Tim Smalley

What do you do when the sun is shining & you still want to make photos in the woods?

I have always been an admirer of #infrared #photography, but I'd never tried it.

I had the chance to pick up an IR-converted camera for a good price in Spring.

It took a while to get the results I wanted, but the images below were shot at lunchtime during that crazy heatwave. The cooling effect under the trees is so refreshing - they are giant air conditioners.

I love the ghostly look.

#silentsunday

Nov 27, 2022 at 7:00pmWeb
Show threadAmy HoyNov 27, 2022

@timsmalley i got into digital IR for the same reason! living in a non-stop sunshine state. i love it.

yours are so dreamy. how did you get that look?

Show threadTim SmalleyNov 27, 2022

@amy thanks Amy. IR in the film days was always pretty dreamy, so I've tried to recreate that effect. I prepare quite a high contrast RAW using black/white sliders, as well as the colour temp/tint sliders.

I then add some glow to the whole scene (clipping just the extreme shadows, so they don't crunch), and then add in some negative clarity and dehaze to the whole image before removing it from the areas where I want to keep the finer detail.

Show threadSuperballNov 27, 2022
@timsmalley Ohmygoodness this is amazing.
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 27, 2022
@superball thanks for your kind words
Show threadRCNov 27, 2022
@timsmalley spooky
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 27, 2022
@RC the wood is believed to be haunted too, which just adds to the effect 😉
Show threadaKiss4LuckNov 27, 2022

@timsmalley

These are magical! They feel so quiet but soaked in power that makes the forest glow. I can't tell you how much I love these. Outstanding.

Show threadTim SmalleyNov 27, 2022
@aKiss4Luck that’s very kind, I’m glad you enjoyed them :)
Show threadTrendyKittyKat Nov 27, 2022
@timsmalley
They're stunning
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 28, 2022
@TrendyKittyKat thank you for the kind words :)
Show threadKABurksNov 28, 2022
@timsmalley Nice images! I shot infrared for years and really enjoyed it.
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 28, 2022
@KABurks Thanks very much - I enjoy it because it's different, and it keeps your creative juices ticking over because you start seeing things in how they might look in IR vs how they look in visible light.
Show threadStreetsNov 28, 2022
@timsmalley how are they converted
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 28, 2022

@streets I have a Sony A5100 that has been professionally converted to see the full spectrum of light - they remove some of the filters on the sensor that prevent IR from passing through.

I have then placed an IR720 filter on the front of my lens, which limits the light entering the camera to just the infrared spectrum... the raw files come out very red (which is normal for digital IR files) and then they're converted to monotone and processed according to taste.

Show threadVirginiaAnnNov 28, 2022
@timsmalley I love your creative vision of nature 👍🏻
Show threadTim SmalleyNov 28, 2022
@VirginiaAnn thanks for your kind words :)
Show threadAngie AdamsonNov 29, 2022
@timsmalley Cool!