olympus E-P1, a golden oldie that was launched by the company way back in 2009. The E-P1 is basically a rebodied E-620 Four-thirds system camera whose design was repurposed for Micro Four-thirds use. Lens used was the awesome and borrowed Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 that was adapted for use on the E-P1 with the Olympus MMF-3 Four Thirds to Micro Four-thirds lens mount adapter.
Exposure was 1/320 sec at f/11 and ISO 400. Image was processed in Silver Efex Pro then Color Efex Pro using the Glamour Glow filter to both warm up and add some Wood Effect glow to the foliage.
I’ve found that Life Pixel does a great job with IR conversions and they have done most of my Canon DSLRs and all of my Panasonic Lumix G-series mirrorless cameras. This is not a paid or sponsored endorsement, just my experience.
My book, The Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography is available from Amazon for $41.99 but used copies starting around nineteen bucks as I write this. Creative Digital Monochrome Effects has a chapter on IR photography and is available from Amazon for $25.30 with used copies start around two bucks, less than your next cup of joe at Starbucks.