Recently I have started using Rollei Retro 80s film with an IR 72 filter again, for an infrared look. On a bright sunny day at midday I rate the combo at EI 2, typically shooting a 1/2 second exposure at f/16. Even though this is not a true infrared film stock, I do like the look I get.
I took both images with my Rolleiflex 3.5E3 twinlens reflex. TLR’s and rangefinders are great for infrared work, compared to SLR’s as the IR 72 filter is almost completely opaque to visible light.
I was out this morning at Ashbridges Bay. It was a brilliantly sunny day, so I decided to have some fun darkening the sky with the combination of Rollei Retro 80s film (with near infrared sensitivity) and a combination of deep red and polarizing filters on my Mamiya RZ67 and 65mm wide angle lens.
I wasn’t able to do any conventional infrared photography on our trip to Scotland, but I decided to try some post-processing with Lightroom and Nik Efex for a similar look. Today’s image is from the Ring of Brodgar stone circle on the Isle of Orkney. Amazing stones, older than Stonehenge!
Nikon D7100
(Scheduled post while I’m away)
Before 8 am, a tree in Kew Gardens
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens with IR72 filter.
EFKE 820 Aura IR film. 1 sec @ f11
This past Saturday I went to nearby Taylor Creek Park to shoot some Rollei Retro 80s film (with my Rolleiflex). One of the advantages of this film is that if you use an infrared filter (such as an IR 72 that looks almost completely opaque to the naked eye) you can do infrared photography, and I just love the ghostly, otherworldly look you get when doing this.
The Rolleiflex is a perfect camera for infrared: as a twin lens reflex camera, the viewing lens is not covered by the filter so focussing is never an issue. On a single lens reflex camera, the filter must keep coming off (for focusing/composition) and on (shooting).
All images taken with Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens with IR72 filter
Exposure 1/2 to 1 second @ f16, on Rollei Retro 80s film
Film developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 14 minutes @ 20 C
On Saturday I was again down at the Toronto Beaches, and among the films I was shooting with my Rolleiflex was Rollei IR 400, a film that is sensitive to light in the infrared portion of the spectrum. With a nearly opaque IR 720 filter, one gets an almost otherworldly view of an otherwise normal sunny day.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar with IR72 filter (via Bay 2->52mm adapter)
Rollei IR 400 film at EI 12, developed in Xtol 1+1 12 min @ 20 C
This past Saturday I was with my Photographic friends Mike and Donna, shooting infrared film In Kleinburg, Ontario. I was shooting Efke 820 Aura infrared film, but the it turned out the filter (an IR 920) was blocking the wrong light, and when I developed the film that evening, I was horrified to see basically a blank roll :-(. All I have from Saturday is mosquito bites.
Not wanting to admit defeat, I went out on Sunday with a different filter (this time an IR 72) and a different infrared film to Guild Park in Scarborough, and had somewhat better luck 🙂
(Nikon F3, 28mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Rollei Retro 80s film, IR72 filter, 1 second exposure @ f16,
developed in HC-110 Dilution H for 10 minutes @ 20 C)
Sorry I was not diligent in blog posting during my absence — I will get back on the wagon!
This image was created at a park in Canterbury, England, close to the ancient city wall. I used Rollei 400IR Infrared film, and a 72IR infrared filter, which is almost completely opaque to the naked eye, as it blocks most visible light, but allows infrared light to pass through. Even though it was a reasonably bright sunny morning, I had to put my camera (my Mamiya Pro 645 TL medium format) on a tripod, for exposures of .5 to 2 seconds in length.
My Third Eye 