Infrared Camera Operation Safety

Infrared photography uses cameras almost identical to a typical SLR such as the one shown here.

Infrared (IR) cameras are sensitive to the extreme red end of the light spectrum. This light is invisible to the human eye but does not extend into the thermal range. Photographers can use IR film in regular film cameras or use IR sensitive digital cameras to take IR photographs. In either case, the safety concerns are almost identical to those associated with normal photography.

Never Photograph the Sun Without Solar Filters

The sun must never be photographed without solar filters

Photographing the sun can produce stunning photographs that can show sunspots, coronal ejections and temperature variations; however, an infrared camera will not do any of this without special solar filters. Aiming a camera at the sun can result in sever eye injury or blindness. Special solar filters that reduce the total light transmission by 10,000 to 100,00 times are required and IR filters do not come close to this reduction, even though they appear very dark to the naked eye.

IR Cameras Used for Scientific Purposes

Some laser light is invisible to the human eye but can still cause damage.

Infrared (IR) cameras use an IR filter that allows a small slice of the light spectrum to pass through and register on the electronic sensor. This small slice of the light spectrum is invisible to the naked eye so care must be taken when photographing laser applications using light energy that may pass through the IR filter and the viewfinder but not be detectable to the human eye. Invisible light energy passing through the viewfinder can damage the human eye and cause blindness.

Infrared Cameras Do Not Detect Heat

Infrared cameras will not detect heat or a heat source.

Infrared (IR) cameras are not thermal image cameras. The part of the light spectrum that contains thermal wavelengths is so far removed from infrared, even deep infrared, that detection of thermal energy is impossible with an IR camera. Because IR cameras will not detect heat energy, care must be taken when working in an environment in which heat emitters can be found. The camera and any photographs produced will provide no prior warning or indication of heat-emitting objects.

Ultraviolet Radiation Will Not Be Detected by the Camera but It Will Pass Through the Viewfinder

Arc welding produces dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation.

When using an infrared (IR) camera to photograph objects emitting ultraviolet (UV) radiation care must be taken to limit the amount of time you spend looking at the UV emitter through the viewfinder. The UV radiation will not register on the sensor or show itself on the digital view screen but it can pass through the glass viewfinder, invisible and undetectable, and damage your eye.

Infrared Cameras Work Best in Bright Sunlight

Using an Infrared camera during the sunniest time of the day can result in severe sunburn.

Because infrared (IR) cameras fitted with an IR filter allow only a small slice of the IR spectrum to enter the camera, the best time to take IR photographs is during the brightest time of the day. Unfortunately, this is the most dangerous time of the day if you consider sun exposure. Spending an afternoon taking infrared photographs can result in unhealthy levels of UV exposure so care must be take in the form of sun block or protective clothing.

References

• "Digital Infrared Photography, Photo Workshop"; Deborah Sandidge; 2009
• "Digital Infrared Photography, Professional Techiniques and Images"; Patrick Rice; 2005
• "Alternative Digital Photography"; John Blair; 2006