Infrared Filters

An infrared filter is used for infrared photography. Infrared camera filters allow infrared light to pass through while blocking the visible light.
Infrared filters are often used in crime detection, medical photography, and things like the detection of distribution of vegetation, etc.

Can you remove the infrared blocking filter from your camera? Oh yes you can – but if you do, you are on your own. This can totally ruin your camera. In addition it will no longer be any good for shooting regular color images after you have taken it out. You might also want to consider this, if you do remove the infrared blocking filter from your camera, it voids your warranty.

Looking for an infrared filter sheet? Well surprisingly enough, you can actually find quite a few of them for sale on eBay. You can cut it to make your own sizes of filters and not scratch the surface.

In the market for something Hoya makes? Then try finding the Hoya infrared filter that absorbs most of the visible region and transmits the infrared region. Their R and IR series boasts that it sharply cuts off part of the infrared. On the other hand, their RM series says it offers smooth and gradual cut off. Or, you might even be interested in the RT series, which band-passes the infrared region. The Hoya infrared filter catalog will give you all the information you need on infrared products used for things like warning systems and night vision equipment.

It wasn't until the 1900s, that infrared photography was made possible. Up until them, it could not be done because silver halide emulsions weren't sensitive to infrared radiation unless a dye was added to act as a color sensitizer. Indeed the first infrared photograph was published in 1910. Infrared-sensitive photographic plates were then developed in the United States during WWI and used to improve aerial photography runs.

Then in the 1960's along came false-color infrared with the introduction of Kodak Ektachrome Infrared Aero Film. This was the same era that saw many recording artists take a shine to this type of photography simply because of the unusual effects it produced. Check it out and take a look at album covers for Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Frank Zappa and the Grateful Dead. Sure those were extreme examples of what could be done with this type of photography, but Elio Ciol made a name for himself using subtle black and white infrared sensitive film. His photos were quite amazing.