LilyFestre and Brucie -

Almost any B/W negative film is somewhat sensitive to IR wavelengths if you can find a good IR Filter to snap over the lens. Exposure time is a bit tricky to figure, but you could probably "bracket" it to get a sufficient number of usable shots on a typical roll of film. It's probably best to take your pics on the coldest day possible, to avoid "fog" from the amazingly prominent hot spots you never realized were there.

I don't know how sensitive common digital cameras are with an IR filter, but it's an interesting notion. Maybe I can justify a new digicam with interchangeable lenses and filter mounts for the experiment ... in about 50 years or so.

Around a thousand years ago, we did a few shots "just for fun" using a method from an old US Navy manual (early 1940s era) that claimed you could make your own IR film by soaking "any" B/W film in a bicarbonate of soda solution before exposure. Of course you have to do the soaking, rinsing, drying, and the rewinding into the cannister (assuming you use 35mm) all in the dark and preferably in a cold dark room. Altogether not a pleasant process. I won't comment on how successful we were...

For practical IR photography, you're pretty much dependent on what the suppliers will provide for you, so consulting with a good shop - and following their advice - is recommended.

In my area, there are probably more people equipped with "Military Surplus Night Vision Goggles" than with IR photo stuff. If you can find a real "survivalist" you might persuade one to come over and let you peek through his sniper-eyes.

Also in my area, there are a few "heating consultants" who can be hired to come out to take IR photos with their digital infrared cameras, to show where the heat leaks are. I don't believe it's terribly expensive, but don't have any idea what actual charges might be. (The same guys can also be hired to do a "thermal solution to all your problems," but that does tend to be expensive.)

A side note is that not too long ago the common method of shooting the "night scenes" for movies was to use IR film/filters in broad daylight. I don't know if it's still done that way, but it seemed to work pretty well back before we got used to all the modern special effects.

John