Are there any programs that can convert color infra-red photos to actual color?

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:22:59 -0400, Scotius wrote:


Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

Wrong? A bit. Most people will look like they have blonde hair in IR
illumination. Retinal reflection will be increased so they all look like
they have demon eyes. And there will be other shifts in people's
appearances in IR. I would suggest instead getting talented with handheld
camera techniques and knowing when to trip the shutter, at the peak or
moment of reversal of motion. I once documented the band of a 3-day concert
taking place deep in the Everglades with a handheld superzoom camera. Due
to location, the night lighting was provided by campfires and 12volt
battery powered system. IOW, not much illumination. While I had to use
slower shutter speeds (and long focal lengths), sometimes the band members
would be blurred, yet this only added to the images greatly. The wave of a
hand across the guitar strings or the blurred hair of some singer flipping
their head to the side captured the sense of motion on the stage, instead
of some sterile images of posed manikins. There's more to the art of
photography than trying to make everything look frozen. This is especially
true in sports photography. Today's snapshooting morons just don't "get
it".

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:20:18 -0700 (PDT), otter
wrote:

On Jul 28, 4:35*pm, Scotius wrote:
On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:36:20 -0700 (PDT), Nervous Nick
Why would you want to do this, even if it were at all possible?

* * * * I was recently covering a concert for a local magazine, and
asked a stage manager about taking pix with the flash. He said go
ahead and take a few with flash, but not too many, so as not to be
distracting.
...
* * * * I suppose for a huge event I could take one with flash and
then recolor manually and submit the pix a couple years later , but
that's not really what I was looking to be able to do.

It is often not necessary, or even desirable, to take pictures with
flash at a concert. These were taken (not by me) without flash. I
wouldn't say they are great, but it shows that it is at least
possible:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/

Those were taken with a Rebel Xsi, which I think is similar to your
D3000, as far as sensor size.

You could also get a fast prime lens, or perhaps even a camera with a
FF sensor if you wanted better low-light performance.


Thanks for the advice. I think there are some settings I could
have played with on mine that would have allowed me to get a better
image, but I've got to read up a bit on it yet.

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:01:57 -0500, Better Info
wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:22:59 -0400, Scotius wrote:


Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

Wrong? A bit. Most people will look like they have blonde hair in IR
illumination. Retinal reflection will be increased so they all look like
they have demon eyes. And there will be other shifts in people's
appearances in IR. I would suggest instead getting talented with handheld
camera techniques and knowing when to trip the shutter, at the peak or
moment of reversal of motion. I once documented the band of a 3-day concert
taking place deep in the Everglades with a handheld superzoom camera. Due
to location, the night lighting was provided by campfires and 12volt
battery powered system. IOW, not much illumination. While I had to use
slower shutter speeds (and long focal lengths), sometimes the band members
would be blurred, yet this only added to the images greatly. The wave of a
hand across the guitar strings or the blurred hair of some singer flipping
their head to the side captured the sense of motion on the stage, instead
of some sterile images of posed manikins. There's more to the art of
photography than trying to make everything look frozen. This is especially
true in sports photography. Today's snapshooting morons just don't "get
it".

I do get that part of it, I assure you, and I did have some
photos that looked great with the motion blur. I learned how to do a
bit of that even with the older point and shoot I had... I just have
to get to know my camera a little better I think... but thanks for the
advice about shooting when there's a reversal of motion. That could
blur some areas without the whole person becoming blurry I would
think, and could make some great shots.

"Scotius" wrote in message
news
Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

BW infra red changes the tonal quality of BW: You may also have focusing
issues, unless you have an infra red marker on your lens. I have starting
experimenting with it, by having one of my digital cameras converted to IR.
The only way you can get IR color is in post processing. You can convert
some colors to pseudo IR color. For rock bends you might get some
interesting effects, but don't count on faithful reproduction.

Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.tutorial9.net/photography...d-photography/

http://www.tutorial9.net/resources/1...d-photographs/


--
Peter

On 2010-07-28 20:30:25 -0700, Scotius said:

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:20:18 -0700 (PDT), otter
wrote:

On Jul 28, 4:35*pm, Scotius wrote:
On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:36:20 -0700 (PDT), Nervous Nick
Why would you want to do this, even if it were at all possible?

* * * * I was recently covering a concert for a local magazine, and
asked a stage manager about taking pix with the flash. He said go
ahead and take a few with flash, but not too many, so as not to be
distracting.
...
* * * * I suppose for a huge event I could take one with flash and
then recolor manually and submit the pix a couple years later , but
that's not really what I was looking to be able to do.

It is often not necessary, or even desirable, to take pictures with
flash at a concert. These were taken (not by me) without flash. I
wouldn't say they are great, but it shows that it is at least
possible:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/

Those were taken with a Rebel Xsi, which I think is similar to your
D3000, as far as sensor size.

You could also get a fast prime lens, or perhaps even a camera with a
FF sensor if you wanted better low-light performance.


Thanks for the advice. I think there are some settings I could
have played with on mine that would have allowed me to get a better
image, but I've got to read up a bit on it yet.

If you are still considering IR, you could buy a use D70 or other
camera and have these guys do a conversion for you. That way you would
have a dedicated IR camera.
They have several different options. Also check their IR gallery.

http://www.lifepixel.com/digital-infrared/samples.html



--
Regards,

Savageduck

"Savageduck" wrote in message
news:2010072820560322503-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom...
On 2010-07-28 20:30:25 -0700, Scotius said:

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:20:18 -0700 (PDT), otter
wrote:

On Jul 28, 4:35 pm, Scotius wrote:
On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:36:20 -0700 (PDT), Nervous Nick
Why would you want to do this, even if it were at all possible?

I was recently covering a concert for a local magazine, and
asked a stage manager about taking pix with the flash. He said go
ahead and take a few with flash, but not too many, so as not to be
distracting.
...
I suppose for a huge event I could take one with flash and
then recolor manually and submit the pix a couple years later , but
that's not really what I was looking to be able to do.

It is often not necessary, or even desirable, to take pictures with
flash at a concert. These were taken (not by me) without flash. I
wouldn't say they are great, but it shows that it is at least
possible:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalie...7623793453107/

Those were taken with a Rebel Xsi, which I think is similar to your
D3000, as far as sensor size.

You could also get a fast prime lens, or perhaps even a camera with a
FF sensor if you wanted better low-light performance.


Thanks for the advice. I think there are some settings I could
have played with on mine that would have allowed me to get a better
image, but I've got to read up a bit on it yet.

If you are still considering IR, you could buy a use D70 or other camera
and have these guys do a conversion for you. That way you would have a
dedicated IR camera.
They have several different options. Also check their IR gallery.

http://www.lifepixel.com/digital-infrared/samples.html




Had my Coolpix 8088 done locally. I took just a few days and the cost was
considerable less.
It's really not a big deal. Just remove a filter from the sensor.


--
Peter

"Scotius" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:36:20 -0700 (PDT), Nervous Nick
wrote:

On Jul 15, 7:48 pm, Scotius wrote:
I know that color infra-red images look really weird (for lack
of a better term), but I once read that infra-red light cuts through
fog/haze etc better than regular light, which I suppose is why B & W
infra-red shots always look better than B & W shots without IR flash.
So I'm wondering if there's a program that could accurately
predict based on IR color what the colors present should be, and
convert them, so it would be possible to do color shots better in
haze, etc.
Anyone know of anything like this?

Why would you want to do this, even if it were at all possible?

I was recently covering a concert for a local magazine, and
asked a stage manager about taking pix with the flash. He said go
ahead and take a few with flash, but not too many, so as not to be
distracting.
I had read about B & W infra-red photography in an old issue
of Popular Mechanics, I think, that my Dad had lying around somewhere.
Then I had read an article on color infra-red, and I thought "Oh, well
then I'll just shoot pix like that in color infra-red and convert them
on the computer back at home. People can't see infra-red, so there
won't be a visible flash, and I'll convert the pix and have great
shots that didn't bother anyone".

I'm not sure that is practical, while you can't see infra red I'm not sure
if ther';s a flash that flashes infra red.
I've used colour IR in the past in was the old E4 process
(slide/transparency film) and from memory the film is very slow for gig
purposed under 100ASA.

It's since been explained to me that there's no method of
converting the color infra-red pix, since the information about actual
color is just as gone in those as it would be in black and white.
I suppose for a huge event I could take one with flash and
then recolor manually and submit the pix a couple years later , but
that's not really what I was looking to be able to do.

I've used IR a few times, and gigs quite often. I;m not sure if it'll be any
good for gigs though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiskydave/616881236/

On 7/28/2010 11:41 PM, Peter wrote:
"Scotius" wrote in message
news
Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

BW infra red changes the tonal quality of BW: You may also have focusing
issues, unless you have an infra red marker on your lens. I have
starting experimenting with it, by having one of my digital cameras
converted to IR. The only way you can get IR color is in post
processing. You can convert some colors to pseudo IR color. For rock
bends you might get some interesting effects, but don't count on
faithful reproduction.

Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.tutorial9.net/photography...d-photography/

http://www.tutorial9.net/resources/1...d-photographs/

IR is good for snipers and for special effects, but if you're shooting a
concert there is no substitute for high ISO and large aperture.

Some fabrics are somewhat transparent in infrared--you may end up
effectively shooting your performers in their underwear. Here's one
example that demonstrates the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzHCDknFbDU&feature=related. If you
search youtube on "see through clothing infrared" or "nightshot see
through clothes" you'll find numerous other examples.

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
On 7/28/2010 11:41 PM, Peter wrote:
"Scotius" wrote in message
news
Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

BW infra red changes the tonal quality of BW: You may also have focusing
issues, unless you have an infra red marker on your lens. I have
starting experimenting with it, by having one of my digital cameras
converted to IR. The only way you can get IR color is in post
processing. You can convert some colors to pseudo IR color. For rock
bends you might get some interesting effects, but don't count on
faithful reproduction.

Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.tutorial9.net/photography...d-photography/

http://www.tutorial9.net/resources/1...d-photographs/

IR is good for snipers and for special effects, but if you're shooting a
concert there is no substitute for high ISO and large aperture.

Agreed! Unless you want the special effects.

Some fabrics are somewhat transparent in infrared--you may end up
effectively shooting your performers in their underwear. Here's one
example that demonstrates the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzHCDknFbDU&feature=related. If you
search youtube on "see through clothing infrared" or "nightshot see
through clothes" you'll find numerous other examples.

Not all fabrics are transparent to IR.
Also, fabric transparency is not limited to IR.

The origin of this was inadvertent.
http://swimsuits.lovetoknow.com/Shee...arent_Swimwear

--
Peter

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:41:12 -0400, "Peter"
wrote:

"Scotius" wrote in message
news
Well, you've convinced me. I still think B & W infra-red is a
good idea for not bothering a band or crew though... or am I wrong
about that too? Oh God don't let me be wrong about that too... can an
IR flash be seen (I'm hoping not)?

BW infra red changes the tonal quality of BW: You may also have focusing
issues, unless you have an infra red marker on your lens. I have starting
experimenting with it, by having one of my digital cameras converted to IR.
The only way you can get IR color is in post processing. You can convert
some colors to pseudo IR color. For rock bends you might get some
interesting effects, but don't count on faithful reproduction.

Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.tutorial9.net/photography...d-photography/

http://www.tutorial9.net/resources/1...d-photographs/

Thanks. That'll help.