photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Zane Paxton | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Infrared Images tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Infrared Images

A new way of looking at the world which is just beyond what our eyes can see.

These were shot with a HOYA R72 infrared filter which is very dark (9 f/stops) so can also produce some intreresting effects with longer exposures.

Some of these images were processed in Photoshop to switch the red and blue channels to create some interesting "false color" effects.
Here I used the deep red filter to pop the contrast By this point in the morning, the sweet early light was shifting into the brutal intensity of noon. The rich colors of dawn were bleached away leaving only a glaring harshness. We stood in a low area where the dunes shielded the sharp wind that was stirring from the alkali flats. There were a few solitary mesquite that had not been covered by the shifting sand that stood out as sharp, even defiant counterpoints, subtlety altering the wind enough to carve small depressions in its wake. A few remnant shadows clung to the high dunes; soon the sun would melt them away. There was a harsh clarity to what was here; it was serene, yet there was evident a quiet power lurking in the mesquite enabling it to persist in these brutal conditions. Any life here had earned its right to exist. For the time being the mesquite had more solidity than the slowly shifting dunes that were persistently morphing into new forms and hollows. This was a sacred place. I began feeling self-conscious that my footprints would break the fragile sense of order that was evident in the mosaic of ripples across the sand. Respectfully I stood there a long time just soaking it in; trying to find my place in this scheme of things, listening for even muffled sounds and only hearing the silence broken by my breathing.
Dune & Dust Storm		Here I used the deep red filter to pop the contrast

By this point in the morning, the sweet early light was shifting into the brutal intensity of noon.
The rich colors of dawn were bleached away leaving only a glaring harshness.
We stood in a low area where the dunes shielded the sharp wind that was stirring from the alkali flats.
There were a few solitary mesquite that had not been covered by the shifting sand that stood out as sharp, even defiant counterpoints,
subtlety altering the wind enough to carve small depressions in its wake.
A few remnant shadows clung to the high dunes; soon the sun would melt them away.

There was a harsh clarity to what was here; it was serene,
yet there was evident a quiet power lurking in the mesquite enabling it to persist in these brutal conditions.
Any life here had earned its right to exist.
For the time being the mesquite had more solidity than the slowly shifting dunes that were persistently morphing into new forms and hollows.

This was a sacred place.

I began feeling self-conscious that my footprints
would break the fragile sense of order
that was evident in the mosaic of ripples across the sand.
Respectfully I stood there a long time just soaking it in;
trying to find my place in this scheme of things,
listening for even muffled sounds
and only hearing the silence broken by my breathing. 		Color Infrared shot taken near the Point Bonito Lighthouse
Marin Headlands		Color Infrared shot taken near the Point Bonito Lighthouse
No foliage here!
Dune & Hardscrabble		No foliage here! A 30 second exposure; I like the way it blurred the waves and clouds
Sea Lions and Cliffs		A 30 second exposure; I like the way it blurred the waves and clouds
By this point in the morning, the sweet early light was shifting into the brutal intensity of noon. The rich colors of dawn were bleached away leaving only a glaring harshness. We stood in a low area where the dunes shielded the sharp wind that was stirring from the alkali flats. There were a few solitary mesquite that had not been covered by the shifting sand that stood out as sharp, even defiant counterpoints, subtlety altering the wind enough to carve small depressions in its wake. A few remnant shadows clung to the high dunes; soon the sun would melt them away. There was a harsh clarity to what was here; it was serene, yet there was evident a quiet power lurking in the mesquite enabling it to persist in these brutal conditions. Any life here had earned its right to exist. For the time being the mesquite had more solidity than the slowly shifting dunes that were persistently morphing into new forms and hollows. This was a sacred place. I began feeling self-conscious that my footprints would break the fragile sense of order that was evident in the mosaic of ripples across the sand. Respectfully I stood there a long time just soaking it in; trying to find my place in this scheme of things, listening for even muffled sounds and only hearing the silence broken by my breathing.
Dust Storm-2 (IR)		By this point in the morning, the sweet early light was shifting into the brutal intensity of noon.
The rich colors of dawn were bleached away leaving only a glaring harshness.
We stood in a low area where the dunes shielded the sharp wind that was stirring from the alkali flats.
There were a few solitary mesquite that had not been covered by the shifting sand that stood out as sharp, even defiant counterpoints,
subtlety altering the wind enough to carve small depressions in its wake.
A few remnant shadows clung to the high dunes; soon the sun would melt them away.

There was a harsh clarity to what was here; it was serene,
yet there was evident a quiet power lurking in the mesquite enabling it to persist in these brutal conditions.
Any life here had earned its right to exist.
For the time being the mesquite had more solidity than the slowly shifting dunes that were persistently morphing into new forms and hollows.

This was a sacred place.

I began feeling self-conscious that my footprints
would break the fragile sense of order
that was evident in the mosaic of ripples across the sand.
Respectfully I stood there a long time just soaking it in;
trying to find my place in this scheme of things,
listening for even muffled sounds
and only hearing the silence broken by my breathing. 		A lonely sentry post on the windswept ridge
Ridgetop Bunker		A lonely sentry post on the windswept ridge
Post processing was most interesting on this one.
'False Color' Infrared-2		Post processing was most interesting on this one. A 4 second exposure was enough to make the traffic disappear.
No traffic on the Bridge...		A 4 second exposure was enough to make the traffic disappear.
Stopped at this nameless beach as the cliffs became illuminated in a warm glow. I couldn't resist the temptation to play up the shadows against the greenery on the hill with the light, so shot this 1 second exposure with my HOYA R72.
Infrared Beach		Stopped at this nameless beach as the cliffs became illuminated in a warm glow. I couldn't resist the temptation to play up the shadows against the greenery on the hill with the light, so shot this 1 second exposure with my HOYA R72.
This installation was planned to have a 16 gun that could shoot a 2,200 pound shell 27 miles. The gun weighed 1,000,000 pounds. The site was rendered obsolete as it was reconsidered to be vulnerable to aircraft attack, so it was never installed.
Construction 129		This installation was planned to have a 16" gun that could shoot a 2,200 pound shell 27 miles. The gun weighed 1,000,000 pounds. The site was rendered obsolete as it was reconsidered to be vulnerable to aircraft attack, so it was never installed.
Just another possibility...
Last Light		Just another possibility... This was very wet and green with moss so it almost looks like there was snow in infrared.
Infrared Waterfall		This was very wet and green with moss so it almost looks like there was snow in infrared.
The bright sun enabled the false color effects to seep through the R72 filter to an interesting effect.
IR-Creek-1		The bright sun enabled the false color effects to seep through the R72 filter to an interesting effect. I took this when the sun came out again.
Bunker in the Forrest		I took this when the sun came out again.
False color infrared
Cabbage Farm		False color infrared Taken at Construction #129 in a strong breeze.
Forrest at Bunker-129		Taken at Construction #129 in a strong breeze.
Located at the bottom of a cliff, so why was this here?
Mysterious Pier		Located at the bottom of a cliff, so why was this here? Taken with the new Cokin infrared filter then 'tweaked' in Photoshop
Infrared Evening		Taken with the new Cokin infrared filter then 'tweaked' in Photoshop
and another possibility
Dreamscape		and another possibility Near Point Bonito Lighthouse
Abandoned Pier		Near Point Bonito Lighthouse
Taken with a HOYA R72 Infrared filter that still has some risidual visible light that can be tweaked for the interesting 'false colors'.
Along Sonoma Creek (Infrared)		Taken with a HOYA R72 Infrared filter that still has some risidual visible light that can be tweaked for the interesting 'false colors'. A heavily overcast day in Sonoma County
Infrared Magnolias		A heavily overcast day in Sonoma County
I used color replacement to get the blue sky...
'False Color' Infrared-1		I used color replacement to get the blue sky... A combination of a color and a IR image
Incongruous Toucan		A combination of a color and a IR image
I've been experimenting with post processing to get the interesting false colors.
IR Oak Forest		I've been experimenting with post processing to get the interesting false colors. The black cow against what would be white grass was the inspiration
Black Angus under a Black Sky		The black cow against what would be white grass was the inspiration
Taken in the early morning fog
Infrared Oak Forest-2		Taken in the early morning fog Another Infrared possibility
Infrared Oak Forest-3		Another Infrared possibility
Taken as the early morning fog was slowly lifting
Infrared Oak Forest		Taken as the early morning fog was slowly lifting IR-Creek-2
IR-Creek-2
There was a quiet power to this place
Black Angus (InfraRed)		There was a quiet power to this place Surreal
Black Angus-3 (InfraRed)		Surreal
With IR, there are no 'real-world' colors to match, so any color scheme can be OK. I like to adjust the sky so that it is blue, so that there is something familar to grab onto and have as a frame of reference.
Magnolia & Vineyard		With IR, there are no 'real-world' colors to match, so any color scheme can be OK. I like to adjust the sky so that it is blue, so that there is something familar "to grab onto" and have as a frame of reference. A black Angus on a white (green) field was too good to pass up.
Black Angus-2 (InfraRed)		A black Angus on a white (green) field was too good to pass up.
False Infrared colors were processed from the base file
Mossy Rocks		False Infrared colors were processed from the base file Always better in bright sun
Oak Forrest-IR		Always better in bright sun

comment | share
Jeff Real26-Apr-2009 12:59
An amazing collection. Each image is a beautiful work of art ~V~
patsy latscha 17-Jul-2005 23:04
Wonderful and very inspiring, where dod you learn these effects or did you just develop them yourself?
I am very interested in learning more about the post processing. Thank you sharing your work it is the best I have seen. Patsy
Ann Sherba02-Jul-2005 22:20
Lots of wonderful images! I especially love the Infrared Waterfall!
Guest 29-Jun-2005 07:41
very interesting gallery to browse through. great work and effect. :)
Peter De Rycke13-Apr-2005 20:47
Very good work, and thanks for the explanations !
Peter
Jose Paulo Andrade21-Jan-2005 15:31
Fine images you have here! I am going to try these effects!
Robert 05-Jan-2005 11:04
fabulous,
Sebastian Leonàrd03-Jan-2005 09:16
whoa... great work!

I'm also into digital infra red, but your pics are way beyond just IR effect... the composition and choice of objects are immaculate
Adalberto Tiburzi03-Dec-2004 18:42
Wow Zane, these are among the best IR I have seen ever! Compliments and vote...
Zane Paxton03-Dec-2004 18:27
To get the IR effects, the filter is in the deep red end of the spectrum. the HOYA R72 is probably the most popular. It's very dark (9 f/stops).
Dean Swope22-Nov-2004 05:04
is it a neutral density filter or infra red spectrum?
Yiannis Pavlis29-Jul-2004 13:37
i really like your images here my regards yiannis
click on thumbnails for full image