Infrared Black and White Photography

On Friday 6^th February two members Ray Magill and Hugh Rooney .

gave a talk and discussion on the topic of INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY [IR]

IR photography captures light beyond the human visible visible spectrum creating dream like images with bright white foliage and dark skies often experienced as high contrast images .

Both Ray and Hugh are expert black and white photographers and although infrared colour is known as false colour photography in this talk black and white was dominant . IR photography results in surreal dream like fine art images that portray a landscape in a different manner to how humans normally see and perceive their environment .

Ray was first to take the floor and presented a technical overview of this genre of photography. Ray displayed a chart showing the light spectrum from that perceived by humans [400 -700nm] to the IF SPECTRUM of APPROX 700-900 nm [nano meters]

Ray achieves this by converting a digital cameras sensor to remove its internal protective infrared-blocking filter . Ray prefers to use a sensor at around 720 nm as this gives him a much preferred image balance without the extreme contrast of higher nm levels. Bright sunlit conditions are often recommended but Ray prefers a more subtle and atmospheric result by shooting in partly cloudy skies .In post capture production Ray employs Lightroom , Photoshop and nik silver efex to fine tune tune the raw image as it comes from the camera to obtain the desired final result .

To finish Ray displayed examples of his work both as digital projections and as photographic prints taken on his favoured locations around Castlerock .the North Antrim Coast .

Following a break for refreshments Hugh commenced to outline his endeavours with IR photography. Hugh unlike Ray rather than adapt the sensor in a camera he fits a specialist filter to the front of the camera lens .

There are many different strengths of nm filters available and a popular choice is 720 nm which is that chosen by Hugh .This approach has the advantage of not being as expensive as altering a camera sensor but there is a disadvantage in that shutter speeds are dramatically increased to around thirty seconds necessitating the use of a tripod .

Hugh then concentrated on IR photography using an I-phone [or android] and the need to fit an adaptor to allow placing a 720 nm filter to the lens . As with Ray Hugh prefers the more fine art and subtle results rather than strong high contrast work . Hugh then displayed the work of some noted IR photographers such as Paul Gallagher ,Paul Mitchell and Rad Drew and then some of his own prints taken with the following I-phone apps.The standard i-phone app, ReeHeld for long exposure and a new app from Adobe called Project Indigo with different camera settings were passed along . for all to view

To finish proceedings Hugh screened a short video by photographer Jimmy McDonald on location in Glendalough Co Wicklow

Many thanks to Ray and Hugh for sharing their work and insights on infrared photograph.

OTHER NEWS

This year the Bangor club celebrates its 65^th year of existence and now has an exhibition of members work[ The Beauty of Light ]on show in The Cafe ,North Down Museum until Sunday 22^nd March and on Thursday 19^th February there will be a talk presented by Bangor and North Down Camera Club on the history of the club and the changing role of photography from traditional analogue cameras to the digital photography of today .It is necessary to pre book this talk with The North Down Museum

Tel 028 91181 0803

E:arts@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Edward McCavana BNDCC Information Officer