Tuesday Thoughts: Zion National Park in Infrared

Today’s Post by Joe Farace

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” ― John Muir

I have made infrared images all over this country and even some in Mexico but by far the best place that I’ve found to make infrared photographs in the United States is Zion National Park.

The Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of its 229-square-miles is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The lowest elevation is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coalpits Wash and the highest elevation is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain.

How I Made this Photo: The above image was shot using what was, at the time, my oldest Canon IR converted camera, an EOS D30—not an EOS 30D—that was converted to infrared by a company that no longer exists using their Standard IR (720nm) conversion. That camera was ultimately replaced by a Canon EOS D60 then finally an EOS 50D both of which were IR-converted by Life Pixel using their Standard IR (720nm) conversion.

The lens used for this photograph was the wonderful Tamron AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II SP LD Aspherical IF lens (at 11mm) that while officially discontinued is still available via these Amazon sellers at most attractive prices, currently $79.99. Exposure for the above image was 1/125 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 200. For more information about exposing for infrared photography, please read this post when you have time.

The image was captured as a RAW file that was then converted into the monochrome photograph using Silver Efex’s Full Dynamic (harsh) preset and slightly tweaked. Tip: I always move the Grain slider to the softest setting. The image was finished of with the Glamour Glow filter that’s part of Color Efex and I moved the Glow Warm Slider to plus 18% to warm up the image a bit.