You may have wondered while looking around the site, some of the images are stated as an Infrared print. Black and white Infrared is an alluring medium to work with. Being Infrared, it sees light that we don't, giving an ethereal look and feel to a work.

Infrared films are photographed with a red filter on the lens which adds to this ethereal feel as you see the world in an exciting soft red. Prints with black skies, fluffy clouds and white grass are a trademark of the film, while anything red will shine white. My favorite Infrared film is the "Kodak HIE," which sadly is no longer made. This film was so popular, that when Kodak revealed it was ending production, photographers hoarded mass rolls of it and stored them in dedicated freezers.

What makes the Kodak IR film special is that it can see light up to 900 nanometers (the human eye sees light 300-700 nanometers), making it a "true Infrared," sensitive enough that it must be loaded into the camera in total darkness. Another unique feature is that Kodak took a layer off the film, making it incredibly thin and when photographed in direct sunlight, it creates visible grain and a distinct glow, known as the "halation effect."

20 yrs ago I was drawn to the Kodak IE IR film as my signature film for almost everything I photographed. It is a film that cannot be metered or used in a photographically technical way. You need to shoot by "feel" and instincts by assessing the colors and the lighting of a scene and knowing what the film can do for you. It is more in tune with how I like to shoot, by freeing me to change technical standards to suit the creative ideas in my head or what I encounter while on a shoot.

Over the years, there have been many Infrared film wannabees which have added back that extra layer, making the film more technically consistent and without the beautiful glow of the halation effect. While these IR films have their merits, nothing compares to the one that set the standard, the wonderful Kodak HIE. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford the bootleg prices and make a purchase out of a hoarder's freezer.