Infrared Post Processing

Processed IR Image

My IR Post Processing Workflow

Unlike photographing with visable light, creating a realistic looking IR image requires a significant amount of post processing.

The following outlines the steps I've taken editing a typical image from my D800 camera with the 665nm IR conversion.

When the image is first imported into Lightroom it has a very red cast. So the first task is to deal with that.

Image as imported into lightroom

Lightroom does not apply the custom white balance created in the camera and does not have the range to neutralize the image. For Nikon Cameras the best option is to use Nikon's older Capture NX2 raw conversion software. While the newer NXD will do the job, NX2 allows you to select the whole image a set the grey point averaging the whole image, while NXD will only allow you to select single points. With NXD you will need to experiment with multiple selections until you get the best result.

Setting the Grey Point

In Capture NX2 select the grey point option, they the marque tool and then drag the eye dropper from the top right to the bottom left.

Image with the Grey Point set

This produces an image with a grey sky and trees with light blue leaves. I like to set the white and black points while working with the raw files and then save the image as a TIF file. I prefer to have white leaves and a dark blue sky so now I bring the image into photoshop and do what's called a channel swap with the chanel mixer. Selecting the red channel and bringing the red levels to 0 and the blue levels to 100 and then selecting the blue channel and setting the blue levels to 0 and the red levels to 100. See the illustrations below.

Making the red channel blue

Making the Blue Channel Red

This produces an image that is closer to the goal but not quite there yet. I then create a hue ssturation layer. Fine tune the colers using the Master selection, desaturate both the yellow and red channels to zero. Leaving the colors nearly where I want them.

Adjusting the Master Hue in the Hue Saturation Layer

Desaturating the yellow channel

Desaturating the red channel

I like the final result to have just a hint of color. I use the Google nik plug-in silver effect pro to create a black and white version of the image as a layer in photoshop and then adjust the opacity of that layer to let just the right amount of color from the underlying image.

Black and white image using Silver Effects Pro

Setting the opacity of the Silver Effects Pro layer to fine tune the saturation of the image

While this more complex than editing a visible light image, buy creating an action for the channel swamp the process can be done fairly quickly.

In many cases I prefer the black and white version to the color one and all that needs to be done is to leave the opacity of the Siver Effects Pro layer to 100%

Buying Bird Photography Equipment on a Budget

White Ibis in Breeding Plumage Millers Lake - Taken with Nikon D2X and Nikkor 300 AFS F/4 with TC-14e Teleconverter

This article is an update to my 2015 article, with much of it duplicated here. The good news is that with the switch by major camera manufacturers to mirrorless cameras with new lens mounts, there are bargains available for excellent systems. It is now possible to purchase a good starter system for approximately $1500, about $500 less than five years ago when I wrote the original article. The camera bodies now have more resolution, a faster frame rate, and are lower in high iso noise.

The equipment for bird photography can be costly. Part of this is the nature of the business, photographing small moving objects requires long telephoto lenses and effective autofocus systems Beginning bird photographers would be well served with a good cropped sensor camera body and 400 mm f/5.6 lens or a 300 mm f/4 lens with a 1.4x teleconverter. By applying several common-sense strategies, you can acquire such a system at a reduced cost. For Nikon, currently available suitable camera bodies are the D7200 and the D500, for Canon, the similar camera bodies are the EOS 7D Mark II and the EOS 7D Mark III.

Strategies for Reducing Equipment Costs

There are several strategies for reducing the cost of such a system. These include:

1.    Buying Refurbished Equipment
2.    Buying Last Years Model
3.    Buying Used    
4.    Buying Grey Market
5.    Renting

Buying Refurbished Equipment

The two major camera system manufacturers used in bird photography, Nikon and Canon, both offer equipment that has been returned and then repaired and resold as refurbished equipment. I frequently use this strategy, and the savings are significant. Often the testing performed on refurbished equipment exceeds that done on new, I've purchased many camera bodies refurbished and numerous refurbished lenses, and I've never had a problem. However, one downside to this strategy is the length of the warranty, typically 90 days rather than the one year for new equipment, in some cases, a camera store will supplement the warranty with one of their own, but I'm not sure how well this works. I make sure I do a thorough job of testing any equipment purchased in this way as soon as I receive it to reduce the risk of a problem.

I have purchased refurbished equipment from Nikon directly, B&H, and Cameta Camera (Currently offline, not sure of their status).

For example, right now, Nikon USA has a refurbished D7200 699.96 and a D7500 for the same price, I'd choose the D7200 even though it's an older camera because it only has one card slot. Older, Nikon manual focus lenses aren't supported, if those things aren't relevant to you, the D7500 may be better as it shoots 8 FPS versus 6, and it has an articulating screen. A new D7500 is going for $899.99 on the same site.

Buying Last Years Model

Both Nikon and Canon have recently released mirrorless cameras, with significantly higher prices, and they probably don't handle flying birds as well as the DSLR's. For now, if you're looking for a budget system, I'd go with one of the DSLR's

The newer Canon 100-400 is $1799 at B&H, and the Nikon 300mm f/4 pf is $1996.55. While these are indeed very lovely lenses, for the budget-conscious, the older lenses are a better choice.

Buying used

Frequently when new equipment is released, people sell their older models to finance the latest camera equipment. This behavior is certainly correct now with the Nikon and Canon Mirrorless systems and with many people moving to Sony or Olympus Mirrorless systems. Looking at sources like KEH camera and eBay, you'll notice used camera equipment prices are much lower now. For example, I saw a used D500 on eBay for $845, which sells new for $1496.95. However, on eBay, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Check the seller ratings carefully and stick to one that has a high rating and a large number of sales. Usually, you're better off going to someone like KEH or the used department of B&H.

Buying Grey Market

Another strategy is buying "imported" or "Grey Market" equipment. Stores often purchase equipment outside of the country at a lower cost and then sell them in the US for less. The downside of this is that Nikon and Canon in this country will not honor the warranty or even service the equipment. I'm cautious not to buy any expensive Grey Market products. However, for low maintenance items, for example, a teleconverter, I would undoubtedly consider Grey Market if the price were right.

Renting equipment

One strategy for a one time equipment need, such as for an assignment or to do a photo tour, is to rent the equipment. Several good rental companies rent appropriate equipment. Two I'm familiar with are:

Lens Rentals Borrow Lenses

One caution is to be sure that you either have insurance or purchase their protection in case something goes wrong.

Camera Company Deals

Nikon and Canon are also running many specials discounting older cameras they still have in stock. If you're interested in a specific model, be sure and check that the used or refurbished camera or lens is really your best deal.

Conclusion

You can put together a good beginner's bird photography system with roughly equivalent Canon and Nikon equipment now for approximately $1500, roughly $500 less than five years ago, and have a better system.