Electromagnetic spectrum: Gamma, UV, visible and infrared
Introduction
This section of RadioactiveThings.com is devoted to exploring a world of infrared light that cannot be seen by the unaided human eye. It is at the other end of the spectrum after Gamma, X-ray, Ultraviolet, Visible Light, and before the Microwave and Radio wave portion of the spectrum. And, within infrared, the range from 700 to 1200 nanometers is invisible to the human eye. Infrared photography presents an entirely different way of looking at landscapes, architecture and the shapes and forms of the human body.
The photos on this page and in our gallery were made using infrared-enabled digital cameras and the Hoya RM100 filter (shown below) that passes infrared at 1000 nanometers while blocking all visible light. Surfaces that reflect infrared light appear white and those that absorb it appear black.
CCD's in digital cameras are extremely sensitive to infrared light. When the IR blocking filter (aka "hot mirror") is removed from the camera and the Hoya RM100 infrared filter (for sale below) is placed on the front of the lens, digital cameras that normally shoot color become a tool for capturing infrared.
Hoya RM 100 Infrared Filter
Manufactured, coated, polished and mounted exclusively for us in limited quantity by Hoya Corporation in Japan. Designed for infrared enabled digital SLRs, this filter transmits infrared light above 1000 nanometers while blocking all visible light.
This professional-grade filter is made of 2.42 mm thick high quality Hoya optical glass and has Hoya's Infrared Optimized Anti-Reflective Coating applied to both the front and back filter surfaces which increases the quality of the resulting infrared image. Each filter is packaged in a protective plastic filter case. Please note that while this filter is visibly completely black it is not a solar filter. If you look through the filter at the sun, the infrared light would burn your retina.
The RM100 comes in a 49mm standard thread size. Please contact us regarding adapters for different thread sizes. We are the only place that you can buy a genuine RM100 infrared filter that has been manufactured, coated, polished and mounted by Hoya in Japan. The photos below were taken with the RM100. To purchase this filter, please go to Infrared Filters and Books in our store.
Looking Into the Extreme End of the Near Infrared
This unique book provides an in in-depth look at digital infrared photography that will interest you in looking into a world that truly cannot be seen by the unaided eye. In addition to insightful background on the principles and techniques of digital infrared, this book includes a collection of over 160 high resolution infrared photographs from California, Hawaii, Illinois and Tokyo, Japan.
Unlike other infrared books on the market that feature images recorded with essentially dark red filters such as the Hoya R72 (720nm), the images in this book were captured using the Hoya RM100 filter that only passes light at the 1000 nanometer extreme end of the near infrared portion of the spectrum, well beyond the range of human vision and the world of visible color. The stunning black and white infrared images cover a wide variety of topics in infrared photography including indoor and outdoor nudes, architecture, landscapes, nature and more. To purchase this book, please go to Infrared Filters and Books in our store.
The photos below were all taken using the RM100 infrared passing filter.
