Invisible World series

Our visual familiarity is limited to the colors of visible light. Beyond what our eyes can see is the iridescent world of the infrared (IR) spectrum. Twenty-four years ago, I began exploring the challenge of making the invisible visible: photographing remote places using the unusual, haunting light of infrared. These images explore my favorite subjects of different cultures and less frequented lands. The subjects may be recognizable, but they are transformed by infrared light – more than meets the eye.

I first used Kodak Ektachrome Infrared 200 transparency film in 1997; it had wacky colors and deep contrast and was ubër sensitive to light. If I opened its cannister without proper precautions, the film was ruined. I started working with digital cameras in 1991, but I didn’t go 100% digital until 2004. I converted my first digital camera to 720nm Infrared, not too much false color and not too close to traditional black-and-white. The result was a surreal image with a bit of color, usually shades of blues with occasional magenta, and tan/amber skies. Now I’m primarily working in 590nm infrared light that incorporates even more colors. – Nevada Wier

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