Digital Infrared Photography Underwater

Kathy White · Issue 56, Sep/Oct 2010 · pp. 54–57

Products mentioned: Nikon D300, Subal housing, Inon Z240 strobes, Tokina 10-17mm, Nikon 60mm macro lens, Hoya R72 filter, Advanced Camera Services conversion, Lifepixel conversion service

Digital infrared photography underwater? It’s not possible, surely? This was the general consensus when I spoke to people about doing infrared photography underwater. Fortunately a very wise friend told me to think positively and give it a go anyway. After all, what did I have to lose? What is infrared (IR) light and where does it come from? Light is measured in waves and the light spectrum is made up of both visible and invisible light. Visible light ranges from about 400 nanometres (nm) to 700 nm on the spectrum. Beyond 700nm up to about 1200nm is referred to as near infrared light. The near IR light is the light that we can capture with a camera, either by having one converted or by using an IR filter. A common misconception is that the IR light we can capture with a camera is similar to thermal imaging; however thermal imaging is between the ranges of 7,000nm to over 14,000nm on the …