tried infrared and did not work? help

I just got an infrared lens filter in the mail today so I could try some digital IR. Set the camera up and did everything that I have read about that you are supposed to do.

1.Put camera on Manual and on tripod
2. Took a custom white balance with IR filter ON camera
3. Set ISO to 200, F/11, Bulb setting
4. Let the shutter stay open for about 35 sec. and nothing came up. all black

I tried other shutter settings as well, also took a white balance of green grass with the lens filter off. I am not able to see through the lens with that filter on. is that normal? I am shooting with a 20d. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

What you have described sound pretty normal when starting out in IR. If your image is coming up black, you didn't use a long enough shutter speed. I found that it was hard to work up around f/11 as it made the shutter speed requirement just too long. I normally shot at around 5.6 and the shutter speeds could vary from 30-50 seconds.

I never bothered with the custom white balance thing. I shot them in RAW and then I could always adjust the color temp in my raw converter. You will end up with a predominantly red image but if you use the channel mixer you can get some funky looking shots.

This is one of those aspects where experimentation is the name of the game.

Migh be aking the obvoius but, is your camera converted for IR?..Has the sensors ir block been removed? I've not done IR myself with my dslrs but, that's what I understand needs be done up front....

He bought the filter to put on the front of the lens.

If you have questions about IR, PM me and I can answer them. A photographer I work with sent his 1d body off to be converted.

You can still do IR without having the camera converted. It's just more difficult with a 20D. I used a Hoya R72 filter and a lot of experimentation before I got it right. Still, my IR shots done with a cheap Kodak P&S camera with the filter held up to the lens look better. Seem like the cheaper the camera, the better the IR.

I did some fooling around with IR earlier this summer and posted about it in this thread. I also included a link to a tutorial I found helpful.