Photographers have developed a whole slew of techniques to create new and interesting ways to view ordinary images. From panoramic photography to high-speed photography and time-lapse photography, looking at something in a slightly new way can completely change your perceptions. Infrared and HDR photography take this concept one step further and show us things that the human eye simply can’t see on its own.
Infrared Photography of Dannie Tjahjono
(images via: Dannie Tj.)
Infrared photography photography picks up on infrared waves that are outside of the normal visible spectrum. While far-infrared photography is used to display the heat emanating from objects, near-infrared photography creates haunting photographs with distorted colors. The resulting images are familiar, but eerie because of their unusually rearranged colors. The incredible infrared photographs of Dannie Tjahjono take ordinary landscape and still-life images and transform them into magical visions of otherwordly colors and unexpected shapes. Landscape pictures in the full summer sun suddenly look like winter vistas covered in snow. Cacti and garden statues look like the remnants from a post-apocalyptic society.
Infrared Photography of Christian Gufler
(images via: Christian Gufler)
Infrared photography has a long history as a method of more accurately depicting landscape from an aerial perspective. Though most aerial IR photographs are far-infrared (thermal imaging) pictures, some photographers use the near-infrared part of the light spectrum for stunning aerial photos. The photography of Italian artist Christian Gufler combines two perspective-bending methods – IR and aerial – to create soft and tranquil images of European countryside and buildings.
Infrared Photography of Naomi Frost
(images via: Naomi Frost)
Australian photographer Naomi Frost is among the most talented artistic infrared photographers working today. Her keen eye for composition carries over into the invisible parts of the light spectrum, resulting in images that are simultaneously reminiscent of bizarre nightmares, cherished memories, and fascinating unexplored worlds.
HDR Photography of Matthew Sullivan
(images via: shoebappa)
HDR (high dynamic range) imaging is a relatively recent arrival on the digital photography scene. Though the HDR technique was first developed in the 1930s, it has only recently been made possible for nearly any dedicated photographer. With improved software and readily available instructions, HDR photography has been wildly gaining popularity. Matthew Sullivan was introduced to HDR on the internet through another photographer’s work and has been experimenting with beautifully dynamic images ever since.
HDR Photography of Kevin Crafts
(images via: Kevin Crafts)
Although there are a number of ways to produce HDR images, the goal of each is to create a photograph with a greater range of tones than a single-exposure photo. Depending on the process used by the photographer and the setting of the image, this can result in an amazingly bright photograph or a broodingly dark one. The HDR photographs of Kevin Crafts tend more toward the dark side, but they are fantastically detailed and always stunning. This talented photographer uses the HDR process to draw out the details and beauty in each subject.
HDR Photography of Pierpol
(images via: Pierpol)
Though he doesn’t consider himself an artist, French photographer Pierpol creates some of the most breathtaking HDR photographs. His compositions go far beyond the simple aesthetic and strive to delve deeper into the meaning behind our everyday lives. His passion is apparent in his photographs, which combine gorgeous subject matter, masterful composition, and a keen skill in HDR processing.
HDR and Infrared Photography of Brokentaco
(images via: brokentaco)
Infrared photography and HDR photography both yield amazing and unique results. Some photographers are taking it a step further and combining these two methods. Brokentaco is just one Flickr artist using infrared and HDR to create images that are visually stunning and incredibly detailed.
