Try Artistic Approaches

Still looking for artistic inspiration? Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing

Photographs tend to be considered more artistic when they don’t actually look like conventional photographs, and this certainly seems to be the case when it comes to selling prints. Nonphotographers are more likely to splash out when they have no idea how a photograph was created – because they wouldn’t be able to take such an image themselves. Infrared images definitely fall into that category – they have an eeriness that immediately adds an artistic feel to every shot you take.

The best way to shoot infrared is by getting a camera converted professionally – if you have an old DSLR gathering dust, it would be ideal. Advanced Camera Services (advancedcameraservices.co.uk) is the best-known service in the UK, and charges around £300 for IR conversion. You can also pick up converted cameras on eBay. The cheaper alternative is to use an infrared transmitting filter, such as a Hoya R72, on the lens of a normal digital camera. You’ll get similar results, but the exposure times are much longer so a tripod is required, and you can’t see through the filter as it’s opaque.