by
Hibe » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:16 pm
Suzi,
You might want to first make sure your camera is capable of taking infared photos. Some newer cameras have infared blocking filters installed in them in order to prevent infared light from distorting your images. That is to say, what we call infared filters are actually infared '"bypass" filters allow the infared light through and blocking the visable spectrum.
Top of the line Tiffen infared filters start at over $100 and go to over $160. That's why I started investing in Cokin filters. The filters cost anywhere from about $15 to $70(Circular Polarizer) The infared is $45. Most of the filters run in the low to mid twenties. These prices are for the P series of filters which will fit lenses up to 82mm. Once you have the filter (a 84mm square piece of glass) you place it in the filter holder ($9) which fits over the adapter ring specific to the lens of your camera ($14). So for about $25 per lens I can use any of the Cokin filters on any of your lenses. It has it's drawbacks. The lens holders and adapters are bulky and can make it difficult to fit your lens in your camera bag.
The system was created before the digital age when all effects had to be created through the camera or in the dark room. There are some filters that are hard to replicate through PSE. The neutral density filters can allow you to open up your aperature or decrease your shutter speed on a sunny day in order to create shallow depth of field or motion blur without blowing out the highlights. The gradual neutral density can help brighten up a darken forground subject whithout blowing out the sky in the background.
If your interested, here is the Cokin Website
Cokin and here is a website I use to purchase them
The Filter Connection... And finally, here is a good online piece on Infared digital photography
"Digital Photography for What It's Worth"... a must read for IR beginners like me.