This is for the 52 week Dogwood Challenge. Technical: Sky Overlay- "Sometimes the sky just doesn't cooperate. This week replace the sky in your image." I was shooting at Rogers Lake - a dry lake in the Coconino Forest, using my 8x10 field camera but wanted to try and get a picture of me taking a picture. I decided I needed an assistant for that idea to work. It might have helped to get up earlier for a dawn shot when the light is gentler but then infrared wouldn't work. Ah, issues and problems, so I compromised and tried layers via of Photoshop. The shot of the camera was highly over exposed for everything but the camera so the Dogwood Challenge was my fallback position.
The view camera negative is still undeveloped since I need to take the 2nd shot. The negative carriers each contain 2 sheets of film. I am off to try other shots with my 'baby' later this week.
Not sure I understand all the technical stuff here, but, good luck with the second shot and the amalgamation of the two. When you have time could you explain what your IR set up is?
@gardencat IR photography is cool but has a learning curve. Basically you have 2 options, camera conversion ( https://www.lifepixel.com/tutorials) or buying IR filters. I have tried both and I have lifepixel convert my old DSLR to infrared. The difference is time and ability to focus and compose while shooting. The conversion is much more expensive but for my patience level it was worth the money. Filters are good if you aren't going to do a lot of this type of photography. Youtube has a wide variety of information about this. I started with ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mCEEe0ORbY) which is a good overview.
As with the post processing, that is where I got most frustrated. I have a limited knowledge of Photoshop, not to mention confidence. Shoot in raw since you have much more control and things to play with. A big thing is to shoot in bright mid-day sun to get the best images. Sounds counter intuitive but it is the best time of day to shoot IR.
I learned to have my white balance at a custom level of 2000K at all times. This helps a great deal. I still adjust shutter and aperture as I want for each frame or shot.
I open the raw image in Photoshop, adjust blacks and colors as I want. Trees and foliage will reflect the IR light back while water absorbs it. Laurie Klien's video(the 2nd link) explains this much better than I can. After I am 'happy' with my adjustments I open and then go to the channel mix under adjustments tab and swap the reds for the blues. Open red tab, put reds to 0 and blues to 100 then go to blues and put blues to 0 and reds to 100. This will give you a good starting point. Depending on the image you might get what you want or might have to play with the reds and blues - I also go to color balance and play around with shadows,midtones and hilights. There are many ways to get a result you might like and a huge amount of tutorials on Youtube that can give you ideas and techniques.
I like the intense blues and white trees but you can adjust for yellow trees and grass- there is a wondrous amount of things you can do and get with IR and post processing.
My post of ( http://365project.org/joysabin/365/2017-05-18) is an example of IR turned B&W so you can have lots of fun with this. Be prepared for a learning curve that might drive you nuts but to learn is to grow, ne c'est pas?
@francoise Thank you, I really need a model to stand under the dark cloth or maybe she/he can take the DSLR shot while I am standing at the view camera.
@joysabin Thanks for your explanation of your system. I have an old Sony Nex camera that's been converted for IR so I understand your comments about setting the white balance and having to swap channels and manipulate colour balance etc. (at least, I understand the basics but can't say I always get good results! LOL). What is confusing me about the image above are your comments about your 8x10 field camera. Guess I should have realized that since that camera was in the picture, it wasn't the one being used for the IR picture.
Wow, sounds far too complicated for me, but really like the effect. It reminds me of those flower gardens that we grew from crystals on cardboard when we wet the cardboard.
I like the shot,,,, apart from the sky of course! If you insist on manipulating images in PS, what can you expect but frustration.:-) Now hurry up and get those 8x10 plates sorted! I am so envious of that 8x10 and of your photo-skills in general.. I hope you'll forgive me a little grump!
It sounds very complicated. Hat's off to you.
I really love what you have achieved here. That beautiful lilac colour of the trees against that very blue sky, exquisite
@megpicatilly IR doesn't get to me as much as layers in photoshop. I am working on it.
@365projectorgjenfurj Hadn't thought about those cardboard gardens in a very long time. IR has its place and I just know that I will be working on and with it to conquer:):)
@yrhenwr You are so far from a grump. I totally agree with manipulations. I used to think that if I couldn't catch in on the negative, it wasn't meant to be but then Ansel Adams toned his prints too. I wonder what he would have done with all that we have now? I am much more choosy about the 8x10 sheets since film is only available via the internet now.
@deborah63 Glad you like it, the surreal quality of IR is strange and fun-most of the time. I think that it was the layers that gave me the biggest headache. I need to practice them more.
Love it and well done for persevering with the IR. I'm still playing with the filter method - still grappling with the processing - but I guess that has to be counted part of the fun!
@lizhammond Thank you very kindly for the fav. The post processing is a bear but with using PS, Gimp and gopaint.net I am having more fun, not ha ha fun but learning fun.
Love this. I have been thinking about getting my old canon rebel converted to IR, it really isn't worth much on the resale market and IR intrigues me especially when converted to b&w!
Great. oh gosh, 8 X 10! I loaded some 4 X 5 black and white to shoot tomorrow. Not much experience with it. I'm going to give it a run...Love to see the results of your view camera shots....L.
@ukandie1 Very grateful for the fav, thank you kindly. I definitely recommend conversion over filers, a bigger bite but less frustration in the big picture. If you go B&W with IR then you also consider color splash when you get pink trees- surreal to the max. :):)
@pickerandagrinner I am so thankful for the fav. I do have an old 8x10 field and it has been gathering dust so I must bring her out and reacquaint myself. I only have shot b&w film but I might find the courage to try color but the cost of color sheet film is going to be a barrier. Warmer weather is here so I have no real excuse any longer.
@la_photographic Thank you so much, this was supposed to have me in it but I couldn't figure it out in the field but then got home and remembered my intervolometer (digital time remote control-thingy) would work, so I may try again.
May 30th, 2017
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As with the post processing, that is where I got most frustrated. I have a limited knowledge of Photoshop, not to mention confidence. Shoot in raw since you have much more control and things to play with. A big thing is to shoot in bright mid-day sun to get the best images. Sounds counter intuitive but it is the best time of day to shoot IR.
I learned to have my white balance at a custom level of 2000K at all times. This helps a great deal. I still adjust shutter and aperture as I want for each frame or shot.
I open the raw image in Photoshop, adjust blacks and colors as I want. Trees and foliage will reflect the IR light back while water absorbs it. Laurie Klien's video(the 2nd link) explains this much better than I can. After I am 'happy' with my adjustments I open and then go to the channel mix under adjustments tab and swap the reds for the blues. Open red tab, put reds to 0 and blues to 100 then go to blues and put blues to 0 and reds to 100. This will give you a good starting point. Depending on the image you might get what you want or might have to play with the reds and blues - I also go to color balance and play around with shadows,midtones and hilights. There are many ways to get a result you might like and a huge amount of tutorials on Youtube that can give you ideas and techniques.
I like the intense blues and white trees but you can adjust for yellow trees and grass- there is a wondrous amount of things you can do and get with IR and post processing.
My post of ( http://365project.org/joysabin/365/2017-05-18) is an example of IR turned B&W so you can have lots of fun with this. Be prepared for a learning curve that might drive you nuts but to learn is to grow, ne c'est pas?
I really love what you have achieved here. That beautiful lilac colour of the trees against that very blue sky, exquisite
@365projectorgjenfurj Hadn't thought about those cardboard gardens in a very long time. IR has its place and I just know that I will be working on and with it to conquer:):)
@yrhenwr You are so far from a grump. I totally agree with manipulations. I used to think that if I couldn't catch in on the negative, it wasn't meant to be but then Ansel Adams toned his prints too. I wonder what he would have done with all that we have now? I am much more choosy about the 8x10 sheets since film is only available via the internet now.
@deborah63 Glad you like it, the surreal quality of IR is strange and fun-most of the time. I think that it was the layers that gave me the biggest headache. I need to practice them more.
@ukandie1 Very grateful for the fav, thank you kindly. I definitely recommend conversion over filers, a bigger bite but less frustration in the big picture. If you go B&W with IR then you also consider color splash when you get pink trees- surreal to the max. :):)