Steve Long
July 2025 - Homestead
Original
About the Image(s)
Thanks for adding me to the group. I am a newcomer to IR, so I’m open to any suggestions you might have. Also, I am thick skinned, so don’t hold back. After listening to a Zoom presentation “Intro to IR” by Mark Common sponsored by PSA, I was hooked. One of the main reasons for investing in an IR camera is, I am doing a great deal of travel in the next couple years. We usually end up sight-seeing during the middle of the day, not good light for photography except for IR. I purchased a Sony A7cR converted to 720. (In retrospect, it might not have been the best decision). Here is one of my first images taken with the new setup. Sony 18-135 Apsc lens, 1/1250 F6.3 ISO 100 with custom white balance. For post processing, I chose “Adaptive B&W” for the profile.
16 comments posted
Hi Steve. Welcome to the group. Beautiful first submission. I like the simple composition and post processing of the IR image. I have two cameras converted with 720nm filters. My next one will have a full spectrum conversion, but the 720 is not bad at all. I like your gentle handling of the sky. I'm not a fan of aggressive contrast enhancement of the sky and clouds. It looks more natural this way. Nicely done. Posted: 07/01/2025 13:19:39
Thanks Arik, I look forward to learning about IR. At this moment, I am only interested in B&W conversions in IR so I assumed that 720 made the most sense. Probably in a year, I will regret not having full spectrum.
I agree about the sky, it is dramatic enough just with IR.
Posted: 07/01/2025 13:41:32
I agree about the sky, it is dramatic enough just with IR.
Posted: 07/01/2025 13:41:32
Welcome, Steve!
I'll be honest and say I'm a fan of Ansel Adams' skies, where the sky color gets close to true black. Softer can be fine, too, but (and Gary can help me here) I think the image suffers from a lack of contrast overall. Whether it just be some edge burning, or some darkening of elements like the fence or the house, I think a little more contrast would improve. Posted: 07/02/2025 22:51:18
I'll be honest and say I'm a fan of Ansel Adams' skies, where the sky color gets close to true black. Softer can be fine, too, but (and Gary can help me here) I think the image suffers from a lack of contrast overall. Whether it just be some edge burning, or some darkening of elements like the fence or the house, I think a little more contrast would improve. Posted: 07/02/2025 22:51:18
I'll try that, thanks. Posted: 07/03/2025 18:34:13
What do you think of this? It is very dramatic. I also added a slight vignette to the lower corners because it was so top heavy with the blacks. Posted: 07/03/2025 19:55:55
Yes, it is much more to my liking, Steve. The sky is so dramatic, and, for me, it still feels like beautiful skies I've seen. It could be worked on a little more, I'd rather see more evenness across both the sky and the vignette. Posted: 07/04/2025 15:01:51
Steve
Welcome to this great group of IR shooters.
You will get many suggestions from us, some diametrically opposed at times, the key is to learn how post process so you can achieve your vision for the image at hand and fold in the ideas you get from us into your tool box as you move forward. You are the artist and it is your eye that must be satisfied at the end of the day.
I like the image you submitted this month. The sky is bright and in keeping with your scene.
Something to keep in mind, make sure you have contrast between white foliage and the clouds behind so they remain separate tonal entities.
Regards
Emil Posted: 07/04/2025 18:15:15
Welcome to this great group of IR shooters.
You will get many suggestions from us, some diametrically opposed at times, the key is to learn how post process so you can achieve your vision for the image at hand and fold in the ideas you get from us into your tool box as you move forward. You are the artist and it is your eye that must be satisfied at the end of the day.
I like the image you submitted this month. The sky is bright and in keeping with your scene.
Something to keep in mind, make sure you have contrast between white foliage and the clouds behind so they remain separate tonal entities.
Regards
Emil Posted: 07/04/2025 18:15:15
That's a good point! Posted: 07/06/2025 11:32:08
Hi Steve,
I'm a little behind my cohorts, but let me express my welcome to you and wish you well in your continued pursuit of infrared images. As Jack mentioned, I am quite emphatic in my own work about strong/bold blacks and whites in my IR captures. I really like your reworked version. It is a continuous journey for all of us to use post-processing to our advantage on our final IR images. Posted: 07/07/2025 15:25:50
I'm a little behind my cohorts, but let me express my welcome to you and wish you well in your continued pursuit of infrared images. As Jack mentioned, I am quite emphatic in my own work about strong/bold blacks and whites in my IR captures. I really like your reworked version. It is a continuous journey for all of us to use post-processing to our advantage on our final IR images. Posted: 07/07/2025 15:25:50
Thanks for your warm welcome. It's a continuous journey for sure. I look forward to learning a great deal from this group. Posted: 07/07/2025 17:29:45
Steve,
Let me also welcome you to this dynamic group that will definitely keep you on your toes! Your image is beautifully composed but I do like your reworked version over the original. I'd say you're off to a great start.
As to gear, I envy you your A7CR for portability. My main IR shooter these days is an A7R IV which I love, but it's too much to lug along on overseas trips. For that, I have an A6500 which does a great job, but I do miss the larger sensor. Both cameras are full-spectrum but I find I use the 720 filters 90% of the time. I really like Kolari Vision's drop-in clip filters, by the way. Posted: 07/07/2025 16:31:15
Let me also welcome you to this dynamic group that will definitely keep you on your toes! Your image is beautifully composed but I do like your reworked version over the original. I'd say you're off to a great start.
As to gear, I envy you your A7CR for portability. My main IR shooter these days is an A7R IV which I love, but it's too much to lug along on overseas trips. For that, I have an A6500 which does a great job, but I do miss the larger sensor. Both cameras are full-spectrum but I find I use the 720 filters 90% of the time. I really like Kolari Vision's drop-in clip filters, by the way. Posted: 07/07/2025 16:31:15
I probably should have done more research before I pulled the trigger, but I approaching a deadline for my upcoming vacation. I had an older 6400 that I had planned on converting before realizing it used a different battery. So I traded that in for 7CR. It's good to know you like the Kolari clip in filters because that was my original plan, but decided to cause have a straight 720 conversion. For now, I am happy with converting my IR images to B&W. On my last vacation, my primary camera was the 6700 and used the Apsc lens on the A7CR which worked out pretty good. This upcoming trip, I will "need" my A1 for the Dublin Horse Show, so more gear to lug around. Posted: 07/07/2025 17:20:09
By the way, my go-to lens for the A6500 is that same 18-135 lens you're using. My full-frame choice is the 24-70 f/2.8 GM2. I've also had good luck with the Tamron 28-200. No hot spots, but it's a little soft in the corners.
Contrary to popular sentiment, you can get reasonable color out of the 720 filter. Not as much as the 590, but still not too bad. Posted: 07/07/2025 17:25:00
Contrary to popular sentiment, you can get reasonable color out of the 720 filter. Not as much as the 590, but still not too bad. Posted: 07/07/2025 17:25:00
Hi Steve, It'd good to have you in the group. I thinks that Emil has said it so well, in that we all see things a little differently. I think that you composition is so well seen. It's an engaging scene. I like what you did with the sky in your reworked image. I would leave the bottom half alone for the most part. You could darken the foreground grasses a little. A great first image. Posted: 07/09/2025 19:47:20
Thanks Melanie Posted: 07/09/2025 19:51:22
Hello Steve and welcome to DD 66! If your first image forecasts what you will share in the future, we are going to enjoy a lot of lovely IR art from you. My feedback is mostly nitpicking. I imagine the image with the stone house a bit off center and with a tad more contrast between the sky and trees. Cropping for a more landscape format might better arrest the attention of the viewer. It's all about experimenting and intrinsically enjoying it. Thank you for joining us and sharing this graceful image. Posted: 07/10/2025 14:27:19