From: jay@metran.UUCP (Jay Ts)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: IR Photography (Was Re: Slightly overexposed FujiChrome 100.)
Date: 20 Aug 92 04:57:00 GMT
Organization: Metran Technology, Tampa, Florida

sgccpgs@citec.oz.au (Paul Salanitri) writes:
: mahatme@icaen.uiowa.edu (Chandrashehar Vasant Mahatme) writes:
: : In article <92232.155034SPW103@psuvm.psu.edu> <SPW103@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
: : >Okay, small question.  I just shot my first roll of FujiChrome 100.
: : >I usually realized that I exposed the whole roll with my meter set
: : >at 125 ASA (I had just
: : 
: :  Exposing 100 ASA film with meter set at 125 ASA is overexposing the film or
: : underexposing. Just wondering. :-(
: 
: Actually, just commenting, he infact "under-exposed" his film. 

Thank you for the redundancy.

: BTW 
: Does anyone have a stupid meter which says 
: "Hey, this is a perfect setting..." and then, once developed they all turn
: out from 5 stops under to five stops over.   I have a needle Praktica.
: NOW, it starts flipping around all over the place ARGHHHHHH!
: Some days it just doesn't work!

Then don't use it.

: A WANT A NEW CAMERA!    So tell me what is a good 2nd hand camera say
: up to $300 OZIBUCKS.  Of course, there is only one answer, isn't there?

I'm bored, so I might as well reply to this.  It happens that I have a
strong prejudice towards all-manual, mechanical cameras.  OK, you were
warned.  Now go out and look for an Olympus OM-1n or Nikon FM2.  I have
a couple of OM-1's for sale, but I don't know if I want to send them
that far.  Unless you want to pay in advance.

: BTWBTW
: Infrared Film:  I'm abour to purchase some, I want to know 
:   A)  What are some interesting tricks

One of them is to use Kodak Ektachrome Infrared Film.  Having done this
myself, I can heartily recommend that you run out and buy 10-20 rolls
at $20 each, use a Tiffen #15 (orange) filter, and bracket a stop in
each direction by half stops around EI 160 only in conditions of bright
sunlight with the sun at your back.  Then find a place that does E-4
processing and get your film developed.  After completely wasting a few
rolls, you will start to catch on.  You may wind up with one or two
interesting slides if you are lucky.  Disclaimer: :-) for this paragraph!

Actually, I suspect that there has been little artistic color infrared
photography in your country, so it might be worthwhile.

As for interesting tricks, the first is to get a decently exposed photograph
of *anything*.  There are other, more IR-experienced people on the net to
help you with that.

Mostly keep in mind that outdoors, the sun is a good source of IR and
nothing else is, and that healthy green plants and flowers are usually
good IR reflectors, and not much else is.  Indoors, incandescent
bulbs (lit, of course) are good sources.  In fact, they have relatively
more IR than sunlight, so bias your exposure bracketing by minus 1-2 f/stops.

:   b)  Does IR leak past change bags????????

The main thing to watch out for is that certain "opaque" plastics are *not*
opaque to infrared.  This may seem strange and unimportant until you come
to terms with it.  Kodak says to make sure to use a metal developing tank.

:   c)  does ir leak through the camera back itself - just joking (i think)

There was a discussion here a while back about whether or not plastic-bodied
cameras pass IR.  Maybe some do.

:   d)  If I had HIGH ASA IR Film, could I take a picture through a wooden
:       wall - am I being silly?

Wood doesn't pass much IR at the frequency the film is sensitive.  Perhaps
you are thinking of X-rays?

: I will be using B&W and I want to develop in TMAX 

I suppose that is possible, but I suspect Kodak will recommend one of
their more traditional products.  An old Kodak publication I have has
development times for Kodak High Speed Infrared along with D-76, HC-110
Dilution B and D-19.

If you can get it, you may want to try Konica Infrared 750.  It is not
sensitive as far into the infrared spectrum as Kodak's films, but it
is much easier to get good results from.

If you want to do something a little different, you might try using one
of Kodak's panchromatic films (Tech Pan, maybe) with an IR filter.  This
may get you results nearly as interesting as using Konica IR 750, but with
less hassle (except for the LONG exposure times).  It may be worth a try,
and because of that, I am making myself a note to try it!

Jay Ts