IR flash photography

<p>All,

 

<p>Sorry if this shouldn't be in this forum. HIE is BW though...

 

<p>So I just got a book - Infra-Red Photography, A complete

Workshop - in hopes that, among other things, it would have

infmormation on how to do IR flash photography. I thought it would

be fun to try.

 

<p>I found <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?

msg_id=001Edc">this thread</a> from 2001. In it, the common

recommendation of using unexposed, developed E6 film as an IR filter

is made. Then, towards the end, a comment is made that E6 film

isn't a very good IR filter at all, and that I should get some plexi

for it.

 

<p>So...my questions are:

 

<p>1 - any further comments on the effectiveness of E6 film as a

filter? <br>

2 - What is the best way to attach this without burning the filter?

I'm currently using a Nikon SB-28. Should I build some kind of dome-

type thing? Maybe I should get something with an external filter

attachment, like a Vivitar 283 or 285?<br>

3 - or should I just go ahead and get the plexiglass? :-)

 

<p>thanks.<br>

allan

No need to spend the big bucks on plexiglass. B&H carries Lee 3x3 polyester #87 infrared filters for $13.95. This is a 3 inch square of

plastic that can easily be cut to a custom shape with ordinary

scissors. You can tape it over the flash head. I prefer to

wedge it behind a Sto-fen Omnibounce, which holds it in place

without the need for sticky gooey tape.

<p>

I confess that I haven't used it with infrared film. My purpose

in using it is to trigger slave flashes. The IR filter blocks

all visible light from my on-camera flash, but the infrared light

that escapes is sufficient to trigger slaved studio lights.

<p>

One day I'll play with some HIE, I guess.

Cool. I guess I wasn't sure yet if I wanted to use it with a Stofen, but I guess that diffused look is good for IR< too...and I need to get a Stofen, too.

 

:-)

allan

B&W IR issues belong here, Allan, no need to apologize. Ignore my noisy outburst about misplaced threads. Sometimes I just need to rant.

 

I've never heard of using unexposed E6 film as an IR filter. It might be worth experimenting with but I wouldn't risk an entire roll on it. Maybe shoot a few frames and do a clip test.

 

The best method I've heard of is attaching a purpose-built IR filter to the flash. Not sure where these can be bought but a search of the archives should turn up some previous discussions. I seem to recall this being discussed fairly recently either here or on the generic "Film and Processing" forum.

Seems like from what I remember reading of the E6 film filter idea, it worked okay, but the IR is reduced condsiderably over a regular IR filter. I'd vote for the Lee filters, but haven't tried them, either. Last time I checked (several months back), B&H had them listed, but shown as out of stock, too.

 

Firing a flash through my regular #87 filter, it is very visible, although not bright. So, it might not be obtrusive, but it isn't invisible like you might expect either. I assume some of the darker filters would be more invisible.

Okay. I gotta go look up the filtration ranges of these IR filters again. For some reason I always get them confused. Maybe something more opaque would be better. I am not trying nec. for the "weegee-in-the-theatre" kind of sneakiness, but if it's a side-benefit, I might as well go for the invisible-ish flash.

 

Can I just put one of those gelatin filters over my flash head, or will it burn through?

 

allan

An electronic flash should tolerate a little heat build up from being filtered, but it's a good idea to let it cool down periodically.

 

I don't use colored filters on my flashes but I do often use diffusers. Even those can trap heat, potentially damaging the flash. I once overheated a flash 'til it literally popped like a tiny firecracker and started smoking (the 100°F+ Florida heat probably didn't help). How often and long I allow cool downs depends on whether I'm using full pops or partial.

Been there, done that, though it was back in high school many years ago. I wanted to do candids at parties, so I used black photo tape to attach a #87 Wratten filter over my Vivitar 285 (the old one, I think). The flash is visible as a red glow if you look directly at it, but otherwise unobtrusive. HIE or whatever IR film Kodak sold back in 1971/2. It worked really well, if you don't mind the tonal values of IR! Heating is no problem at reasonable duty cycles, but each pop does warm the filter up.

As Montgomery Burns on the Simpsons would say:

 

"Excellent."

 

thanks everyone for the help, as always. I don't know what I'd do without this forum...

allan