Infrared anytime anywhere…

Over the years I have converted various old cameras to infrared through a company called LifePixel. It has been quite a learning experience to experiment and figure out what types of scenes photograph well in infrared. With the right scene, though, infrared can make the final image much more dramatic, moody, and memorable. There is a downside, though. One of the cameras that I had converted to infrared was a Nikon D3, which is a pretty big camera. Adding that D3 into the mix of other camera bodies and lenses that I carry means increasing my weight burden substantially.

I have used a Nikon Df for the last year and have fallen in love with how lightweight, yet powerful, it is. The next logical step was to convert a Nikon Df to infrared. Mine happened to be the first Nikon Df that LifePixel converted! Since the body only weighs a pound and a half, an infrared camera is now easily accessible at all times in my backpack. I am constantly surprised at what conditions and subjects lend themselves to infrared.

Recently I went to Moab with American Nature Photography Workshops to photograph the beautiful arches and red rocks drenched in a golden glow from the sun. One morning (actually several, but that’s another post) the sun decided that it was not in the mood to make a grand appearance. Waiting behind my tripod-mounted D4s, I felt useless. Other photographic opportunities had to be out there. I had that little Nikon Df infrared tucked into the front of my backpack so I grabbed it, chose a lens, and started to run around. I found gnarly isolated juniper trees everywhere I looked. They turned out amazing in infrared. Add to that an overcast sky with a gentle tad of texture and it made for a striking combination.