Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography (A Lark Photography Book) [Paperback]

Joe Farace (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Lark Photography Book | Publication Date: October 28, 2006

Cameras can capture what the eye can’t perceive: the presence of infrared light. And shooting infrared (IR) with a digital camera makes it easier than ever to create distinctively dreamlike, high-contrast black-and-white pictures. Using a wealth of stunning images, this thorough resource explores the technical and creative possibilities of this unique and increasingly popular medium. Get tips on focus and exposure; IR filters; and having a camera converted to shoot specifically in infrared. Follow instructions for processing and printing the photos—including toner effects and faux color. One glance through this guide and it’s clear why infrared pictures are fun to take and beautiful to look at.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe Farace is a professional photographer with formal education in engineering and fine art photography. He has authored more than twenty books on photographic techniques and digital photo technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (October 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579907725
• ISBN-13: 978-1579907723
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Most Information Available On Internet, July 3, 2007

By 

UncleTrick (Las Vegas, NV.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)

Most of the information in this book is available for free on the internet. Filter information, how to properly expose and focus a shot, etc. is all basic and common sense. The most disappointing part of the book was the post processing. Almost all of the post-processing instructions describe how to use Photoshop PLUG-INS that the reader may not have. Each of the plug-ins mentioned will cost you between $50 - $200 and even if you already have them the instructions are so basic you never get a feel for what you are doing or why.

If you don't have access to the internet and are a complete newbie to IR Photography this book would be OK, which is why I am giving it 2 stars.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic, but good, October 28, 2007

By 

FredM (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)

This is a good basic introduction to infrared photography, with beautiful photos. However, it concentrates on landscape photography (as you might expect) and a lot of the text in this 160-page book deals with post-processing techniques.

A newer and much more comprehensive book is David Busch's Digital Infrared Pro Secrets,which explores the topic in a more wide-ranging and in-depth manner. For example, Busch's book shows you how to convert your own camera to infrared photography, how to make your own inexpensive IR filter, and how to build a viewfinder that by-passes the IR "blackout." In addition to landscape photography, that book has techniques for shooting architecture, portraits, sports, and other unconventional subjects.

Serious photographers should probably have both books. Farace's is a good guide to infrared fine art landscapes, while Busch's book is perfect for someone who intends to get serious about IR photography.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hardly a "Complete" Guide, July 2, 2008

By 

Raymond J. Smith (Costa Mesa, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)

Most of the example photos in this book are from photographers other than the author. Makes a reader wonder if the author has taken many IR photos of his own. As was mentioned in another review, his post processing section consists of telling you to buy expensive plug-in modules for Photoshop. Apparently he does not know how to create effects such as sepia toning and depends on the expensive plug-ins to solve that problem. Not worth the paper it's printed on. His section on exposure, depth of field, and focusing are pretty thin and contain information available for free on the web. Not recommended.