Flir discusses centenary of infrared photography

In 100 years, infrared imaging has evolved from a complex scientific exploration of what lies beyond red light in the electromagnetic spectrum to a pervasive technology.

Its applications include science, industry, security, search and rescue, law enforcement, CSI, military, art conservation, agriculture, forestry and medicine.

We have all seen infrared in action: from nature programmes to study the nocturnal behaviour of animals, to thermal imaging on programmes showing police pursuits and on reality television.

2010 marks the centenary of the first published infrared photograph.

In October 1910 the American scientist, Prof Robert Williams Wood gave a special lecture to the Royal Photographic Society in London on his work on 'Photography by Invisible Rays' and a paper was published in the RPS 'Photographic Journal'.

Wood was the first to intentionally produce photographs using infrared radiation.

The Royal Photographic Society is joining with the Royal Astronomical Society to present a keynote two-day Infrared 100 symposium on 7-8 October at the headquarters of the RAS in London.

This will be under the stewardship of thermographer Prof Francis Ring and astronomer Dr Helen Walker.

Among the speakers will be Prof Paul Feldman from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA..

Prof Feldman is one of the senior experimental astrophysicists at Johns Hopkins and he will cover aspects of his own work, as well as Wood's legacy.

The RPS will also be holding an exhibition of 100 years of infrared imaging - from photographic to thermal - at its Bath headquarters during October 2010 and its annual publication 'Portfolio Two' will include articles on infrared photography and thermal imaging.

The majority of the thermal images featured at these events will have been taken using Flir infrared cameras.

The company has developed systems that encompass the dedicated thermographic needs of specific application sectors and also, through the economies of volume manufacture, rolled out the technology to the wider market.

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