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       Michael A. Stecker 
      
      mike@mstecker.com 
       
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      Infrared Imaging 
      The electromagnetic spectrum includes gamma rays, 
      X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. All 
      of these forms of radiation (light) travel at 186,000 miles/second 
      (300,000,000 meters per second) in a vacuum. Infrared radiation lies 
      between the visible and microwave portions with wavelengths from 700 
      nanometers to 1 millimeter (a nanometer = 1 billionth of a meter or 
      0.000000001 meter; while a millimeter equals 1 thousandth of a meter or 
      0.001 meter). All infrared light is invisible to our eyes, but can be seen 
      by a few animals like some snakes. 
       
        
       
      Photographing infrared in the black and white mode gives some very 
      interesting and surrealistic effects. Green plants reflect a lot of 
      infrared and therefore look white, while blue sky shows almost no infrared 
      and appears black. In general contrast is increased. All the photos below 
      were taken in the near infrared with a Nikon Coolpix 4500 digital camera 
      through a RD-10 (Wratten 88A) filter from
      Harrison & Harrison 
      Optical Engineers, Inc. . The Wratten 88A filter transmits light in 
      the near infrared above 710 nm with a 50% transmissivity at ~750 nm. I 
      used the auto-focus and auto-exposure modes for all images. A tripod is 
      needed because of the long exposure times. 
       
  
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      "On the street where I live" -- Motor Avenue in Los 
      Angeles, California. The infrared effect is well seen here with the green 
      grass and palm fronds becoming white and the blue sky darkening. 
       
      Photographic Data: Nikon Coolpix 4500 digital camera and Wratten 88A IR 
      filter in the black and white mode: Auto focus, auto exposure, auto white 
      balance, focal length = 7.8 mm, f/5.3 and 1.77 seconds exposure. 
       
 
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