Infrared Photography: How to Reveal Hidden Landscapes

Infrared photography lets you see landscapes through an entirely new perspective, capturing scenes invisible to your naked eye. It allows you to transform ordinary scenes into visually striking images that reveal hidden contrasts and textures.

Coming to you from Chris Baitson, this engaging video takes you on a relaxed journey into infrared photography, highlighting its unique ability to make mundane scenes captivating. Baitson demonstrates this using an Olympus Pen EP1 camera modified with a full-spectrum sensor and a 720 nm infrared filter. He emphasizes how infrared photography can dramatically transform your typical views, making foliage glow bright white and turning tree trunks into stark silhouettes. It’s clear from Baitson’s experience that infrared photography can breathe new life into familiar locations, encouraging you to reconsider your surroundings.

Baitson also candidly shares his initial struggles, which included setbacks like misplaced equipment and previous disappointing experiences with infrared-modified cameras. He admits infrared photography requires specific conditions—green foliage, adequate sunlight, and the right gear—to achieve striking images. This honesty highlights an important aspect: not every photography session has to be perfectly planne. Infrared photography offers you an enjoyable escape from the intense demands of typical landscape photography, freeing you to experiment creatively.

The video continues with Baitson demonstrating the distinct look of organic versus man-made materials under infrared light, capturing contrasts that are impossible in standard photography. His casual approach reinforces the pleasure of spontaneous photography sessions, without heavy gear or complicated setups. Particularly intriguing is Baitson’s exploration of false-color infrared photography, where foliage appears pink—something he personally finds unusual yet intriguing. His playful attempts at this approach underline the experimental nature of infrared photography, pushing you to try unconventional styles even if they initially seem odd. Throughout the video, Baitson emphasizes the value of experimenting without high stakes, enjoying the discovery process without worrying about perfect outcomes. His down-to-earth attitude makes infrared photography approachable, suggesting it as a method to reinvigorate your creativity by seeing everyday scenes differently. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Baitson.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments