Infrared Photography Turns Rome into a Pink Paradise

Capturing invisible light on film makes The Eternal City look like an alien landscape.

December 5, 2016, 8:55pm

Images courtesy of the artist

Romantic sites in Rome get a magical, lambent aura in the infrared photography of Italian artist Milán Rácmolnár. By capturing lightwaves that exist outside of humans' range of vision, Rácmolnár shifts the natural colors and textures of one of the world's most documented cities. The act of photographing infrared light lends a surreal, Dr. Seuss-esque quality to Rome's flora. Rácmolnár began experimenting with photography in high school. By converting his Nikon D3200 into a full spectrum camera that captures visible and infrared light at the same time, Rácmolnár renders the scenic city in turquoise and cerise.

His Rome in Infrared (Roma Rosa) Series documents Rome's world-famous landmarks alongside scenes of everyday Roman life, like a gas station and a windswept bus stop. “One can easily recognize [Rome] even if one has never visited this stunning city,” Rácmolnár tells The Creators Project. “So I wanted to create a series which makes you think in a different way about the well-known.”