Re: infrared question

[George L Smyth <GLSmyth@xxxxxxx>]

TAMMY L. SULLIVAN wrote:
> 
> I want to know if it is possible to obtain sharp photographs from infrared.

Goodness, I go away for a weekend and a zillion messages come onto the
list. <g>

It certainly is possibile to get sharp photographs from infrared.  The
two easiest answers are 1) use 4X5 sheet filem, and 2) use Konica in the
120 format.  I'm going to guess that neither of these answers are
acceptable.


> I've only shot 3 rolls of Kodak HIE and when I look at the contact, they all
> look a little fuzzy.  I use a large aperture, wide lens, only the Red #25
> filter (No UV filter).

A large aperture means that the focusing will be more critical.  A wide
lens means that your depth of field will appear greater, so focusing
will be less critical.  You may wish to stop down a bit to make sure
that focusing errors will be addressed, if this is possible.

> Also, I was told that in camera metering is useless when using infrared.

Wrong, your in-camera meter can be very useful.  Its information can be
used as a guide for exposure.  If you look at my Web page, as an
example, the image "Rest Gently" came about with my camera set at
EI250.  OTOH, I wanted a more ethereal look for "House Of Dreams," so I
set my camera at EI100.  It does take a bit of experience to understand
how much IR will be present and how that will work with your film, but
these are good starting points.  Keep in mind that as this film lacks an
anti-halation layer, the greater you expose it, the more possible
halation of the image will occur.  I find this attractive, but if you
don't then you'll want to increase your film's speed.

Just because the grain is large, don't think that the print is
necessarily unsharp.  As a matter of fact, if you step back one pace,
you may well see your print as sharper than a "fine-grained" image.  I
would suggest that the development of your negatives would have
something to do with this outcome.  What do you use to develop your
negatives?  Also, we photographers seem to have an unwarrented
affixiation with grain.  We get our faces right into the print to
examine it, whereas "normal" folks step back so that they can appreciate
the image.  I would suggest that you do the latter, and the "grain size"
will become less of an issue.

Finally, take notes on everything you do.  Very quickly you will find
what's relevant and what's not - what works for your personal style and
what doesn't.

george

-- 
 Handmade Photographic Images     
  http://www2.ari.net/glsmyth

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Topic No. 2