During the lockdown we have been keeping busy with the drone photographing various landscapes and trying a few different approaches. We’ve been intrigued by the photos of Richard Mosse for a few years. His work involves the use of a discontinued film stock developed by Kodak in the 1940s and when we came across a collection of presets for Lightroom that simulates the Aerochrome infrared effect we just had to give them a go.
What is Kodak Aerochrome?
Kodak Aerochrome was developed during the 1940s by Kodak at the request of the American military. The military were struggling to provide aerial surveillance photography of enemy movements during the war due to the use of camouflage and required a way of separating the weapons and troops from the undergrowth. They approached Kodak who then developed a film stock that was sensitive to the infrared light that was reflected from live foliage but not from the khaki green camouflage used to disguise troops, tanks and bunkers etc. The green to red conversion was fairly random – it was chosen because it stood out from the camouflage greens.
Abstract results
Using the Aerochrome presets for our aerial photography seems to be quite appropriate. The landscapes are given an abstract quality the greens of nature being converted to bright reds and crimsons which contrast noicely with the colours of the dinghies.
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