Opening Reception for Transcend the Ordinary: Infrared photographs by Michael Riffle

Enjoy our local landscapes like you’ve never seen them before. The light your eyes can see falls within what’s known as the “visible spectrum.” Infrared lies beyond this band and is not visible to human eyes. Michael Riffle creates his photographs using special equipment, beyond your standard camera, and he will be your guide into this “unseen” world.

Riffle grew up in central Florida and attended the University of Florida and Oklahoma State University. He earned a Ph.D. in plant science and settled down in Tallahassee with his wife in 1988.  His interest in photography goes back to his college days, though he set the pursuit aside for 25 years while he focused on agricultural research. He vowed to come back to photography in his retirement.

Five years ago, Riffle began wondering why he was putting it off. He decided to immerse himself in all things photographic and had his camera professionally converted for infrared, or “IR” photography.

IR photography offers artists the opportunity to explore a new world. The visible light spectrum that humans see, and what a regular camera ‘sees,’ is from 380nm to 740nm.  Wavelengths used for infrared photography typically range from about 700nm to 900nm.

IR photography exposes us to a world that can often look very different from the one we’re accustomed to. The most striking difference is the “Wood Effect,” where leaves and grass reflect light, giving them a bright white appearance. The effect is named after the infrared photography pioneer Robert W. Wood.

For Riffle, IR photography perfectly combines his love for plant science and art. He creates compelling images as an homage to some of our most beloved wild places. Some of his favorite locations for shooting include Natural Bridge State Park, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Mashes Sands Beach, Bear Creek Educational Center, Torreya State Park, Bald Point State Park, the Fort Braden Trails, and the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Riffle’s tagline in photography and in life is “Get Out There.” His hope is that his photography will inspire and encourage people to engage with our natural surroundings in the Big Bend region.

The exhibition continues through August 19, 2019 and is one of many rotating exhibitions curated by the Council on Culture & Arts on behalf of the City of Tallahassee as part of the Art in Public Places program.