Re: Infra-Red and Model Portfolio shoots

["Des Crawley" <d.crawley@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Michelle

I offer the following observations in response to your comments about IR
and model portfolio activity.  I guess I am reacting-perhaps overreacting-
to your observation about IR detecting heat. But I believe what follows is
correct and would welcome any input  from you or other subscribers that
might help clarify what seems to be a constant and vexatious issue for IR
workers.  Hence I have written:  

This film does not detect heat. With IR film you are not photographing
heat.  It records a component of light known as near infra red radiation 
which is part of the spectrum invisible to the human eye.  

Long before you -the photographer-can actually detect heat radiating from a
subject IR film is likely to fog from that heat just as another films will
do when hit with heavy doses of warm temperature.  When you focus a camera
lens to make an IR exposure you are not attempting to focus heat..but
rather IR light which you cannot see !  The latter might originate from a
heat source but if you can feel the warmth from that  heat source then that
heat is more likely to damage the film rather than contribute in any way to
an adequate exposure.  It is this  sensitivity to heat that requires us to
store the film in cool conditions..to stop its fogging not its
exposure....the latter comes from  IR light.

IR light, like visible (sun)light, comes from a heat source....but, we are
no more using that heat source to make an image than we are the heat from
the sun when we make an exposure with panchromatic film.  With panchromatic
films we use visible light. With IR film we use light we cannot see and we
must use "visible cues" as to where it is and in what quantities to use it
effectively. It is this latter need that prompts us to sometimes say-quite
wrongly- IR film detects heat. We detect the heat..and when we do  it is
reasonable to conclude that near IR is present. However, the IR film is
only recording the non visible light that that heat implies is present. 
Incidentally, when we detect the heat it is likely that the environment has
  far infrared radiation present.  It is the latter that has prompted a
range of "heat" detecting sensor technology used in everything from alarms
systems to missile control devices, from surveillance to satellite imaging.
 Far infra red is heat  based image making. Near infrared for which IR film
is made does NOT, repeat NOT use heat as  the medium for exposure.  IR is
photography....photography is drawing with light. Near IR is a form of
light which we happen not to be able to see and it is the capacity of the
film to record what we cannot see which gives it its  "mystery, magic and
its majesty".
 
I agree with your more general observations about the use of the film with
model portfolios.

Regards,

Des Crawley

(Note: it was close to 40 degrees C  in Sydney  yesterday and I can sure
detect that !!) 


> From: Michelle Barczykowski <barch@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: infrared@xxxxx
> Subject: Re: Infra-Red and Model Portfolio shoots
> Date: Friday, November 28, 1997 12:38
> 
> If you're looking for shots that really show what the model looks like I
> don't suggest I R  film.  It is very beautiful but eliminates lots of
> features on your face.
> 
> Perhaps you want to do some shots with regular film for the model and
then
> do only a couple of experimental things after that with I R.  
> 
> Because the film detects heat, I use hot lights or go outside when it's
> warm.  You can also bring hot lights outside.  Heat gives the maximum
> effect...it makes skin glow and have an alabaster appereance.
> 
> If yo have some fantasy scenarios in mind the film is great.  But again,
> it is not the sort of film that shows exactly what a person looks like.
> Remember, because you use a red filter over the lens that anything red on
> your skin becomes almost non-existent.  I've tried doing lots of model
> stuff with I R and if they're looking for straight-up b&w that shows off
> their features they will be disappointed.  
> 
> good luck! 
> :> Michelle
> 
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End of Infrared-Digest V0 #308
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