Reading mode: Light Dark

Infrared picture - First attempt - What am I doing wrong ???

Go to last post
D

Dr Phibes

Member
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Location
UK
Hi,

I've just got a new R72 filter for my D50 and tried it out, following some of the many procedures outlined in threads on this forum. I must be missing something though.

The images are not what I expexted. On here I've seen some wonderful shots with crisp white foliage and crystal blue skies. I know that it's mostly down to PP but HOW ??

Basically, I (think) I set the white balance by going through the menu :-
Whate Balance / PRE Preset / MEASURE - SET
This was set with the R72 ON and focused on a piece of sunlit grass

I then shot the image (with viewfinder covered to reduce red ?), transfered, opend in photoshop and did an "auto levels"

I then swaped the Blue & Red channels as suggested, but the results were still nothing like what I've seen elsewhere. Certainly no blue sky !

Here is one of the images I shot BEFORE I did any PP
Can anyone point out where I'm going wrong please ?
Many thanks.

 
You took the whitebalance from piece of grass that is green(usually)... that won't work. You need plain gray card or surface.
That image actually looks like what auto WB does with IR.
Try again. :D

cheers.
-T

--

 
Hmm ... make sure that when you set your custom WB that you have a good take. It will read "good" on the top of the camera if so. If not ... adjust your settings until you get a good WB exposure.

Also ... try these settings for the D50:

Manual mode
ISO 400
Shutter about 1/20
Aperture anywhere from f/4 - f/8

You've overexposed your shot so that tells me that when you go to set your WB to begin with, you're not getting a good one. When you do get a good reading then you should be able to make minor adjustments from there.



Custom WB was set on bright patch of green grass ... oh ... about 2 months before I even took this shot. I just kept the WB setting in my camera.

--
~ J
Nikon D50 w/grip
  • 18-55mm DX
  • 50mm F/1.8
  • 70-300mm G
  • 24-120mm VR
  • SB-800
  • CP,ND4, ND8, R72
 
You should be able to swap the red and blue channels in Photoshop. Also, you need to clean your sensor.

Try again without exposing so much. I played with the picture in Photoshop and got it to look better, but I couldn't work with it since it wasn't the RAW and was overexposed.
 
I'm not 100% sure I'm setting the white balance correctly. I have read the manual but have difficulty in absorbing the information.

When I'm at the MEASURE / SET point, I was pressing the right arrow on the "up down left right" button to the right of the LCD.
Something tells me thats not right ??

The image I supplied was over exposed. I did bracket them and do have others to work on. Should I post another (one that the camera indicated was the "correct" exposure ?)

My image just seems miles away from what I've seen from other R72 users...
 
Make sure the filter is on when you take the shot of the grass. Also make sure the LCD displays Good after you set the shot.
--
Hemingway: Great pictures. What camera do you use?
Irving Penn: What typewriter do you use?

 
Here's a good tutorial:

http://www.lifepixel.com/digital-infrared/instructions.html

Every digital camera has a different IR response. The D70 and the D50 are actually quite different. The same image taken with the same settings and processed exactly the same way will look quite different when finished. It is easier to get an IR image with a little blue in the sky from the D70 than the D50.

--
Scott

Some people are like slinky toys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs....
 
Dr Phibes said:
I'm not 100% sure I'm setting the white balance correctly. I have
read the manual but have difficulty in absorbing the information.
When I'm at the MEASURE / SET point, I was pressing the right arrow
on the "up down left right" button to the right of the LCD.
Something tells me thats not right ??
The image I supplied was over exposed. I did bracket them and do
have others to work on. Should I post another (one that the camera
indicated was the "correct" exposure ?)

My image just seems miles away from what I've seen from other R72
users...
Click to expand...
At one point did you press the shutter release so the camera makes the measurement? If you failed to do this and get the "Good" indication on the camera's LCD, then it didn't happen. Remember, aim at some well lit grass ir green foilage. The camera actually has to get a proper exposure during this process and of course the filter must be on. No image is stored in your memory card during this process.. RTFM the info is in there. Don't give up, once you get past this, you'll be very happy. By the way, expect the exposures to be long enough that you will be needing a tripod. You woill have to take the filter off to frame/compose your picture and then put it back on just berfore you take it. In most cases the camera will AF with the filter on, however, I tend set it with MF and skew it slightly and use a small enough aperture to get enough DOF to ensure a proper IR focus. IR focuses to a different point than visible llght as the refraction index of the lenses vary with the wavlength of light. That's why good lenses compensate for this and have less CA (Chromatic Aberation).
--
Stan ;o()



Life is the arch enemy of sleep
Photo's are a record of life
I need a record 'cause I tend to forget.
 
Nice 2 C U around. I see that you're letting your hair grow. Know any good stylists in your area - lol.
--
Stan ;o()



Life is the arch enemy of sleep
Photo's are a record of life
I need a record 'cause I tend to forget.
 
Got it !
I wasn't setting the White Balance correctly.
Now I have, I've just tried a quick hand held shot 2sec / F8 / ISO200
and the colours are spot on.

So, as soon as the sun shines again here in the UK, I'll get antoher WB setting and set up my tripod !!

Many thanks guys

BTW, I didn't get a manual with my D50 (apparently, PIXMANIA don't "do" manuals !) So I d/l one from Nikon.

Thanks again !
 
Dr Phibes said:
Got it !
I wasn't setting the White Balance correctly.
Now I have, I've just tried a quick hand held shot 2sec / F8 / ISO200
and the colours are spot on.

So, as soon as the sun shines again here in the UK, I'll get
antoher WB setting and set up my tripod !!
Click to expand...
Good news, now you can get out and enjoy your camera. How is it that the vendor was able to sell you a camera without a manual? Wouldn't that draw some ire form Nikon?
--
Stan ;o()



Life is the arch enemy of sleep
Photo's are a record of life
I need a record 'cause I tend to forget.
 
Awesome thread, I didn't even know to pre set the WB and swap the color channels. I asked in these forums tons of times before do you people get colors IR shots. I Went and tried this, and here is my ugly first attempt. I’m still working on focus and exposure.

 
kezzer said:
Awesome thread, I didn't even know to pre set the WB and swap the
color channels. I asked in these forums tons of times before do you
people get colors IR shots. I Went and tried this, and here is my
ugly first attempt. I’m still working on focus and exposure.

Click to expand...
That is absolutely beautiful. I nee to get an IR filter for myself.
 
Scott - wanted to say thanks for the link to the video tutorial, much helpful. Will post my first (successful) IR photo. Assuming I get one, that is!
--
Did you ever stop to think, and then forget to start again?
SueSee
 
Same here! Can anyone post a full 3008x2000 image? Or better yet, a NEF so I can play around with the WB.

I'm assuming the long exposure times are needed because the filter knocks down a ton of light and the onboard IR filter is working against you, right?

How can you get a sharp image given that subjects tend to move i.e. trees tend to sway in the breeze, people can't hold still for more than a fraction of a second, etc.? Without modifications, can you ever hope to use a normal shutter speed with an IR filter?
iwadmin said:
Dr Phibes,

IR photos have always fascinated me. Would love to see more, when
you get it all figured out and have time to post.
--
John
Click to expand...
--
http://encoding.n3.net
 
runningwithscissors said:
Same here! Can anyone post a full 3008x2000 image? Or better yet,
a NEF so I can play around with the WB.
Click to expand...
Can't do that right now, but you really want to set the manual WB in the camera with the filter on and pointed at some bright well lit grass or green foilage. Some people say they use the sky, I haven't really tried that as the grass thing works well for me.
runningwithscissors said:
I'm assuming the long exposure times are needed because the filter
knocks down a ton of light and the onboard IR filter is working
against you, right?
Click to expand...
That's right, so bring a tripod to the party. Search the forum as some people have had their cameras modified by having the AA filter taken off their camera's sensor and having an IR filter put on internally or some thing without IR block and use an external filter. The advantage of having the filter internal is that you can see through the viewfinder. Also some mod's let you get enough sensitivity to get shutterspeeds in the realm of hand held IR picture taking. There are pluses and minuses. Search and read and thus benefit from those adventurous few - lol.
runningwithscissors said:
How can you get a sharp image given that subjects tend to move i.e.
trees tend to sway in the breeze, people can't hold still for more
than a fraction of a second, etc.? Without modifications, can you
ever hope to use a normal shutter speed with an IR filter?
Click to expand...
Normal shuttrerspeed, only as said with a modified camera, otherwise bring a tripod. Well ya got to wait for the breeze to stop and pray or wait for a dead calm day. Moving people can dissapear from a picture with a very long time exposure which can at times be a good thing.

So who said IR was going to be easy?
--
Stan ;o()



Life is the arch enemy of sleep
Photo's are a record of life
I need a record 'cause I tend to forget.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top