Aerochrome! How cool is that? Aerochrome was Kodak’s trade name for an infrared sensitive film produced for aerial surveillance. Trees, plants and other foliage have chlorophyl and reflect the infrared spectrum of light. These produce the orange/pink color on the Aerochrome film while inanimate objects, such as buildings, tanks, guns etc. remain their original color even if painted in camouflage. Kodak also sold the film as Ektachrome Infrared Film. I shot some of this in my early days of photogarphy but without the internet, I had no information on what filters and film speeds to use.
Fast forward to the 21st century, Y2K and digital cameras. Film is getting harder and harder to find and the Aerochrome stocks are almost gone. Extremely expensive if you can find it. Digital cameras have taken over for the infrared photography by removing the infrared filter from the sensor and replacing it with an infrared spectrum filter. You have probably seen the false color photographs produced this way. I never really cared for the funky color processing needed for this but I still wanted to duplicate the look of the old Kodak Aerochrome film. A company called Kolari Vision in NJ has produced a filter that works on a modified camera that accurately captures the look of Aerochrome. I modified my Ricoh GR II by removing the infrared filter to produce a full spectrum conversion and I use the Kolari IR Chrome externally. The full spectrum conversion allows me to use the IR Chrome or any other infrared spctrum filter. I even have a Hot Mirror filter that brings the camera back to the original state. Currently I am using a Nikon Z50 with the full spectrum modification.