Imagine you are taking a hike in the mountains, and you come across the best views? Now, imagine you can capture the trees in pink or white against a blue sky? Wouldn’t that be awesome? We have talked about infrared images before and even featured many talented photographers and their interviews. In fact, our editor, Chris Gampat, turned his old Sony a7 into an infrared camera. While you may have a new camera that you do not wish to change, we have come across a new organization offering cost-effective offerings.
The images are screenshots from the Hidden Realms website.
There are varied ways to capture infrared (IR) images, such as getting a lens filter or clip-in filter or, better yet, getting a conversion filter in your sensor. The latter could be expensive, and Kolari Vision has various offerings from which you can check. However, according to Nikon Rumors, a small Swiss business, Hidden Realms sells refurbished Nikon CCD cameras, which will not burn a hole into your pocket.
The company sells a range of Nikon cameras, each with a unique infrared filter directly in front of the sensor. “I sell mainly Nikon cameras, which I carefully convert and calibrate. I remove the internal blocking filter and replace it with an IR filter. I offer basically everything from full spectrum to 720nm to special filters that create a new look with blue vegetation,” the owner writes on the website. Lee foil filters are also used, which can be cut to size and attached behind the lens. This way, you can choose which areas of the light spectrum are allowed or blocked.
According to the business, you can get blue trees (which you don’t get anywhere else) and Kodak Aerochrome. The blue is achieved through Rich False Color IR, changing the internal hot mirror with a glass filter. This sends visible light, and specific bands of light pass through the infrared spectrum while an extra filter reduces the infrared. Furthermore, Hidden Realms states that CCD sensors can handle the light better than CMOS. Plus, you get great images just right out of the camera.
If you are interested, you can check out the Nikon cameras on eBay. They cost between $239 and $799. Hidden Realms states that the cameras are recycled, which means they will be sustainable for you.
Before you think about purchasing an old Nikon camera, do look at the deal and read the reviews. Besides that, we have always said that infrared photography is a new way to explore new horizons. The new perspective is unique and will certainly change how you view the world. In a time when AI images are getting in the way of creativity and social media has made everything static and similar, you can break free from the shackle.
In fact, if you look at our other posts and how our editor made stunning portraits. You can try something similar. You can also make great sports photographs, just the way Lorenz Holder did. You can also mount the camera on a drone, just like Paolo Pettignani. Just look at The Phoblographer’s website, and you will find immense inspiration.
Furthermore, infrared doesn’t mean you are limited to nature or landscapes alone. You can utilize this with another genre. Your imagination is your limit. So, don’t limit yourself.