UNCONVERT6D

A few weeks ago, I made a last minute decision to join my camera club on a weekend away. You know how it goes, previously made plans fall through which gives opportunities for other things. The trip was quite brief, just two nights, but the forecast looked reasonable. I spent most of my time with Vicky and Pieter, we laughed, we wandered and we even found some interesting new places to photograph. Thanks to both of you for being so patient when my exposures drifted into the multi minute territories I enjoy so much. I have said this a few times and I will say a lot more in the future, I love how the unconverted 6D I have allows me to shoot long exposures no matter what time of day it is. The first image I want to share with you is from Lake Taupo. This was captured at around midday, on a bright sunny warm day. The waves lapped at my feet, the lake was a buzz with the sound of boats and jet ski's. But all of that fades into the background for this image. Why this composition, because...

 If there is one aspect I love about infrared above all else, it's the power to transform. Shooting in infrared is a technique, it in itself will not create a magical image. But the way it can change a scene, enhance it. The way it can bring out some items, while hiding others, makes it such a useful tool in the toolbox. I found this little scene at the beautiful Greenhaugh Gardens near Palmerston North. As winter has now turned to spring and the gardens are beginning to wake from their winter slumber, I like how the greens are beginning to change. This is where this infrared capture on my unconverted Canon 6d has come to shine. The longer shutter speed (10 minutes in this case as the clouds were quite heavy with the odd shower passing through) and the way the infrared capture has highlighted the lilypad's while darkening the water, has transformed this image in a way that 'normal' light didn't. I look forward to many more visits to this beautiful gardens and enjoyi...

 This will be the third summer I have photographed in infrared. In the past two years I have noticed a trend. I am not sure if it is specific to infrared or more based in my nature. I find my interest in photographing in infrared wanes over the winter, comes to life in spring (with a bit of effort). Then in late summer or autumn I come into the possession of a new piece of gear, but too late to really get familiar with it.   The first summer, after exploring the possibilities of infrared, I managed to find a 77mm 720nm filter. The 77mm thread allowed me to use better lenses with a wider range of focal lengths, but with shipping delays it only arrived in April. Then last autumn, through a bizarre chain of events, I purchased the canon 6D which spawned this blog. Just because it hasn't been the greatest light to photograph with, it doesn't mean I have been idle. Quite the contrary. I have been getting to know the 6D better, the positives and the things I miss from my Canon ...