Infrared Photography. American Infrared Survey: A Celebration of Infrared Photography. 80 photographs.

Photo Survey Press, 1982.  Edited by Stephen Paternite and David Paternite. Eighty black and white and color photos were selected from more than 1200 images submitted by 300 photographers. Includes nudes. Wraps, very good with small spot of wear front bottom outside corner of cover and crimp at bottom corner of rear cover. With custom made 4 mil polyester jacket. Not issued in hardcover. Photographers in this book: Mark P. Taylor; Merry Moor Winnett; David Sachter; Kristin Mueller Read; David O’Connor; Philip Schertz; Craig Huston Hemenway; Paul E. Davis; Mike Vazquez; Genevieve Harm; Cheryl Busbee; Craig Law; Rick Ferncase; Richard Albright; Roy J. Cirigliana; Jeffrey newbury; Nancy P. Roberts; Mark L. Ketter; Marguerite Rule Johnstone; Daniel W. Arthur; Penny Gentieu; Jil Envield; John Griffin; Charles Braendle; Ken Marchionno; Susan Stein; Kent Bowser; Annie Rogers; Jim Benedict; Anne Kurutz; David Paternite; Hans Ropers; Stephen Paternite; Mary Walsh-Lahti; Rita Dibert; Barbara Edwards; Dennis Letbetter; John Hooper, Jr.; Shiu Leung; Thomas H. Shuler, Jr.; Steven Schwartzman; Christopher  Burnett; Annik Brunet; Maura Robinson; Gail LeBoff; Lin Eagle; Pamela J. Landau; Brian Coats; Neville Godfrey; Stephen Spera; Randy Juster; Carol Lachata; Gary Cawood; Charlie Martin; Gary Gantert; Giorgio Majno; Edward Waddell; Lela Hersh; Susan J.Moore; Gavi Morrison; Christopher Gallagher; Jerome Miller; Peter Iverson; Abe Frajndlich; and Penny Rakoff. Summary:

American Infrared Survey (1982) is a pioneering anthology that served as one of the first major collective looks at the aesthetic and technical possibilities of infrared (IR) film. Published during a resurgence of experimental photography, the book showcases how invisible wavelengths of light can transform the mundane American landscape into something otherworldly.

Core Themes and Technique

• The "Wood Effect": The book highlights the signature characteristics of black-and-white infrared film, particularly the "Wood Effect," where chlorophyll-rich Venus and foliage reflect IR light, appearing as glowing, ghostly white.

• The Invisible Spectrum: The survey explores the surreal tonal shifts of IR—where blue skies turn pitch-black and human skin takes on a luminous, marble-like texture. It moves beyond the "psychedelic" associations of the 1960s to present IR as a serious fine-art tool.

• Diverse Perspectives: Rather than a single-artist monograph, the "Survey" includes works from various photographers who utilized IR to achieve different emotional ends, from the haunting and gothic to the starkly architectural.

Technical Significance

• Mastering the Unpredictable: In 1982, shooting infrared was a high-stakes technical challenge. The film was notoriously temperamental, requiring total darkness for loading and a "blind" faith in exposure, as the human eye cannot see the light the film records.

• The Challenge of the Lab: The book emphasizes the importance of darkroom craft. Achieving the perfect "glow" without losing all detail required a level of chemical precision.