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This One Goes to Eleven...
a.k.a Infrared
This project is designed as an introduction to Black & White
Infrared Film.
Working with available infrared film to achieve visual effects
only possible with infrared film or digital cameras.
Infrared film has been described as anything from romantic to
scary. Your task is to select a feeling that you think is suitable
for infrared film and emphasize it through your subjects, scenery
and/or interaction.
When working with infrared film, always load in subdued or completely dark settings
to avoid unwanted exposure.
Utilize a filter to block certain wavelengths of visible light. The darker the
red, the more intense the effect will be. Common filters include 25 & 72
but others can also be used.
Infrared film does not record heat, or the visible spectrum of light, it records
infrared energy or radiation that are beyond the visible spectrum of light. For
this reason, plant life tends to work well with infrared film due to it's radiation
of infrared energy through photosynthesis.
Develop normally like all other film. Take special precaution to avoid any glowing
or LED type lights as they may expose your film. For this reason, many people
that normally have their film processed professionally, will process their own
infrared film. Also, the film is a bit thinner, so be careful not to bend it
when rolling it onto the reel.
Since different "colors" of light focus on different planes, focussing
will be difficult with open apertures. Use a small aperture (f11-f22) to better
your chances of keeping your subject in focus.
For Kodak HIE film, set your ISO to 400.
Exposure: On a bright day, using a red filter, find a scene that will give you
about 1/125 sec. and f 11, then bracket at least one stop in each direction.
In very subdued light, try 1/15 sec. all the way down to 2 sec. on f 11
If your camera has a bumpy pressure plate or wierd pattern on it, then you may
need to do something to it to flatten it out so that it won't reflect the pattern
onto your film (this is only a problem for film without an anti-halation layer
like Kodak HIE)
Many newer cameras have infrared frame counters that can fog infrared film. Consult
your manual to see if your camera will be an issue.
Tape over any film windows that allow you to see your film container or frame
number.
If you want to use medium format, then try the efke (820nm which
is basically the old Maco brand and as close as you can get to the Kodak HIE)
You will turn in a minimum of 2 images. They should be 11
x 14 or larger.
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