Ever since I started learning photography, I was fascinated by infrared photography. For those unfamiliar with it, it is photography using infrared light. Images captured using infrared produce some interesting, other-worldly results. The wavelength of light used is usually between 700nm to 900nm, in the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light ranges between about 390nm (violet) to 700nm (red). Therefore, infrared photography captures images that the naked human eye would be unable to see. In this two-part series, I’ll discuss how to shoot and process infrared, or IR, photos. Let’s start with the shooting part: Infrared Photography Equipment Here is what you will need: 1. A Digital Camera Digital camera sensors are sensitive to infrared light, up to about 1000nm. However, this light interferes with normal photography and most camera manufacturers add an infrared blocking filter over the sensor. There are two ways around this. a) Modify the camera to capture infrared light This involves converting an ordinary camera into an infrared camera. It is done by opening up the camera and removing the infrared blocking filter. Then inserting a special, rectangular infrared filter that only allows infrared light through. This option produces the best results, but renders the camera useless for normal photography (or any photography if you aren’t careful). It is advisable to find a cheap, second-hand camera if you decide to go this route. This Instructable explains how to do the conversion yourself. You can also send your camera to one of many third party services that do the conversion. b) Use an external infrared passthrough filter A safer way is to attach an infrared passthrough filter to your lens. This type of filter blocks all visible light, only allowing IR light to reach the sensor. However, due to the internal IR-blocking filter, normal exposure settings will not be enough. Long exposure times, large apertures and high ISO levels are required to capture a well-exposed image. I use a Hoya R72 filter (pictured below) and usually shoot 30 second exposures in broad daylight. Different camera models include varying strengths of IR-blocking filters so the settings you use will vary (details below). 2. Lenses and filters You may use any of your lenses if you have modified your camera body. When using a filter however, your lens’s filter thread size must match that of your...