Smoking Infrared Kaena Point Hawaii – Surreal Aerochrome Portrait Brian Pollak | Ryan Struck World & Color Series
Titled "smoking infrared," this candid Aerochrome infrared portrait from Ryan Struck's "World & Color" series captures Brian Pollak smoking at Kaena Point State Park on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, shot on rare, discontinued Kodak Aerochrome reversal film. The film's false-color alchemy transforms the rugged coastal vegetation and cliffs into electric magenta, hot pink, and crimson explosions—revealing near-infrared light (700–900 nm) invisible to human vision—while the ocean, sky, smoke trails, skin tones, and clothing shift into cyan-purple ethereal hues, blending intimate human moment with psychedelic, dreamlike serenity in one of Hawaii's most remote and dramatic landscapes. The medium-format composition frames the quiet ritual against vast natural power, evoking contemplation and altered presence. Part of the series documenting global travels with scarce military-origin stock, this image resonates with neuroaesthetics on anomalous color's influence on aesthetic perception of everyday rituals and altered states; visual neuroscience explorations of false-color human-environment interactions and consciousness; psychedelic thinkers seeing layered metaphors for expanded awareness (smoke + surreal palette); and creative directors/art directors seeking distinctive, conceptual lifestyle/portrait/editorial photography for high-end travel, adventure, cultural, wellness, or experimental brand campaigns. A rare, museum-caliber work bridging documentary intimacy, perception science, and surreal revelation.