Infrared-Club April 2014 Selection

Apr 30, 201424 min read

Deviation Actions

Okavanga

Published: Apr 30, 2014

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End of the month again, and another selection to present from the Infrared-Club (Extra-Visible Imaging)

This month the selection has been compiled by me

, Mike

and Elisabeth

Note that anyone can suggest images for inclusion - all you have to do is note me or the Group with the thumb numbers - I very much welcome such contributions.

Welcome to new members this month:

We are very pleased that you could join us and hope that you find interesting work here.

This Group is very much about the idea of extra-visible imaging - what can the camera "see" that our visual system cannot perceive. Infrared light is one such attribute - we cannot see into the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, but with filters or adaptation digital camera sensors can pick up such light. Various exposure techniques such as high dynamic range (HDR) techniques can show us in one image scenes that are difficult if not impossible to see with the naked eye. Similarly, long exposure images show things impossible to appreciate with our visual system that refreshes itself roughly every twentieth of a second. With that in mind, I am beginning this month's selection with examples of two further techniques that give images that our eyes cannot naturally perceive: the so-called "ghost technique" or filé (French) method, and the more well-known technique of double exposure.

The "ghost technique" is used a great deal in video, and involves one or more objects, normally people, remaining stationary while others move around. Capturing this with a long exposure then gives the ghost image. I am indebted to Mnimaia

for providing these examples. In the first two, one person has to stay still for the exposure time (1/2 second). The third shot involves a more classic ghost look (remember our competition from way back when?) where people move but nothing else does.

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The second idea, double exposure, has come from that indefatigable pursuer of the extra-visible imaging and ghosts, our own IRphotogirl

The idea of double or multiple exposures is not new, but in our context there are some points worth considering. Unless we have a static view of a scene, object, or whatever, at which we stare, we have very great difficulty in recalling even a single image in the mind's eye. We can recall something of an image, but not its detail, tones and textures. We are in even greater difficulty if we wish to superimpose or remember two images simultaneously. Maybe, it is that facility that allows some people to "see" visions" or to develop artistic ideas, but for most of us, we are content with the single retinal image before our eyes. Modern digital cameras allow double exposures to be made easily, as IRphotogirl shows here:

Now, all these images pose another question: What makes a "good" or successful image by these techniques? That we can make such images is not in doubt, that we can use them to see things we can not be other means is not in doubt, but what criteria should we use to assess such images artistically? How about some answers in the comments section?? Many Thanks.

Now here are our selections from last month's folders.

Infrared Selection

As usual selection has been difficult, there being such proficiency, imagination, and expertise shown by the submissions this month. I have highlighted with four examples each two of our prolific and highly skilled members,

and

, and also as ususal have included work from some of our new members.

One point that I wish to emphasise is how far infrared photography has developed in aesthetics and techniques over these last years. #R72, our sister group, will be celebrating its tenth anniversary shortly - well done - and having worked through 10 years worth of infrared work, I notice this development from a mainly surreal aesthetic to a much broader range of styles.