An Introduction to Shooting and Processing Infrared Photographs

If you've never shot in infrared before, it can be a fun way to look at the world in a different way. This helpful video will show you the different ways to get up and running shooting and the basics of post-processing.

Coming to you from Anthony Morganti, this helpful video is a great primer on the subject of infrared photography. There are three ways to get into the genre: purchase a purpose-built camera (of which there are few), use an infrared filter, or have a camera converted. I personally don't recommend using an infrared filter. Modern cameras have an infrared-blocking filter in front of the sensor that lets very little of that part of the spectrum through, and the infrared filter simply blocks visible light to allow wavelengths in the infrared region enough time to accumulate on the sensor without it being overwhelmed by visible wavelengths. The problem is that because the blocking filter is still there, it takes a long time for this to happen, making for long shutter speeds. I personally had my first DSLR, a Canon T3i, converted by Life Pixel (I went with the Super Color IR option), and I love it. Infrared photography has some weird quirks that you have to get used to, and Morganti does a great job of explaining them (pay particular attention to channel-swapping if you want to get the look often seen online). I personally love shooting infrared, and it always gets the creative juices flowing.