DIY IR Camera
Infrared light (IR) is invisible to the human eye. Near-IR has a wavelength just above visible red light. The charge coupled device (CCD) sensors in most digital cameras are sensitive to infrared light. If you block out the visible light, the image produced by the digital camera is from the infrared light only. Use a filter that blocks out visible light and transmits IR to turn your digital camera into an IR camera.
Test Your Digital Camera for IR Sensitivity
To check if you digital camera (including your cell phone camera or webcam) is sensitive to IR, find a source of infrared light. TV and stereo remotes use IR signals to communicate with their devices. Point the remote at the camera lens and press a button on the remote. This should activate the IR signal from the remote. Look at the front of the remote (the plastic lenses) through the camera's LCD. If you see white or purple flashes, your camera is IR sensitive. If your mouse has an IR LED or laser, perform the same test with your camera looking at the red light on the mouse.
Filter Out the Visible Light
To take a picture in IR with your digital camera, you have to block out the visible light so the IR light makes the image. You can use a piece of over-exposed 35-mm camera film (developed, of course) for this, or you can buy an IR movie camera filter for about $10 that will do an even better job. Tape the exposed film over your lens or attach the IR filter to the camera so it completely covers the lens without letting any light in through the edges.
Take a Picture
Your digital camera is not designed to adjust for exposure or auto-focusing in the IR range. With the IR filter over the camera lens, you should be able to see a black and white or purple/pink and white image in IR on the LCD viewing screen. Snapping a picture without adjustments will usually result in an underexposed image. Trick the camera into taking longer exposures by using "night scene" mode or taking a timed exposure. It is helpful to use a tripod to stabilize the camera during longer exposures.
IR Effects
You will notice some pretty strange effects when viewing images in the near IR. Green leaves of plants will fluoresce snow-white, blue sky will appear extremely dark, light clouds will disappear, and heavy clouds will stand out like stage-prop cotton balls. Water will appear jet black.
You can't take true color IR photos with your digital camera but have some fun, and you will get some interesting images. If you camera can take video, you will be surprised at how well the images turn out using normal exposure. Video "bins" pixels providing much higher exposure sensitivity that is perfect for capturing IR video.
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