My InfraRed Image

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Thea

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Hi all,
Hoping this is loaded as I have never posted with an attachment before, so if not, please bare with me :)

Here is my first infrared image taken with my CV R2M & 50mm Helios lens, deep red filter. Taken of the Recolver on the Kent Coast last month, on Kodak HIE rated at 50 iso.
Film processed in D76, at 21 degrees for 8 mins, printed on Ilford RC paper then scanned.
The sky wasnt perfect infrared (ie clear) but I am quite pleased with the results, and would appreciate any comments.

Thea
 

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A good first start. The image looks a bit soft, and getting used to "refocussing" for Infrared is not trivial. I cheat. I use lenses that have a very small IR shift. The Micro-Nikkor 50mm F2.8 for my SLR's. The older Type I Rigid Summicron has a very small focus shift, it is covered by the DOF at F2.

Many of my other lenses require use at F8 to really cover the focus shift. What F-Stop did you use here?
 
Thanks for the comments. On doing research into Infrared, I found an excellent book with a contribution from Simon Marsden (You MUST know how he is?!) saying what exposures and aperture he used on different shots, he specified that he always used a wide open aperture so he could hand hold his camera, usually 5.6 or in some cases f3.
I did a similar thing, partly because of this, and partly because I had to climb about abit to get the shot and didnt want to use a tripod.
However I will definately try again with a smaller aperture.
The shot actually isnt as soft as it looks in the scan.
I have no idea how to compensate with CV lenses as they are not marked like, say Nikon ones. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thea
 
IR is tricky, I finally decided to shot at two EVs. One for bright sunny subjects and one for bright and shade mixed subjects. Then I develop in HC-110(h) using no agitation after the first 30 second agitation. Here are two shots that use each of my EV settings.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4847831

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5300264

I have never used anything but zone focusing, sometimes if the image is grossly overexposed or overdeveloped you get that 'soft' look that someone mentioned. If you are shooting at f11.0 you shouldn't have any troubles with IR focus shift.
 
Thea said:
Hi all,
Hoping this is loaded as I have never posted with an attachment before, so if not, please bare with me :)

Here is my first infrared image taken with my CV R2M & 50mm Helios lens, deep red filter. Taken of the Recolver on the Kent Coast last month, on Kodak HIE rated at 50 iso.
Film processed in D76, at 21 degrees for 8 mins, printed on Ilford RC paper then scanned.
The sky wasnt perfect infrared (ie clear) but I am quite pleased with the results, and would appreciate any comments.

Thea
Click to expand...

Love the subject material and your composition is very good - I like it. The image does look a tad soft - could be improved technically - but I like the overall effect anyway, well done.

I've only done infrared on a D70 - which is easy, providing you have a tripod...

Happy shooting.
 
Is IR film always that grainy? I've never shot it, but your test image looks like it could have been shot with Delta 3200.
 
erikhaugsby, go up three post and you will see about as good (little) grain as I could get with careful exposure and soft, easy development. But it is still grainy. I my opinion overexposure is the major cause of grain with HIE, overdevelopment sure doesn't help either.
 
Thanks for all your answers, and a look at some of your pics.
I spoke with one of my ex tutors who uses infrared film all the time, he confirmed that the grain is quite normal. Infact last year I did some infrared with one of my Nikon SLRs, tripod etc and threw the images away because I thought I had mis processed the film, as it was so grainy!
Obviously I have alot of work to do to be up to your standards, but thanks for the advice - I think I will leave posting on this site at all until I am perhaps more proficient.
 
I would not stop posting images because you think you are not more proficient, in fact, I think it will only help if you post more images. Overall, this forum is very good about the acceptance of the different levels of "proficiency" that the user's have, and almost everyone is willing to help with constructive comments and suggestions. Keep em coming!!! Oh, and the image composition and subect is very good, the technical stuff is just practice and experience with any film.
 
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Thea,

I particurlalry like it because of the grain,it adds character to it.

I shoot Ilford SFX and also have used Nikon D70 - like both versions but I think the film one is better due to the grain.

keep on doing it and you will like it more

meste
 
erikhaugsby said:
Is IR film always that grainy? I've never shot it, but your test image looks like it could have been shot with Delta 3200.
Click to expand...

It can indeed be quite grainy in 35mm format. For this reason I shoot IR in medium and large format only. In 4x5 it's very smooth (example).
 
charjohncarter said:
IR is tricky, I finally decided to shot at two EVs. One for bright sunny subjects and one for bright and shade mixed subjects. Then I develop in HC-110(h) using no agitation after the first 30 second agitation. Here are two shots that use each of my EV settings.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4847831

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5300264

I have never used anything but zone focusing, sometimes if the image is grossly overexposed or overdeveloped you get that 'soft' look that someone mentioned. If you are shooting at f11.0 you shouldn't have any troubles with IR focus shift.
Click to expand...


John, looking at your cottage shot I'm struck by the "barrel distortion" was this taken with a W/A lens and you were in a tight shooting space? Or was this just the nature of the lens. I'm thinking you didn't have enough room to fill your frame with a 35 mm and went wide. Just a guess.
 
Thea said:
Hi all,
Hoping this is loaded as I have never posted with an attachment before, so if not, please bare with me :)

Here is my first infrared image taken with my CV R2M & 50mm Helios lens, deep red filter. Taken of the Recolver on the Kent Coast last month, on Kodak HIE rated at 50 iso.
Film processed in D76, at 21 degrees for 8 mins, printed on Ilford RC paper then scanned.
The sky wasnt perfect infrared (ie clear) but I am quite pleased with the results, and would appreciate any comments.

Thea
Click to expand...

Looking at this one and reading the comments preceding mine I would strongly suggest using a tripod / cable release. I know it's a pain but you will be surprised at the sharpness you will get from your camera if you use one. Your ratio of "keepers" will go up by at least 50 percent just because technical aspects of your shot are now isolated and controlled.

I like the shot and I like grain. Good luck and keep shooting.
 
Thea,

This is a lovely matching of subject matter and media. You are off to a good start.

Best regards,

Bob
 
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