Photo of the Week 2026-08-24

 

Maybe 4 or 5 weeks ago, I was listening to a camera podcast where the host mentioned a resurgence of interest in older digital cameras with CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensors. Apparently there are some who think this type sensor renders an image with the look of film when compared to the CMOS sensors more common in cameras today. For those interested here is a video link for more on the renewed interest in CCD sensor cameras.

 

I happen to have two 20+ year old digital cameras with CCD sensors, one has been converted for infrared photography and the other is a bit of a collector classic. Both cameras are considered Point & Shoot models with fixed (non-interchangeable) power zoom lenses with 7 & 8 MP image sensors respectively (low by today's standards). The Canon Powershot G6 was purchased used and sent to Kolari Vision in the US some years ago and converted for 720nm infrared imaging. The other, a Powershot Pro1 is the only Point & Shoot (P&S) camera Canon manufactured with a "pro" series L lens. These details may only be of interest to very few reading the post but there you have it.

 

My original intent was to take both cameras out for some shooting and compare the results with those shot on other CMOS sensor cameras. As with much on this Photographic Journey, I got distracted and wandered off on a bit of a tangent ... shooting some infrared with the G6.  

 

' rural infrared - I '

This home in rural Guelph-Eramosa Township had become a favourite subject from my 'rural winter' series and while driving home from some test shots with the CCD cameras, I decided to stop and capture the scene in IR.

(note: false colour processing in Photoshop)

 

The earlier efforts of my outing were mostly spent familiarizing myself with the cameras again and boy it was soon evident how 'spoiled' I have become having my newer cameras. Shooting with older menus, less features smaller 2" LCD screens (and older eyes) although expected, proved more of a challenge than anticipated ... but a somehow satisfying one.

 

Maybe more to come on the CCD revival in future :-)

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-08-25

 

On a solo drive up north with plans to pick up some supplies in Tara, I used the opportunity and took a scenic route, visiting several historical mill sites in Grey and Bruce Counties along the way.

 

I made a number of stops, the last being near Park Head where the remnants of the chopping mill proved difficult to capture in an image. They sit on private property, back from the road with an obstructed view from the bridge over the Sauble River. Across the river the property is also private and an occupied residence, so my selection of viewpoints was very restricted. 

 

' Park Head Chopping Mill Ruins '

Working in mid-day sun, I also had an infrared converted camera along and it provided some of my favourite images form the day. Here, shooting from the bridge approach where a path dropped down to river level (for fishing access I suspect), I was able to compose through an opening in the leaves to show a glimpse of the deteriorating structure. Processing the image in high contrast B&W, sets the wood and masonry out in dark nicely against the white foliage.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2022-08-29

 

It's over two months since returning from Scotland and I still have images to publish ! But I am getting close to exhausting the inventory of yet to be processed, yet to be released captures from the time in 'Alba'.

 

I've never been one to "dump" a large number of images on social media at one time, likely never more than 10, but I'd have to check back to be certain. More often than not, it's no more than a handful and often only one select image, particularly when I'm not showcasing a collection of images from travel or some other photocentric outing.

While working through my set of captures from Glasgow and the time at the Necropolis, I came across one in particular that I very much like. It was from the infrared converted EOS M and converted to B&W in NIK SilverEfex with my favourite high-contrast preset, it just jumped at me. So impressed, I called to the 'missus' and said, "This is a winner, this is an instant favourite, this will be a photo of the week for sure !" Now, it may be a winner to me, one of my favourites, but your mileage may vary ... let me know what you think.

' eternal rest '

Upon seeing this file processed in B&W, I was reminding of something theatrical, something animated, something from a graphic novel or animated video. I still haven't put my finger on just what that is but I have a feeling it was a scene from an animated video. Perhaps a cemetery scene from an animated Batman movie ... where the seated figure, a villain, rises and walks into the night ...  Oh my imagination ;-)

The colour version from another camera and lens combo is interesting in it's own right, just not so much as the IR B&W in my opinion.

  

 

Note: These images are of the grave and memorial to Charles Tennant, Chemist and Industrialist. Hi 'is' one of the more notable residents of the necropolis and namesake of Charles Tennant & Company still in the chemical business today. One does have to wonder at the inspiration behind some of these more unusual memorial sculptures ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2014-12-01

It was BLAH weather at the cottage this weekend and I needed something a little different to stir the creative juices. I've been thinking about converting my Canon EOS M for infrared (IR) photography and decided to give it a whirl with some IR filters to see how it handled. Dull overcast days are not a good time to work with IR but hey, I needed to play around.

There's this little scene at the side of our cottage road that speaks to me every time I pass by so I decided to set up there for this little trial.

The first thing I experienced was extraordinarily long shutter speeds. I already know that using a non-converted camera with IR filters on the lens will require long shutter speeds in the range of 15-30 seconds to overcome the internal IR cut filter. But wow ... with the dull, overcast day and starting first with an 850nm filter I was 4 minutes f/5.6 ISO 3200 and I found lack sharpness to be an issue. I think it was mostly a focus shift issue and not being able to determine how much focus shift adjustment was required or at least not taking enough 4 minute exposures to get the right focus by trial and error. Now the 850nm filter really blocks a lot of light only allowing the longer wavelength IR to pass so I dropped down to the 720nm filter which would let in a smidgen more light overall.

With the 720nm filter, I still required a 2 minute exposure with f/5.6, ISO 1600 so the blustery wind played havoc with my subject, moving the spruce and cedar branches causing them to blur, but it can be an nice effect so I carried on and ended up with something interesting ... I think.

I R Spruce Out of Rock

Working with an IR converted camera can be a lot more convenient depending on the particular camera type and features. A converted EOS M will show me the IR image on it's live view screen and should be able to focus without a recalibration since it uses the actual imaging sensor to focus, unlike my DSLR's which use a separate focus sensor. The "M" is also a nice compact package that will be easy to include in my kit along with the adapter that allows it to use all my EF mount lenses :-D

Now the only questions are which IR range to I get it converted to and which conversion service do I use .... hmmmmmm

DJE