How Infrared Photography Changed my Perspective on Landscape Photography

The morning I received my Hoya R72 filter, I had no idea I was about to embark on a journey that would fundamentally change my relationship with landscape photography. I was simply a photographer frustrated by the constraints of "perfect light" and the tyranny of golden hours.

The Question That Started Everything

As landscape photographers, we're taught to worship the golden hours. Wake up before dawn, chase the perfect sunset, wait for that magical light that bathes everything in warm, forgiving tones. But what happens when life gets in the way? What about those midday moments when the light is harsh, the shadows are unforgiving, and the three-dimensional world flattens into something unremarkable?

This question haunted me during my photography sessions around Geneva. I'd find myself at beautiful locations during harsh midday light, watching other photographers pack up their gear in defeat. There had to be another way to create meaningful images beyond these prescribed times.

"For a landscape photographer, taking the perfect shot means following commonly accepted rules. One of these rules is shooting during the golden hours. But what if life's obligations make it difficult to follow this rule?"

Discovering the Invisible World

Infrared photography opened my eyes to a parallel realm to our visible world. Through my first Hoya R72 filter, I discovered that the harsh midday light, the bane of traditional landscape photography, becomes an asset for infrared imagery. The conditions that would usually send photographers home early became my playground.

It wasn't just the ethereal, dreamlike quality of the images that fascinated me, but also the complete shift in perspective that was required. Infrared photography forced me to look beyond what was obvious and imagine how invisible light could transform familiar scenes into something otherworldly.

The Philosophy of Seeing Differently

Infrared photography taught me that a single moment can be interpreted in infinite ways. While other photographers see harsh shadows and blown highlights, I began seeing potential for silky clouds, glowing foliage, and dramatic contrasts that exist only in the infrared spectrum.

This shift in perception extended beyond photography. I began to approach life's challenges with the same question: what if the 'obvious' limitations aren't limitations at all? What invisible possibilities am I missing because I'm only seeing things from a conventional perspective?

Back to the Fundamentals

One of the most beautiful aspects of working with infrared filters is the way they strip photography back to its essence. Unlike digital photography, which offers instant gratification, infrared work demands patience and deliberation. It's not as simple as pointing and shooting — every image requires careful consideration and technical precision.

The process became almost meditative: carefully setting up the tripod, composing the shot while envisaging the invisible transformation, manually focusing before the filter obstructs the view, attaching the dense R72 filter which plunges the viewfinder into darkness and finally triggering the long exposure with a remote control.

The Ritual of Slow Photography

This methodical approach forced me to slow down and truly connect with each location. Whereas I might previously have captured dozens of images in rapid succession, infrared photography taught me to be more selective and intentional in my approach. Every shot was a commitment — a dialogue between photographer, subject and the invisible light that reveals hidden beauty.

Yes, it can be tedious compared to the convenience of a fully converted infrared camera, but I came to love this 'inconvenience'. The extra steps, the technical challenges and the need for precision all helped me to develop a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of photography.

The Magic of Long Exposures

The combination of the IR filter and extended exposure times produces a truly magical effect. Water appears silky, clouds morph into flowing brushstrokes across the sky and the entire landscape assumes a dreamlike quality that cannot be captured any other way.

These long exposures, which often range from one to several minutes, force you to experience time in a different way. Rather than simply capturing a moment, you are compressing time itself and revealing the hidden choreography of clouds and water that the naked eye cannot perceive in real time.

Technical Tips for Infrared Success

Focusing Before the Filter

Always focus your lens before attaching the infrared filter. The dense filtration makes autofocus and manual focus impossible. Compose your shot, and manually focus before installing the filter.

Exposure Calculations

Infrared filters usually require 6-10 stops of exposure compensation. Start with your meter reading, then add around 8 stops as a baseline. Note that infrared photography is forgiving, and longer exposures often produce more interesting results than shorter ones.

White Balance Considerations

Set your camera to manual white balance or use a custom setting. Infrared images will have a strong colour cast that you can adjust in post-processing. I always shoot in RAW and handle colour conversion entirely in editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One. The RAW file you get straight from the camera is red. You can then simply switch to black and white in your favourite editing software.

Weather and Timing

Contrary to the conventional wisdom of traditional landscape photography, bright, contrasty days with interesting clouds are ideal for infrared photography. So don't pack up when other photographers complain about the harsh light — this is when infrared photography truly comes into its own.

Finding Your Voice in the Invisible Spectrum

What I love most about infrared photography is its ability to transform ordinary scenes. While every photographer might capture similar images during the golden hour at popular locations, infrared photography offers entirely new ways of interpreting familiar places. I was surprised by the photos I took from my apartment balcony. Without the IR filter, they certainly would have looked dull.

This medium taught me that creativity isn't about discovering new places or waiting for ideal circumstances; it's about developing fresh perspectives on the places and circumstances already around us.

Developing Your Infrared Eye

Learning to visualise the results of infrared photography takes practice. Start by understanding that chlorophyll-rich vegetation will appear white or light grey, clear skies will appear dark and water and human skin will look very different to how they would in normal photography. Over time, you will develop an intuitive sense of how scenes will translate into infrared magic.

"Infrared photography is a way to connect to the world and embrace a whole new world of possibilities that were invisible to me before."

Beyond Technique: A New Relationship with Light

Perhaps the most profound change that infrared photography brought to my work wasn't technical; it was philosophical. It taught me that limitations are often just a lack of imagination. The 'bad' light that sends other photographers home became my inspiration. The midday sun, which creates harsh shadows in conventional photography, became the key to creating ethereal infrared landscapes.

This shift in perspective changed the way I approach all my photography. Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, I started to consider how I could work creatively with whatever conditions presented themselves. Infrared photography taught me that there is always another way to see things, another story to tell and another world to reveal.

The Continuing Journey

Whenever I attach the Hoya R72 filter to my lens, I'm reminded of the reasons why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It's not about capturing what everyone can see; it's about revealing what others might miss, finding beauty in unexpected places and offering a unique view of the world we all share.

Infrared photography changed more than just my technique; it transformed my entire approach to seeing and creating. It reminded me that the best photographs are not necessarily taken in perfect conditions, but rather through a sense of curiosity and a willingness to explore beyond what is visible, to question assumptions and to find magic in the everyday.

If you feel constrained by the rules of conventional photography or frustrated by the limitations of golden hour scheduling, I encourage you to explore infrared photography. You may find, as I did, that a whole new world of possibilities is waiting for you just beyond the edge of ordinary sight.

The next time the harsh midday light drives other photographers away, stay a little longer. Attach your infrared filter, set up your tripod and prepare to see your familiar surroundings transformed into something extraordinary. The interplay of clouds and water, the glow of foliage and the drama of invisible light are all there, waiting to be discovered.