The History of Infrared Photography - Images Stolen from the Dark
Infrared photography is about 100 years old. Infrared cameras utilize light that is invisible to the human eye. In doing so, they are able to capture images that other cameras cannot. Infrared light bands are between 700 and 1,400 nanometers, making them 1000 times wider than visible light.
The Pioneer
It was British astronomer Sir William Herschel who initially discovered infrared light. The term “infrared” refers to light waves that are longer than red waves, which are the longest perceived by the human eye. It was in 1800 that he discovered these unseen waves of light by calculating the temperature of the heat that produced them.
First Infrared Images
Initial infrared images first appeared in 1910 in two different publications. It was in February of that year that The Century Magazine published infrared photos. Then in October 1910, photographs by Robert W. Wood appeared in the Royal Photographic Society Journal. These images displayed various techniques that Wood had developed related to this type of photography.
At this point, and for quite some time to come, infrared cameras and photography were the purview of scientists and the military. The technology was new, expensive and difficult to control. Wood’s photos were certainly a product of some of the limitations that defined early infrared technology. Because this new type of photography required a long exposure time, he focused on large, static images—landscapes.
A World at War
One important mark on the infrared timeline is World War I. It was during what was called the War to End All Wars that the United States used infrared technology in aerial photography. Advancements in the penetration of haze, which often hid the position of opposing forces, were achieved through the utilization of dyes, such as cryptocyanine, that helped to improve images. At this point all infrared film was black and white.
Seeing the Stars and Planets
About a decade later, in the 1930s, infrared photography was being used in a range of applications, including astronomy. In 1942, the Eastman Kodak Company introduced Ektachrome Aero Film, which was the first color infrared film. This film opened up the study of the universe as vibrantly new images of planets and stars were takes and studied.
It was at this time that infrared photography became commercially viable. Magazines and newspapers featured infrared landscape and aerial photographs taken by staff photographers. By 1937, there were 33 different types of infrared film made by five companies.
The Weird Effect
In the 1960s many rock artists used infrared photos on their album covers. The odd colors and contrasting images produced by infrared film certainly seemed appropriate for the psychedelic 60s. Artists such as Frank Zappa, Grand Funk, Donovan and The Grateful Dead featured funky, infrared-inspired covers.
In terms of highlights, the infrared cover for Electric Ladyland, the third and final album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, is a cultural icon as it captured Hendrix in a way that preserved his image as a rock star forever.
Digital Infrared Photography
The digital infrared camera has certainly simplified the process of taking and printing these types of photos. With digital photography, which allows for the instant viewing of an image, an infrared picture may be taken over and over again and again until the final effect is achieved. The instantaneous results allow for minor but effective adjustments to be made rapidly. Of course, photographers can still opt to use infrared cameras that utilize film.
A Progression Towards Perfection
The idea of infrared cameras runs contrary to the whole basic idea of photography, which is to capture what one can see. Over the course of history, infrared photography has slowly progressed to a point where the unseen can be seen beautifully and magnificently.
About the Author:
When it comes to having fun Melissa Cameron has found that spending the day surfing with her three children and husband is all that she needs. When not at the beach enjoying the waves, Melissa works as a bookkeeper for a very busy medical practice. When she goes off on her own and does her own thing, she loves to engage in infrared photography, using the latest infrared technology. Melissa and her husband have two young boys that keep them very busy.
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