| For the longest time I pooh-poohed digital...until I bought | | | | This is how my "scientific" method works: Take a |
| my first digital camera. There was one specific reason | | | | meter reading, than use the shutter speed and f stop |
| I bought one particular camera (no longer in production): | | | | from the table...works very nicely (a fine point, you |
| Infrared photography. | | | | cannot use equivalent exposure values, if the table |
| Some explanation is necessary. In the Cleveland area | | | | says 1/60 at f/8, that's it). Now that I had a positive |
| there is (was?) a wedding photographer who is | | | | way for measuring exposures I was off to conquer |
| famous for his Infrared wedding formals. At the time I | | | | the world. |
| was self-employed as a wedding photographer, and I | | | | Now the digital...I knew digital cameras were capable of |
| thought I could do the same. I knew a photographer | | | | doing IR, so I did more research. At the time the best |
| who shot for this studio, and I wasn't happy with the | | | | camera for doing this was the Sony 707 |
| technicalities of how the Infrared photos were done. | | | | (Cypershot)...so I got one. The CCD in every digital |
| What they would do is give you a camera loaded with | | | | camera in the world is sensitive to IR, and the CCD is |
| Infrared film and tell you to bracket the whole roll. Yes, | | | | normally coated with a film that blocks this light. The |
| acceptable exposures came out, but it seamed to me | | | | Sony however has a filter that can be removed (you |
| that there ought to be a scientific way to attain usable | | | | flip a switch on the camera). I used a "Black" filter (the |
| exposures...there is; read on (I'll get to the digital later). | | | | name is because this filter transmits NO visible light). |
| Kodak, in their Data Guide that comes with the film | | | | Oh...my dissertation about the light meter...disregard! |
| (Infrared film) says that you can't use a light meter to | | | | Unless you are doing scientific research using a 4x5, |
| determine exposure for Infrared...that is not exactly | | | | the digital is so enormously more convenient than film, it |
| true...yes you can! However (fine point), you can't use a | | | | makes film obsolete (one of the niceties is that using a |
| light meter in the normal manner. | | | | Black filter you can't see through a film camera, with a |
| I used a Gossen Luna Pro, took a #29 (note 29, not | | | | digital you can). |
| 25) gelatin filter and taped a piece in front of the | | | | The combination of a Black filter and a digital camera |
| sensor. I suppose you can set the ASA anywhere | | | | allows one overlooked advantage. From a scientific |
| you like, but I used 400, and took EV readings. Then I | | | | aspect it is highly beneficial to have the ability to |
| did some extensive experimentation (it is absolutely | | | | compare the Infrared image with the visible light image |
| essential that you keep notes). Using the Kodak guide | | | | (as my Google album illustrates). All that needs to be |
| as a starter I did 6 shot brackets, picked the exposure | | | | done is to have the camera on a tripod, shoot one |
| I thought was best, than made a table from my notes. | | | | picture with the filter on, and one with it off. |