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The Santa Barbara Courthouse, at 590nm, false color infrared.
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There really isn't much new in the field of photography. I mean... there
is, but it's not really new. It's all basically the same stuff. Some form of a lens focuses light onto a plane of some sort of recording medium. Those lenses have continued to get more precise and the medium is now typically some variety of a CMOS sensor.
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The Presidio Studios, Infrared "goldie"
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Part of the old Presidio in downtown Santa Barbara, Infrared
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Regardless, most photographers are known to always need new and different gear to what they currently own. While I champion the ideas that less is often more and the best camera is the one you have with you, I find myself cycling through "toy" gear somewhat often. My core stable of big boy tools doesn't fluctuate much, and something really has to prove itself valuable to make its way into the bag I take to jobs. But the other gear has its place too.
I run an occasional roll of film through for nostalgic purposes. Or I'll shoot Polaroids for funsies. Macro gear is for when I maybe can't go far but can find things to look closely at. See what I can find with a telescope. Or my on and off again love of infrared will turn on again.
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Courthouse palms, Infrared Goldie
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The look of color IR can be startling or gimmicky to some. I get that. It's definitely different. And sometimes, different is just what the doctor ordered. I find shooting things like this help keep creativity flowing and my mind engaged in understanding the science of it all at a deeper level. My real interest in infrared is in the deeper ranges of the spectrum, producing black and white images.
With some recent change ups in my gear, shooting that type of work
will now become much easier. I will be able to leave the once required
tripod at home, travel a bit lighter, and better results than ever. In
the meantime, I have also been playing with color, streamlining the
processing so it's a bit more fun and easy, hopefully opening the door
to even more creativity.
This past week, I've been shooting with
an infrared converted Canon M, playing tourist in my home town,
shooting the sights in a way few have seen before.
(Forgive my formatting. I'm basically working with an abacus and sledgehammer with Blogger here).
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Santa Barbara Mission, 590nm, False Color Infrared "Goldie"
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Santa Barbara Courthouse, Infrared
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Infrared with a tilt-shift
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One of the trails to my beach
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