Go for a realistic infrared film look

Get truly gritty film-like results from an infrared-converted camera with a bit of work in Photoshop

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It was a sad day when Kodak pulled the plug on High-Speed Infrared film; it was one of my favourite emulsions. Not everyone liked its harsh unworldly effect, but I loved it for its high contrast, heavy grain, light-toned foliage and almost black skies. It was a film with very special qualities.

With the advent of digital came the ability to get cameras converted to infrared, so when I upgraded my Fujifilm X-T1 to the X-T2 I had the former IR converted.

The converted camera is a regular in my bag, usually fitted with the XF 14mm f/2.8 R lens. I have tried various lenses on the body but I prefer wideangles for this medium and this lens does not suffer from hotspots that many do. Flare is a potential hazard though, even when the sun is well off to one side.

Shooting cemeteries in infrared is not a new idea but this was the medium I chose for my project on London’s Magnificent Seven, the seven private cemeteries established outside central London after Parliament passed an Act in 1832. Highgate and Brompton are most widely known, and the others are Abney Park, Kensal Green, Nunhead, Tower Hamlets and West Norwood.

Spring is a great time for infrared when foliage is fresh and the lighting is not too harsh, so I was lucky to be able to spend time there. Most exposures were 1/60sec at f/8 in bright light with ISO 400 set and I shot handheld.

Infrared raws are flat and need work in editing to get decent results and noise needs adding for a realistic look, and I usually do this in Photoshop. 

THE INFRARED LOOK IN PHOTOSHOP