Capture eerie shots with an infrared filter

We reveal the gear and techniques you need to achieve a more otherworldly kind of image – perfect for bold summer foliage

Summer photography isn’t a distinct genre in itself, and it can be overwhelming to think about the array of possible techniques and subjects available to you at this time of year. That being said, infrared photography is a technique superbly well suited to this season.

In summer (particularly the earlier months), trees, shrubs and foliage such as grass and plants are at their greenest, meaning they reflect a large amount of infrared light and will appear very bright in your final infrared images. Why? The simple explanation is that there’s more chlorophyll in the foliage, and the transparency of this chlorophyll allows any infrared light to pass through into the cells of the plants and be reflected back again.

Infrared is suited to landscapes with big skies or bodies of water. Man-made structures made

from stone can make for a wonderful contrast against the whites of summer foliage. While your own digital camera has some degree of infrared protection on its sensor, it will still let a portion of infrared light through – so you need an IR filter. Fortunately these are very affordable, and just screw onto the end of your chosen lens – no camera tinkering required. A filter such as the Hoya R77 Infrared Filter (which is what we used) works by removing all of the colours of the visible spectrum apart from the wavelengths at the extreme red end, including infrared. The main downside is the filter will only let a small amount of light through, and so for an adequate exposure you’ll need to set an extended shutter speed.

Unlike shooting many types of summer scenes, for infrared shots bright midday sun is your friend. Aim to head out when the day is bright and clear – think blue skies, white fluffy clouds and strong sunlight.