Infrared
filters have a new use in large format digital photography
The tree leaves all turn white, sky turns
black (as well as much detail elsewhere). Infrared is not seriously
a means to do normal architectural photography, unless you want
that arty crafty look.
But
for detecting when art has been fraudulently repainted to hype their
price, then infrared can be useful.
For
infrared photography with film, you need a red filter on your lens.
The
use of infrared and other techniques to bring out lost detail has
been most carefully documented by a recent project recording the
Maya murals of Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico. An article in a recent
issue of Archaeology magazine gives the details (published
by the Archaeological Institute of America, available in most good
libraries). The equipment used there, however, is not the normal
equipment which a typical photographer would have available on their
own.
New
kind of infrared filter, restriction filters for digital photography
The
new generation of infrared filters are used for large format digital
photography. If you have a scan back from BetterLight, Dicomed,
PhaseOne, JOBO, Kigamo, or Anagram, then you need either a daylight
infrared filter or a slightly different filter for tungsten lighting
in the studio.
Normally
the filter comes with your camera (at least this is the case with
the two BetterLight scan backs that I have). These filters are attached
to the back of the lens, which means inside the bellows area. That
way there is no flare or reflections. You attach them with a rubber
band, sort of a Jerry-rigged situation for a $12,000 scan back inside
a $3,000 camera with a $2,000 lens.
A
few filter companies are gradually recognizing the market, but they
have not yet quite figured out that digital photographers need the
filters on the back of their lenses. For lens front, you can get
a few filters from B+W, a division of Schneider Kreuznach. Most
likely the competing filter companies now also offer some infrared
restriction filters.
Then
you get to have a puzzle when deciding which filter to use for digital
fluorescent lighting. Yes, digital cameras like fluorescent lighting
as long as it's the kind for photography. It's the same kind as
used in television studios.
Main
menu for all filters
Index
and directory
of all internal links for cameras and scanners
Lots
of links to information on desktop
publishing hardware/software, www.laser-printer-reviews.org
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