ok, so I managed to fix this problem. Below is the details of the general fix (the reason it works) and then, in particular, how I applied this fix, which are unique to the jQuery ISOTOPE module used.
Note that the preview site from the original message is no longer active, but now you can view the current website: http://www.imageworkshop.com/portfolio/
GENERAL CORRECTION
the problem is caused by hiding the image in IE using opacity: 0; (not necessarily dependent on attenuation in IE, like most other threads). I removed the opacity, but still had the same problem due to the opacity: 0, was used to hide the filtered images.
the answer is to use display: none; to hide images for IE.
MY SPECIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CORRECTION
The boiler plate used to identify old / problem browsers using this code in the header.php file of my wordpress theme - this adds the ".oldie" class when the old browser is identified:
<html class="no-js" lang="en">
CSS to use display: none ;, instead of opactiy: 0 for ISOTOPE (note that this is specific to the ISOTOPE plugin, which I use to hide / filter images.
.oldie .isotope-hidden { display: none; }
In javascript ISOTOPE at the top, indicate if the old exists:
isOldie = $('html').hasClass('oldie');
Then let's say an isotope that can be used:
hiddenStyle: isOldie ? {} : $.Isotope.settings.hiddenStyle, visibleStyle: isOldie ? {} : $.Isotope.settings.visibleStyle
Here is an example site that shows this in action: http://support.metafizzy.co/2011/09-12-ie-trans.html
and the javascript declaration for ISOTOPE from this page (note that this is simpler than what I used on my site)
<script> $(function(){ var $container = $('#container'), $photos = $container.find('.photo'), isOldie = $('html').hasClass('oldie'); $container.imagesLoaded( function(){ $container.isotope({ itemSelector : '.photo', masonry: { columnWidth: 200 }, hiddenStyle: isOldie ? {} : $.Isotope.settings.hiddenStyle, visibleStyle: isOldie ? {} : $.Isotope.settings.visibleStyle }); }); $('#filters a').click(function(){ $container.isotope({ filter: $(this).attr('data-filter') }); return false; }); }); </script>