Infrared Film
From 1995 to 2003, all my infrared images were created on film, either in 35mm or medium format. Infrared film is a specialty film that is sensitive beyond the visible spectrum, into the far-red end. When used with a deep-red (#25 or #29) which filters out out most of the visible spectrum or opaque infrared pass filter, which filters out all visible light, infrared film looks quite magical. Almost all my infrared film images were created with the #25 or #29 filters, which permitted me to compose the images with the filter in place. While an opaque infrared filter gives a more dramatic look with infrared film, the fact that you could not see through the filter slowed the process down much too much.
Infrared film gives the common and familiar a very different look. Trees seem to glow with an internal brilliance, skin turns to alabaster, and shadows become hollow, empty spaces full of mystery.
I have used three kinds of infrared (or near infrared) films, Kodak HIE infrared film in 35mm rolls, and both Ilford SFX and Konica 750 infrared film in 120 rolls.
From 1995 to 2003, almost all my 35mm photography was done using Kodak HIE, which is the most typical infrared film. While it is sensitive to available light, it is also sensitive well into the infrared spectrum, from 725nm to 950nm.
This is the spectral sensitivity of Kodak HIE; the use of either a red (#25), dark red (#29) or opaque infrared pass filter such as a #87, 87B, 87C, 88A or 89B restricts the light landing on the film to that in the infrared spectrum.
Besides Kodak HIE (now discontinued), there were a number of other “near infrared” films on the market when I was using film; Ilford SFX has been the most disappointing of the near-infrared films. After extensive testing, I could not achieved results that meet my expectations and, while it did generate some interesting and pleasing images, on the whole it did not merit the increased price tag. Konica 750 infrared was a much slower film than HIE - i.e. 12 through a #29 filter (for an effective E.I.100), which means it can only be used in conjunction with a tripod. It is very fine-grained and is available in the120 rolls I use in my 6x9 rangefinder (I used to use it in a 6x12 roll film back, on my 4"x5”). The contrast of the Konica 750 was much higher than that of HIE, and because it was only made once a year, on a special order basis, it was not as convenient to use as the Kodak HIE film.
In 2003, I sold my 35mm camera, due to my switching to using digital SLR cameras for my small-camera images; I didn’t use infrared light to makes images again until 2004, when I began experimenting with digital infrared photography using a Sigma SD10 DSLR camera.