This is one of a series of guides for collaborative environmental research and advocacy projects. You might want to conduct an Infrared Garden Experiment if you are interested in monitoring plant health. An infrared photograph of the same type of plants growing side by side can reveal unseen differences in plant health. Some possible causes could include differences in cultivation methods, drainage patterns, soil chemicals, among others.
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_This poster shows how an infragram camera can be used to take a picture of the same type of plants side by side to reveal which are photsynthesizing more:_
[](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/008/565/original/infragram-experiment-poster.jpg)
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####Planning this event
**Ahead of time:**
* Read about infrared cameras, watch a fun video and connect to the community email list here: http://publiclab.org/wiki/infragram
* Consider if your question can be answered by this type of investigation:
* _Are you testing multiple types of cultivation with a single kind of plant?_
* _Wondering if the slope of your land is causing drainage to unevenly wash out soil nutrients, resulting in part of your field being less productive?_
* If you are, in fact, asking a question that could be answered through an investigation into plant health, then this experiment is for you
* Make, borrow, or purchase an [infragram camera](/wiki/infragram)
* Find out if the infragram has a blue filter (as on the original infragram edition ~2013) or red filter (~2014 and newer)
[](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/008/567/original/IMG_20150106_124652.jpg)
* Depending on what kind of filter your Infragram has, print out a matching red or blue square from [here](/notes/warren/08-15-2013/white-balancing-a-canon-camera-for-infragram-photography)
* Arrange for one or two people to spend an hour or so familiarizing yourselves with the camera
**Materials to have on hand:**
* Out in the garden:
* infragram camera with SD card
* depending on whether your camera has a blue or a red filter inside, you will need a matching color piece of paper to bring out to your photography site
* charged battery / batteries
* Back inside:
* internet connection
* computer that can read the picture off your SD card
* if using the Point & Shoot, have the miniUSB-to-USB cable that came with it
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####Activity 1:
This activity will walk you through turning on the camera, setting the white balance, and taking a picture.
When you are outside in the site you wish to photograph, you will start by white balancing your camera. Why? Well, we've learned that careful white balancing of your Infragram camera is essential for good (AKA descriptive and accurate) images. If you are using a regular camera that has been converted into an infrared camera, follow the instructions in this video, using the appropriately colored red or blue piece of paper depending on what's inside of your camera:
If you are using an Infragram Point and Shoot, it should have arrived already white balanced, otherwise check out the information here: http://publiclab.org/wiki/infragram-point-shoot, and email the list with any questions.
_Picture of Infragram Point and Shoot:_
[](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/008/566/original/IMG_4282.JPG)
Once you've set the white balance, choose a good vantage point and take a picture or five. Success! You've completed this activity. Time for a refreshing beverage!
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####Activity 2:
This activity will walk you through uploading your pictures to the online site infragram.org for processing, and will assist you in understanding what the finished image reveals about the health of your plants.
* Put the SD card in your computer and upload it to infragram.org (requires internet connection)