Psychedelia at Bodiam Castle

Colour infrared is an acquired taste, but one that has been part of David's photographic toolbox for more than ten years

- DAVID CLAPP

Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Exposure 1/30 sec, f/16, ISO400

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, England. 15:19pm. 5 June 2021

One of the best things I ever did to my photography was to change frequency. In 2009, ePHOTOzine, an online camera resource, asked me to ‘donate a camera’ for an infrared conversion and to provide a review. My donor was a 6D Mark I, which had been lounging around at home, since an EOS-1Ds Mark III forced it into retirement. This new medium was so compelling, that I didn't take another colour photo for four months.

So what is all this about? Well in brief, your eyes see between violet, a wavelength of 350nm, to around 700nm, the wavelength for red. This is only approximate, but it gives a good indication of how we perceive the world. Below violet, there is ultraviolet, where insects see attractive flowers and above 700nm there is infrared, which extends upwards towards thermal imaging infrared, to microwaves and beyond. The key is to mix a little of the colour spectrum with infrared, so my 6D (a 665nm conversion), can produce some exciting ‘colour’ infrared.