Kodak HIE High Speed Infrared - 35mm
Kodak High Speed Infrared, also known as Kodak HIE, was one of the most sensitive infrared films ever to hit the market. It was made for a number of decades until its final discontinuation in late 2007. At the time it was available only in 35mm, though it had previously been made in both 4x5 and 8x10 sheet film.
What made Kodak HIE so special was its ability to record striking images solely within the infrared spectrum, as long as proper filters were used. This allowed photographers to make otherworldly landscapes and surreal portraits where vegetation glowed a snowy white, the pupils of eyes rendered a deep, shadowy black and blue skies looked like scenes from outer space. Technically, this was achieved by the film being sensitive to light beyond the visible spectrum. Whereas most panchromatic films have sensitivity that ended at the red end of the visible spectrum, about 600nm, Kodak HIE had sensitivity that extended out beyond 900nm. (It also had quite a bit of sensitivity into the UV end of the spectrum as well, down to about 200nm.) While Kodak HIE could be used unfiltered like any other black and white negative film, for slightly interesting results, it really came into its own when filtered through a deep red or infrared filter. These filters blocked the film's sensitivity to visible light, allowing only infrared light to expose. This is what gave HIE its unique look and allowed it to render subject matter in ways that the human eye could never see.
Kodak HIE was also known for its "glow". Since the film lacked any anti-halation backing, which normally makes the film base opaque and prevents light from penetrating all the way through the film, Kodak HIE produced a pronounced glow in its highlights from light traveling through the film and bouncing off the pressure plate of the camera and scattering back into the emulsion. HIE also had significant grain that was much coarser than almost any other film on the market.
These days it is still sometimes possible to come across an expired roll of HIE on the used market, though such rolls of film should be approached with extreme caution. The film was not known for great stability and even rolls only 15 years or so out of date can show heavy degradation due to age and poor storage. Additionally, Kodak HIE had to always be handled in complete darkness. Simply opening up the plastic film can the roll was stored in was enough to fog an entire roll of HIE if done in lighted conditions. Many handlers of HIE might be unaware of this and inadvertently ruin the roll of film simply by opening the can to look at it. But still, if you are lucky enough to find a good roll of this stuff, it made images like no other infrared film.
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