Infrared Impressions of Southern California with a Converted Nikon D700

By Dirk Saeger

Southern California was supposed to be the first serious use of the converted Nikon D700. I name this post infrared impressions because the resulting images are different from what we expect to see in a color photo. I had reported on the conversion of the camera and the procedure of editing the images in an article on our blog-page.

Southern California in infrared, Nikon D700
La Jolla

La Jolla, San Diego

The conversion of the camera to 630 nm infrared, the processing with its own camera profile and the subsequent channel exchange of the red and blue color channels, result in the typical yellowish representation of the green plants.

La Jolla

Balboa Park

These pictures were taken in Balboa Park, San Diego. This is a place that is always worth a visit. The many museums with changing exhibitions are definitely worth seeing. On weekends, you should expect the park to be very crowded.

Point Loma

Point Loma is another spot worth visiting when staying in San Diego. It marks the southern end of the elongated peninsula that covers the city’s natural harbor to the west. It was here that Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in 1542 as the first European on the west coast of North America.

View to Coronado and Downtown San Diego

From the monument there are expansive views of the bay, harbor, Downtown, Coronado, and the Naval Air Station.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse
New Lighthouse and Tidal Pools

The old lighthouse is no longer in operation because it was in the fog too often due to the altitude. The new facility is right down on the rocks, where the tidal pools are located. Admission to Point Loma is $15. If you are in possession of an Eagle Pass (America the Beautiful), you should definitely show it when entering. Then there are no costs. Shortly before the Cabrillo National Monument you drive through the cemetery of Fort Rosecrans. Be sure to stop and take a look at the facility.

Death Valley

 

Badwater Basin
Dante’s View
20 Mule Train
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

The pictures above were taken at Death Valley. Last year’s planned visit as not possible because of the destroyed roads in the valley. Thus we decided to go there on this trip. March is the better time anyway, because it doesn’t get as brutally hot in the low-lying parts as in July, August, September. We spent the night in Pahrump, a city that you don’t have to see.

Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea

 

Bombay Beach
Bombay Beach
Bombay Heach Harbour
Art Installations
Art Installations
Art Installations

Bombay Beach is a bit in the middle of nowhere on the eastern shore of Salton Sea. It’s almost a ghost town with approx. 250 residents left. In case one is into Lost Place Photography it’s definitely worth a visit.

Anza-Borrego State Park

 

Anza-Borrego, Font’s Point
Anza-Borrego, Font’s Point

At the end oft he day the conversion gave new life to an old digital workhorse which had otherwise gathered dust in the closet. The unusual colors of the images made simple photo motifs interesting to me. Black and white conversions were stunning as well.

La Jolla
Dante’s View
Artist’s Palette, Death Valley
20 Mule Train
Black’s Beach, La Jolla

Thank you for reading

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Comments

Gus on Infrared Impressions of Southern California with a Converted Nikon D700

Comment posted: 15/08/2023

These are amazing. I especially like the La Jolla pool photo! Reading through the modifications and process required (in your linked blog-page) made me appreciate how much work and creativity went into these images. Thanks so much for sharing.
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Dirk Saeger replied:

Comment posted: 15/08/2023

Dear Gus, I can't recall what made me think about ir-photography. It's an interesting learning process and the search for non hot-spot lenses is still in progress. The Nikon 24-70 E-VR and the Irix 15mm F-mount do not have one as I recently discovered. They will be my company on the next trip. Greets Dirk

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Mike on Infrared Impressions of Southern California with a Converted Nikon D700

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

yeah those came out great. Don't often see humans in infared shots, but turned out very interestingly
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Dirk Saeger replied:

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

Dear Mike, humans are an awesome subject in infrared. The skin reflects a lot of ir-rays. No make up needed. Greets Dirk

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Ron on Infrared Impressions of Southern California with a Converted Nikon D700

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

Loved these images! Really nicely done and the infrared mod added an ethereal quality to the scenes. Thanks for the write up!
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Dirk Saeger replied:

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

Dear Ron, thanks for your kind comment. It's been quite a journey in infrared, and I'm still learning. Greets Dirk

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Gary on Infrared Impressions of Southern California with a Converted Nikon D700

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

I love these photos. Interesting comment about non-hotspot lenses--can you elaborate a bit?
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Dirk Saeger replied:

Comment posted: 16/08/2023

Hi Gary, there are quite some modern lenses around, that make a terrible ir-hotspot in the middle of the image. My Photoshop knowledge is to rudimentary to remove these hotspot. Kolari has a fairly nice database of the ir-hotspot performance of lenses, although it is not up to date anymore. If you are interested, I suggest reading my article about the conversion of the D700. https://robin-oslo.com/infrared-photography-with-a-nikon-d700 There you will find examples of really bad hotspot images. Greets Dirk

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