Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What type of radiation can create unusual photographs in black and white?

1. Ultraviolet

2. Visible

3. Infrared

4. X-ray

The correct answer is: Infrared

The type of radiation that can create unusual photographs in black and white is infrared. Infrared photography involves capturing light that is not visible to the human eye but falls just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. This type of radiation interacts differently with materials, resulting in distinctive tonal representations. For example, foliage can appear white or very bright due to the way chlorophyll reflects infrared light, while skies can take on a darker tone, leading to a dramatic and ethereal effect in the resulting images. Additionally, infrared photography can reveal textures and patterns that are often missed in visible light photography, giving images a surreal quality. Specialized film or digital sensors sensitive to infrared light are required to capture these effects, as standard photographic materials are typically designed to respond to visible light, not infrared. Thus, infrared stands out as the correct choice for producing unusual black and white photographs.