Ready to put a new twist on your photography in 2012? If so, you might consider looking into digital infrared photography. It takes a little effort to learn how, but it can help you create some stunning images.

What Is It?

In simple terms, infrared light is light at a wavelength not visible to the human eye. While cameras generally capture visible light, they can also be used to photograph the infrared spectrum. Infrared, or IR, images are characterized by dark skies and often striking contrast. Foliage often goes ends up looking like snow.

IR Adjustments

Most digital cameras are designed to filter out the IR light and photograph what we can see - the visible light spectrum. To overcome this, you have two main options - a filter or camera conversion. I'll discuss both and let you decide.

Filter

The easiest and least-expensive route is to buy an IR filter. These look almost completely opaque and when they are on the lens, you won't be able to see through the viewfinder. This makes focusing and composition a little hit-or-miss, but it is certainly a viable option. You will need to use a tripod, because the exposure time will be quite long.

Personally, this is how I started out. Once I decided that IR photography interested me, I spent the money to go the conversion route.

Conversion

Conversion involves you sending your camera to a company that removes the IR filter and makes it a full-time infrared camera. You won't be able to take any "normal" pictures with the camera anymore. It will be exclusively an IR camera, which is an obvious downside. A good idea is to use your old DSLR when you upgrade to a new one. It can also be an expensive process with conversions costing $200+.

The benefit is that you can compose and focus normally - making it a much more enjoyable photographic experience.

Results

The results can be quite extraordinary. You will have to do some experimenting to determine what scenes and lighting situations lend themselves to the type of look you find most pleasing. It is like entering a whole new world of photography- which is point, after all!

Where to Start

Spend some time browsing the web for examples of infrared photography and get an idea of the types of looks you can get. Landscapes are the most popular subject matter, but you can certainly experiment with whatever you like.

There are several websites that go into the subject with a lot more detail. If you invest the time to learn the nuances of the genre, you will be rewarded with some very cool images in your portfolio!