Invisible light at Summerlee, Coatbridge

Infrared photography with a new lens and filter system

 

Location: Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Location type: industrial museum, working trams, canal, coal mine, former steel works.
Park (what3words): ///stones.edge.placed - free parking
What to shoot: canal, wildlife, trains, trams, mine workings
When to visit: any time of year - open 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week

It was at the height of July’s heatwave in central Scotland when I decided I needed to get out with the camera but with the harsh light, clear blue skies and 30+C temperatures, traditional landscape or street photography was out of the question under the bright midday sun.

I had seen an increase in Infrared videos on YouTube over the last few weeks (presumably due to popular photographer Thomas Heaton having recently bought an IR camera, then sharing some of his images online) so I decided to dust off my full spectrum Canon EOS-M, jump on the IR bandwagon, and head around to Summerlee for a wander along the Monkland canal.

I hadn’t used the full spectrum camera for a while as the kit lens I had been using (EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-f5.6) suffers from “hot spots” when used in Infrared light at apertures above f8 and although the final images were perfectly useable (they just needed a little extra editing work in post-processing) it was becoming an irritation, and ultimately, an excuse not to work with the camera.

In an attempt to address this issue I had recently invested in a second hand (EF-M f2 / 22mm) prime lens for the camera (apparently wider aperture lenses are less likely to produce IR hot spots, and this lens in particular had been described as “very good” for Infrared photography) but had yet to try it, so I packed the camera and lens together with the only IR pass filter I have which fits the new lens (a 950nm filter) and headed off to “Scotland’s Noisiest Museum” for a wander in the sunshine.

I headed straight for the Monkland Canal section and the old boat sheds as I knew the contrast between the trees, the blue sky and the canal would make for some potentially interesting shots and I have to say, I was rather impressed by the final images.

I had left my tripod at home, and so I wanted full control of aperture and shutter speed to avoid camera shake so I opted to switch the camera to auto ISO.
I was keen to keep the shutter speed to around 1/80 or 1/100 but I was also aware that any IR hot spots in the lens were more likely to appear at f8 or above, so I decided to work at f8 as this would give me some indication of any hot spots but limit their impact on the final images.

I’m pleased to report that I found no sign of IR hot spots in any of the RAW files from the day, so it would appear this lens is ideal for future IR work.

After a while at the canal, I decided to head to the old mine workings to photograph the tram.
I wasn’t entirely sure what a mine (or tram for that matter) would look like in IR light, but I have to admit, I really like this image. It’s a little grainy but I think that adds to the “olde world” feel of the image.

With the sun beating down on us we decided to retreat indoors for a cold drink and a little shade, but not before returning to the canal where I saw (albeit very briefly) my first ever Kingfisher!
It looked to be in the grasses near the old boatshed but my arrival disturbed it and the first I was aware of it was when I caught a glimpse of it’s iridescent blue feathers as it darted off, catching the light for a split second before disappearing into the shade beyond the shed.

(Thankfully Hayley was with me and also saw it, or I’d have been doubting my eyesight as the whole view was over in a flash!)

Of course the only camera I had with me was probably the worst possible camera for any wildlife photography - Infrared configuration, wide-angled lens, slow autofocus - but at least I now know where to find one and I’ll make an attempt to go back before the end of summer to see if I can photograph one.

We spent a little more time exploring the museum but as the IR camera didn’t function particularly well indoors, the remaining photographs in the video are all exterior shots. Check out the video to see some of the other shots from the trip and for a taste Summerlee.
I’d thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re in the area and would suggest that you make a point of travelling on the tram and visiting the old mine while there!