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[yamitenshi]

So, here's the deal. I read on psipog about a few photos (they can be viewed in the media section of the site) that were taken of (flared) constructs. Apparently, they can be made visible on a digital photo by messing with the gamma, constrast, and something else. Now, I propose an experiment.

I suppose we all have some way to take digital photos. Not necessarily in a high resolution, any photo will do. I've also made an IR-sensitive camera out of a cheap webcam. I will try to take photos of any possible constructs I make, both with a regular camera and the IR-sensitive camera, preferably in a completely dark environment.

Now, how can you participate? Very simple: make sure you're in a dark room, take a photo of your construct, and PM it to me, or mail it to me at darealnash (at) gmail (dot) com. If you want to take IR photos as well, let me know and I can tell you how to make a cheap webcam IR-sensitive. I spent 10 bucks and 20 minutes on it, so it's not too expensive, and who knows, it might yield some interesting results. Also, I propose some people making photos they would make of a construct, only without the construct. Please, when you send me photos, DO NOT tell me which photos do or don't have constructs on them, so as to not influence the research.

More details will follow as needed, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[Notagh]

That's an interesting idea.  You might also want to include the option of allowing pictures from webcams of different locations for people not wanting to take pictures in their own homes, because I would assume it wouldn't be too easy for some people to find a dark place to take pictures in.

A clarification I would appreciate:  Do you mean making a construct or making a construct with the intention of "flaring" them?

Also, if you want to send me the pictures as well (also not telling me which pictures are which/possibly including 2 of nothing picture sets) I would be happy to check the pictures with you and see if we get similar results.

Another possibly good idea would be to include the camera model, just in case.

[yamitenshi]

Good point on the camera model! Might indeed be useful.

I guess either just making a construct and making a construct with the intention of flaring would do, so long as whoever took the picture can say which pictures were with or without the intention of flaring, after the research is done of course.

As far as location is concerned, any location will do, and perhaps it would be a good idea to take some pictures in a light environment as well as in a dark environment, possibly discerning between natural and artificial light. If you want to take IR pictures, but don't want to make an IR camera, I guess it might be possible to make an appointment for a specific time, when a construct would be made on a location where I or someone else can make the photo at that specific time.

I'd be happy to send the pictures to you as well, it always helps to have someone else to independently check results.

I'm really eager to see what comes out of this And aside from that, home science projects are always fun

EDIT: the IR webcam I use is a Trust Invido, model number 26430-02 (though I doubt the model number matters). For the regular pictures, I plan on using the camera on my HTC Desire S.

Also, something that might be significant: I've found out that some IR (or near-IR) light passes through the filter on most digital cameras. An easy way to test this: point a TV remote towards your camera and press a button. If you see a blinking light, your camera is slightly IR-sensitive.

I'm working on a small overview of the experiment, which I will finish and upload in the near future. The link will be posted here. It will contain the outlines of the experiment, including used materials and how to make your cheap webcam into an IR camera.

[Pipsqueak]

Very interesting!!!!

EDIT: Can I just send you a fake one and a real construct but without the IR? ('ll label them with "A" and "B" and only I will know which one is real).

Maybe I could also PM which one is real to someone else so there is no doubt of me changing them later.

[Pipsqueak]

perhaps it would be a good idea to take some pictures in a light environment as well as in a dark environment, possibly discerning between natural and artificial light.into an IR camera.

This is your experiment and it's your call, but IMHO I think it is better to take a picture in a place as dark as possible, because people may have yellow (incadescent ) lights or fluorescents, paint and "natural light"- sunlight levels and atmospheric conditions may change the colours present in a picture.
So then if you apply the filters in photoshop, there might be some confusion in the results as they had different colours in them.

I know it is impossible to control all variables, but darkening as much as possible reduces this chance of error by reducing the number of hues and shades present.

Again, it's your call 

Thanks for organizing this I'll be happy to participate

[yamitenshi]

Yeah, good point. The main focus will be on dark areas, but I was just wondering if the results would be reliable in light environments as well as dark ones.

But I guess dark environments have priority.

By the way, is anybody interested in making an IR camera of their own? It cost me only about 15 bucks, so that's not too expensive. Also, the cost will be reduced to about 10 bucks if you already have black photonegatives on hand. All you need is a cheap webcam

Results would just be more reliable if more people than just me would take IR pictures.

[Tidues]

Sorry but what were the results of this experiment afterall?

[yamitenshi]

The experiment hasn't been executed yet, and I suppose it's on an indefinite hold for now unless someone explicitly wants to make an IR camera and try to make pictures of their construct, in which case they're welcome to do so and mail me the unedited photos, as well as any edited photos to enhance possible visibility of their construct. Any results will of course be made public on this forum (including the photos themselves, both unedited and edited) for anyone to judge and replicate.

There are two reasons for the indefinite hold: First of all, I'm too busy with school work to actually do something of this magnitude, which will not change until at least February. Second, I can take IR pictures, but I'm pretty sure I'm not actually capable of making a construct of any kind at this point, so as a result of this any results would be useless, save as a control group of photos to see what happens if you try to enhance the visibility of a nonexistent construct.