Infrared False Colour - worth the effort?

[James Blonde]

I know IR isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I'm going to lose some people before I even start! However I'm in 2 minds about false colour Infrared. I kind of like it - sometimes - but I often wonder whether it's worth the effort or whether I'd be better just sticking to B&W conversion. I also don't seem to get the same kind of false colour effect I see others get and I'm not entirely sure why, so I possibly overcompensate by processing it differently - usually aiming for some kind of dreamy effect.

What do you think? Here's a few comparisons...
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LBG9nS]Scott Rae - Little Langdale tree in IR by Scott Rae, on Flickr


[url=https://flic.kr/p/JjMsW2]Installation of the Cornet by Scott Rae, on Flickr

_Meldons Pano by Scott Rae, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KZMLfk]St Abbs by Scott Rae, on Flickr

Worth the effort? Just too weird?[/url][/url][/url]

 

[mrtoad]

i guess if you want infra-red photos...there must be a purpose...photographic or scientific
otherwise...????

 

[Nostromo]

I actually quite like these, some work better than others. As long as a photo has interest then it has appeal.

 

[Brian G]

I must confess that,even from the days of IR film, I've never actually "got" Infra Red.
To my eyes you might just as well screw the colours up in Photoshop.

 

[James Blonde]

IR is definitely a Marmite genre! It's partly why I always tend to process primarily as black and white rather than false colour, as it doesn't look so surreal - it just looks like a more contrasty image with dark skies and brighter foliage.

Thanks Nostromo! the images themselves aren't necessarily my best IR works, just ones where I'd processed both a B&W and false colour image, and all of the false colour images are (fairly obviously!) processed differently to each other. I think there is something in some of the false colour ones, but it might just be me, and I'm still not quite sure?

 

[AJQS]

I like false colour, I also like the pure black and white. I just like Infra Red!

I don't particularly go for a lot of effort though, after a while it starts to get into the realms of digital art rather than photography, channel swapping is about as far as I'll push it.

 

[Peter B]

There's the big 20 page IR thread here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/ok-then-lets-see-your-infrared-images-please.493937/ and it's worth trawling though to see the variety of false colours that are possible. Once you've seen some that appeal to you, maybe PM the posters and ask for details if it isn't clear from Flickr links or narrative that they've given with the photo.

 

[James Blonde]

Yes, that's one thread I have contributed to, and it's one place I've had a few false colour tips. I guess I'm looking at a wider appeal than just IR enthusiasts?