i just read the challenge rules, and i was wondering if it's allowed to use an infrared filter, because while it IS changing the image, its still real life, just at a different frequency, anybody know what the rule is here?
If you are talking about an IR filter on the camera then that is legal, if not then I don't know.
Just re-read the rules and the filters they reference are software filters not camera filters. As I recall any filter can be used while taking the photo.