{"id":395464,"date":"2025-09-17T00:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T22:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cined.com\/?p=395464"},"modified":"2025-10-16T13:38:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:38:49","slug":"cinema-through-supernatural-eyes-using-an-infrared-camera-for-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cined.com\/jp\/cinema-through-supernatural-eyes-using-an-infrared-camera-for-storytelling\/","title":{"rendered":"\u8d64\u5916\u7dda\u30ab\u30e1\u30e9\u3092\u4f7f\u3063\u305f\u30b9\u30c8\u30fc\u30ea\u30fc\u30c6\u30ea\u30f3\u30b0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Filmmaking is full of techniques that make us see the world differently, and we often discuss them in our educational pieces. Fisheye lenses<\/a>, Dutch angles<\/a>, unusual shutter speed<\/a>. But there\u2019s one tool that feels almost supernatural: the infrared camera. It shows us something we cannot see with our own eyes. Heat. Hidden wavelengths. Skin glowing ghostly white, plants turning silver. Is it only beneficial for a surreal aesthetic, or can it also be used for impactful storytelling? Both. Below, we explore film examples that illustrate this bold cinematic decision and its rationale. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

When you think about infrared, what images pop into your head? We\u2019re accustomed to the classic \u201cclich\u00e9\u201d image of an IR night vision security camera, aren\u2019t we? Or to footage captured by the same technology in the wild for documentary shows like Planet Earth<\/em>. However, Infrared can create a totally different effect on the viewer, and here is how.<\/p>\n\n

How does the infrared camera work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Before diving too far into the creative side, let\u2019s pause for a moment and look at how it actually works. In the MZed course \u201cThe Art & Science of Lenses,\u201d<\/a> filmmaker and educator Tal Lazar<\/a> explains the basics. The light we see is a range of wavelengths, each visible as a different color. Human eyes can detect only those between about 400 and 700 nanometers. Anything below and above that is not visible to us at all:<\/p>\n\n

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Image source: Tal Lazar\/MZed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Infrared (or IR) is above 700nm. Such cameras use special sensors or modified filters to capture those longer wavelengths \u2013 the light (or thermal energy) emitted by all objects above absolute zero temperature. The variations in these emissions form the basis of thermal imaging, showing heat patterns. In this text, we\u2019ll also use the term \u201cnear-infrared,\u201d \u2013 it is the section of\u00a0electromagnetic radiation (EMR)\u00a0wavelengths nearest to the normal range but just past what we can see.\u00a0Don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t get too technical here. Once you see the film examples with the infrared camera in action, everything will make sense.<\/p><395464-mzed-course\/>\n\n

Infrared camera for convincing world-building<\/h2>\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the big one: an impressive cinematography masterpiece \u2013 Dune: Part Two<\/a>. If you watched it in the theatre when it came out, like I did, you couldn\u2019t have missed the gladiator scene. It feels like a visual feast for the eye, and at the same time, an incredibly bold filmmaking choice.<\/p>\n\n

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