help!!!!!!!!!!!

[bavasshokie]

Please help with IR shots
I am new to this site and to DSLR I used SLR's before but just took the leap and bought a Olympus E500 and I love it. I was wondering if I could get some tips on IR shots I have several on my site http://bavasshokie.smugmug.com (http://bavasshokie.smugmug.com/) could someone please vist and take a look at my IR pictures and tell me what I am doing wrong. I am using a Hoya 72nm IR filter. I have tried them in many different settings and just can't get that clean chrisp shot. Please help......

Andy Vass

[Van Isle]

Nice attempts!

Some advice: First, try searching this site, Google, and Wikipedia for answers. Do some digging! Try out lots of ideas.

Then: post pics to this site (we prefer images and not links as we're normally too lazy to click). And post the exif data and shooting conditions specifically. Not simply "I tried many different settings."

VI

[swintonphoto]

Hey Andy - I don't know much about IR shots. But, I did want to congratulate you on your great purchase of the E500. That is what I use, and love it. Good move!

[Mr. 2H2O]

Andy,
My guess is the long shutter speeds you need because of an unmodified camera. I am thinking that 15s with the sensor recording may be running through the Olympus firmware to get a little muddy.

In your post, you may want to try some edge enhance - it will bring up the noise level but also enhance the edge transitions. The increase in noise does not show up on my prints when I do this.

You should shoot RAW and dial in the color temp that you prefer, then follow Andy's tutorial (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1111417) to discover what "look" you prefer.

Mid day sun is best for getting colors out of a 720nm filter and use a hood - don't want flare. Try to have 3 elements in your photos like sky, foilage, and water - it makes for a more interesting composition. You can also do sky, brick, foilage, etc. etc.

- Mike

[bavasshokie]

I tried some shots in RAW today I think they came out better but would love to have some input

http://bavasshokie.smugmug.com/photos/170532241-M.jpg

http://bavasshokie.smugmug.com/photos/170532320-M.jpg

http://bavasshokie.smugmug.com/photos/170537231-M.jpg

[Mr. 2H2O]

Andy,
For me, black and white IR is about creating drama in the image by bringing the white up to just before blown details and making the black just over dropping detail.

By practice, I have found that I can expose according to my intended focal point of the image and use the surrounding composition to set the levels. Its a lot like what you did in the third image. The first two don't look "contrasty" enough and the third one does.

- Mike