Infared pics - night?

[catz1ct]

Hi,

This probably sounds silly but can you take infared pictures at night? I guess you can't because there isn't any light but just thought i'd check to make sure.

Thanks.

[PacAce]

IR light is also generated by heat sources and street lights so you should be able to capture something, I would think. It may not be as spectacular as shooting during the day, though.

[johneo]

Hi,

This probably sounds silly but can you take infared pictures at night? I guess you can't because there isn't any light but just thought i'd check to make sure.

Thanks.

I've shot a few IR shots at night using the flash and they were pretty useless, sort of dull B&W shots. I'm guessing it would be like any night time photos though. Take a long exposure and it might not be to bad if there is available light ... streetlights, car lights and so on.

Hey, I was thinking shooting IR in the winter would be a waste of time only to see some IR shots someone took that were great. Guess like all photography, you just have to be creative :)

[Mike-DT6]

You could experiment with an infrared torch, to add light to your infrared night photos. I've no idea if it works, but I just thought of it! :lol:

Mike

[Wilt]

There are TWO types of IR light...near IR and long IR. Most IR films or IR modified digital cameras shoot the near IR wavelengths. Conventional IR photography is limited to wavelengths of about 1200 nm. Heat sources cast the long IR wavelengths and require special means to detect and record images.

[DrPablo]

There are TWO types of IR light...near IR and long IR. Most IR films or IR modified digital cameras shoot the near IR wavelengths. Conventional IR photography is limited to wavelengths of about 1200 nm.
Even Kodak HIE only captures up to around 900 or 910nm, but it's much more sensitive in the 700s and 800s. The Efke and Maco films are useful up to 820 nm, and the Rollei goes up to around 740 (which really is on the border of IR and deep red). I think Ilford SFX is somewhere in that 720 nm range.

Never heard of a film that can capture 1200nm (or even 1000). I don't know about digital sensors. I think the darkest commercially available filter is the 87C and it cuts out anything shorter than 850 or so.

[PacAce]

Even Kodak HIE only captures up to around 900 or 910nm, but it's much more sensitive in the 700s and 800s. The Efke and Maco films are useful up to 820 nm, and the Rollei goes up to around 740 (which really is on the border of IR and deep red). I think Ilford SFX is somewhere in that 720 nm range.

Never heard of a film that can capture 1200nm (or even 1000). I don't know about digital sensors. I think the darkest commercially available filter is the 87C and it cuts out anything shorter than 850 or so.

Wilt and Paul, thanks for the info. I knew that most IR from heat sources was blocked off but I thought that a little bit did get through but evidently not. Thanks for setting me straight on that.

[catz1ct]

Thanks for the info :)