Infrared Photography
/ˌɪnfrəˈrɛd fəˈtɑːɡrəfi/noun
Photography that records infrared radiation, often producing images with tones and contrasts different from visible-light photographs.
Did you know?Infrared was discovered in 1800 when William Herschel detected invisible radiation beyond red by measuring unexpected heat with thermometers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*en- / *per
“Ancient roots associated with ‘in’ and ‘through or beyond,’ later contributing to Latin infra and English infrared.”
Classical Latin
Latin
īnfrā
“‘Below’ or ‘beneath’; the source of the scientific prefix infra-.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phōs, phōtos + graphē
“‘Light’ or ‘of light’ plus ‘writing’ or ‘描ing’; the roots later combined in photography.”
1800
English
infrared
“Coined after William Herschel identified invisible radiation beyond the red end of visible light.”
1839
English
photography
“A term formed from Greek roots meaning ‘light-writing,’ introduced during the early development of photographic processes.”
20th Century
English
infrared photography
“Established technical term for making images with infrared-sensitive film, sensors, or filters.”