A passion for photographic gadgets is nessled deeply in my bones. In fact, keeping track of my expendatures, and hoping to recoup the cash was the main reason behind founding DR Photography with Mike. We've always been photographers first, businessmen second. One gadget that has always been floating just outside my grasp was a digital infrared camera. The barrier to entry is high for two reasons. First, the conversion is rather expensive, and second you have to give up a digital SLR for the conversion.
With my purchase of the D3, my old D70s was mainly sitting on the sidelines collecting dust. Furthermore, business has been good and the company is sitting on some cash. My partner was easy to convince, and we contacted the guys at Lifepixel to get the conversion started. That's when the gong show started. The instructions from Lifepixel were pretty clear:
Please send us your camera with a fully charged battery and a printout of this receipt. Do not send memory cards, straps, tripod mounts, etc. If you purchased the custom lens calibration service please also include a lens. To prevent extra dust buildup please place the camera in a plastic bag and package well.
International Customers: If using a private courier (ie FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc) make sure that all duties and taxes are billed to the sender, and not to the receiver. For speediest processing and to minimize the chance of additional customs and brokerage fees please ship insured via your country's federal air mail service and declare the camera as "sending for modification/repair".
The camera was packed with care. Bubble wrap for the knocks and drops, plastic wrap for any dust or contaminants were employed to protect the camera on it's journey. I went to my "federal air mail service" AKA: Canada Post to send off the payload for it's modification. The ladies at the counter started off with the paperwork when they asked: "Is there a battery in the camera?" to which I responded in the positive. Then they informed me that they could not send the camera, as batteries are on the restricted item list.
WTF?
A guppy trapped on shore gasping for air probably looked more composed than I did at that moment. The stupidity of the statement just wouldn't penetrate my brain, just sort of hovering on the surface, tickling my idiocracy sensors. How in the world can Canada post refuse to send batteries? The Christmas season was going to be hard on them, and the only problem I faced was being honest. I argued with them, and they stood their ground. In an effort to keep up relations, they offer that I try UPS.
Since there was a UPS terminal in the mall, I decided I'd give it a try. I walked in and waited in line with my package underarm. When my turn arrived, I started on the paper work, and asked the retail monkey at the til how I ensure that I pay all duties and taxes. My guppy inspired idiot look had nothing on this guy as he tried to comprehend what I was asking. My patience was starting to wear thin, and after a good 10 minutes of banter I realized that this particular retail outlet was not going to be able to help me. It turns out that the answer to "What can Brown do for you?" is a solid: Nothing.
I then drove out to the airport to try FedEx. I managed to make it to the depot 5 minutes before closing, and again started out on the paperwork. Conveniently, they had a section on the form for who was going to be paying the taxes and duties. The clerk had no questions about batteries, and they accepted my package and said it would head out in the morning. I finally felt that things were going my way.
Boy was I wrong. I got a call the next morning saying that my camera was tied up in customs. It turns out that my camera is able to emit radio signals (to control flash) and the FCC needs a form filled out. I downloaded the F740, and started in on it when I was bound by a Catch-22. Some of the information I needed for the form, was on the label on the bottom of the camera. My camera, of course, was sitting in a custom's lockup in Tennesee. Now I pursued finding anyone with a D70s so I could fill out the form. After contacting a few people I decided to see if the people at Lifepixel could help me out.
Daniel at Lifepixel was more than helpful. As a matter of fact, my dealings with Lifepixel were always top notch, and I recommend them to anyone wanting to get an IR conversion for their camera. He even filled out the form for me, and sent it in to FedEx on my behalf. I could feel the weight lift off my shoulders, as I had finally found a companion in this madhouse. I went about my day, not giving the ordeal another thought.
The next day, FedEx called again. Apparently they could not accept the form as it was filled out. Daniel had selected Option 8, in Part II: "The described equipment is being imported for repair, and will not be offered for sale or otherwise marketed". As soon as I read the list, I knew that the option that Daniel had selected was the best choice. The importer told me that they can't accept any items unless options 2, 4 or 7 are selected. I was going to start asking awkward questions like: "If you only accept options 2, 4 or 7, why are the other 6 options even on the form?" I decided better of it, and simply checked off option 2 (importers suggestion) and faxed in the form again.
Finally the camera was released, and the good people at Lifepixel did the conversion and got it out the same day. After a couple of days in transit, I went back to the same Canada Post outlet that said they can't transport batteries and picked up my camera. I even had the same clerk, who asked me if I had any luck with my camera. I said that FedEx shipped it, and was very mum about details, as she handed my my battery contaminated package.
The results: Amazing. We made use of the converted camera at a wedding shoot, and I love the results. Even though some people claim they can emulate IR photography in Photoshop, now that I've seen what IR cameras do I solidly disagree. I'm fairly good with Photoshop, I consider myself to be above the average, and I know there is no way I could emulate the results. Look at the above example, where both people were wearing pretty much black clothing, and the results in IR look like a blue dress and a funky cut suit. Furthermore the subtleness of the white grass and dark coloured lake in the background bring the photo to a more surreal level. I know we made the right choice in sacraficing the D70s to widen our photographic suite of tools.
