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How to Shoot Infrared in Focus

Infrared photography, like traditional photography, records light emitting from the scene you are photographing. The difference is that infrared photography records light that is not visible by the human eye. Infrared light exists on a different wave length than visible light, and this requires the photographer to adjust the lens focus point to account for the shift in light. On manual focus and some professional autofocus lenses, there is a "red line" slightly to the right of center focus position where the lens needs to be pointed in order to be in focus.

Instructions

- 1
  Attach your camera to a tripod. Whether you are shooting with a film camera or a digital camera the process is the same. Remove the infrared filter from the front of the camera. If you are using a DSLR that has been converted to record IR only, then there is no filter on the lens. When the filter is on the lens you will not see any image through the viewfinder.
- 2
  Press the shutter release halfway down to engage the auto-focusing system. If your lens is set on manual, focus the lens by turning the focusing ring until the image is sharp. Reattach the IR filter and switch the autofocus button to "Manual."
- 3
  Observe the lens to see where the lens focus distance is. Turn the focusing ring to the right until the focus distance is now in front of the red line or dot to indicate the focusing point for IR light.

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