Abandoned skytram station IR

This is one of the abandoned skytram stations at Aquarena in San Marcos, Texas. It's slated for demolition in the next few months, so I went out today and took some infrared shots. This is the first time I feel I've really nailed the IR aesthetic during post-processing. I've really struggled with false-color (and B&W for that matter) before. Any C&C would be appreciated--even general impressions would be fine.

Well, nine hours without a comment and because I also shoot IR, I'll give it a shot.

You did a good job here of capturing the classical "white flora" look of IR. However, your subject (the station) is so far in the background it is secondary. The bushes and trees seem to be the subject. If that was your goal, you've accomplished it. I'm not saying the composition is poor, because structurally it is good. It's just that your post subject title of the post says station but compositionally, it is treated as a lesser object.

I probably would have removed the telephone lines.

I am personally not a big fan of the channel swap PP technique. There is something about the blue and cold produced that is unattractive, but that is a personal view - some like it. The IR's come out of my camera very warm which is nice and works well with the surreal IR look.

Your exif shows 20 sec. shutter speed, so you did a good job choosing subject / location to avoid movement. It's good for a daytime shot - sharp in comparison to others I've seen.

Hope that helps. Keep creating.

Thanks, CannedHeat. Sometimes I go with the channel swap, sometimes I don't. I was trying for that surreal reality look here, so I went with the channel swap.

I actually took this as part of a series at Aquarena, so this one is what it is, so to speak. Others focus more on the actual decaying structure. To explain the layout, those weird, rusting mushrooms form a sort of crescent, with an ornamental pond in between. That pond spills over into a smaller pond (extreme foreground). It's an unusual layout, so I was--with this particular composition--trying to juxtapose the beauty of the pond with the structural decay.

Thanks for the compliments on the sharpness. It was, surprisingly enough, a pretty windy day and I thought I wouldn't have much luck. But I happened to get a few interludes of stillness, so yay me!

And normally, I'd agree with you on cloning out the lines, but as these are the cables the tram cars used to run on, I thought it important they remain in the picture. Not to be contrary or anything, just trying to explain.

No contrary? No problem! Sometimes in photo forums, additional explanations are necessary. In this case, seeing as they are cable car cables, I would agree - they are in context. Especially to people familiar with the location. In that case, nice leading lines!

Enjoy shooting infrared? If within your budget, I would highly recommend a converted dslr. I've been shooting IR for years - back into the pre-digital film days. There is no way to describe the difference not only in usability of a converted camera, but in picture quality. Some of the pics I get off my converted 20D (LifePixel) are shocking in sharpness and detail.

Anyway, keep shooting. It's a unique medium and only a small percantage of people do it.

I don't know anything about shooting in IR....but my first impression is.... I really like it!! Very eye-catching and creative image.
I agree with CannedHeat about the telephone lines though....they are distracting and don't really fit with the rest of the photo.

CannedHeat, I lust after a converted dslr. Unfortunately, the XTi is my only dslr, so I can't justify that splurge. I'm hoping to get a new 50D in the next year or so, so maybe then. Or maybe I'll luck into a bargain on a used XT. I'd love to be able to shoot without the whole compose-focus-thread-the-filter juggling act.

Majortom, thanks for the kind words. There's no such thing as too much ego-boo.

jblaschke wrote in post #6561066
CannedHeat, I lust after a converted dslr. Unfortunately, the XTi is my only dslr, so I can't justify that splurge. I'm hoping to get a new 50D in the next year or so, so maybe then. Or maybe I'll luck into a bargain on a used XT. I'd love to be able to shoot without the whole compose-focus-thread-the-filter juggling act.

Majortom, thanks for the kind words. There's no such thing as too much ego-boo.

I'm curious what you did in PP. Would you post the orig? And who did your IR conversion? Oh and I like the shot too!

Okay, Swingbopper, here's the original, unprocessed image file.

Very nice explanation of your IR process. Thanks so much and thanks for posting the original. You did work some magic there.