Moth orchid - Phalaenopsis in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated butterfly and bee vision

Today studio shots of a decorative flower, Moth orchid - Phalaenopsis in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as in simulated butterfly and bee vision using my proprietary XBV filters. Lens was my UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz flourite lens. All shots were done at about f8. Light source was a modified Xenon flash, background was dark gray. [These shots were done with a new camera system and are available on request in very high resolution (40 and 60 Mp)]

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image
 

UV image using Baader-U filter:
  

Simulated butterfly vision image:
  

Simulated bee vision image:
  

Quadriptych of human vision, UV, and simulated butterfly and bee vision (left to right, top to bottom):
 

This attractive flower shows a not so prominent UV pattern around its labellum , and all this gets nicely visible also in simulated butterfly and bee vision.

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Deep UV Ultraviolet Reflected Light Photography at UV-B and UV-C recording with candle light

Today another proof that reflected UV photography is doable at UV-B and UV-C using several special, up to NIR blocked, narrowband filters and a very different UV camera, an amplified 190-650nm MCP equipped video camera. Lens used was a CERCO f1.8/45mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was a candle flame.

[click on image to see a larger one]

This reveals, that the deeper one looks into UV, the area where the candle flame emits that UV moves from the top of the flame down to the sides of the flame. Pretty amazing how sensitive this type of camera is, as the needed amplification was still just in the lower 30% of the total available range.

I have a newer system HERE with a normal camera attached to the MCP amplification device.

I have previously written more about combustion and UV HERE.

Btw. Michael Faraday has in 1848 given six famous lectures about the chemical history of the candle, which may be read about HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Cloisonné ceramics in reflected ultraviolet and simulated bee vision photography

Today about ceramics, Cloisonné especially and reflected UV photography. I have three different objects here as targets, from Thailand and India. For that test I'm using my the UV-Nikkor 105mm, as well as my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter and my bee vision simulating XBV6 filter. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at f11.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Diptych Visual light (top) and reflected UV light image (bottom):
 

Diptych Visual light (top) and simulated bee vision image (bottom):
 

Interesting to see how in reflected UV light and especially in simulated bee vision imaging, the center piece shows otherwise invisible patterns.


Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm lens for reflected ultraviolet photography using an African Violet

Today about a highly specialized UV lens, the ELCAN (Ernst Leitz CAnada) UV f5.6/52mm lens, a one-off prototype (I don't know of any other special UV lens Leitz/Leica has ever made). In lack of a flower with UV pattern, I'm using a African violet hybride flower for that test as well as my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at f8.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visual light image:
 

Reflected UV using Baader-U filter:
 

Simulated Bee Vision image:
 

IR image:
 

Triptych Visual, reflected UV, Simulated Bee Vision (left to right):
 

This specialized UV lens works very well, there is hardly any focus shift visible, not even between UV and IR (!), contrast is high, there is no visible hotspot and the lens renders very sharp and crispy images. A welcome new member of my small collection of such specialized lenses.

P.S.: The images were not re-adjusted in focus between all shots, to show that there is no visible focus shift between VIS and UV.

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Scorpio Supermoon in reflected UV (ultraviolet) light photography

Today a shot of the Scorpion Supermoon as of 11-14-2016 in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter. All shots were done at f8. Lens was a rather rare LDM-1 800mm mirror only lens.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Reflected UV light (using Baader-U filter):
 

I have written about the Moon in UV previously HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Orange coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida in reflected deep ultraviolet photography and simulated butterfly and bee vision XIV

Today studio shots of a decorative summer flower which I had still blooming on my balcony, Orange coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as in simulated butterfly and bee vision using my proprietary XBV filters. Lens was my UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz flourite lens. All shots were done at about f8. Light source was a modified Xenon flash, background was a dark gray. [These shots were done with a new camera system and are available on request in very high resolution (40 and 60 Mp)]

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image
 

UV image using Baader-U filter:  

Simulated butterfly vision image:  

Simulated bee vision image:  

Quadriptych of human vision, UV, and simulated butterfly and bee vision (left to right, top to bottom):
 

This attractive flower shows its very prominent UV bullseye pattern, its petals have an UV dark bottom and very UV bright tips (around 365nm), invisible to us humans, and all this gets nicely visible also in simulated butterfly and bee vision.

I have written about that flower before HERE.

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta in reflected ultraviolet photography X

Today outside shots of a flower originating from the USA Prairie, a Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter. All shots were done at f8. Lens was a rather rare Ultra Achromatic Takumar 4.5/85mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was afternoon sunlight.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Human vision:
 

Reflected UV:
 

Diptych of human vision, reflected UV (left to right, top to bottom):
 

This flower shows a very prominent UV bullseye pattern, as its petals are very UV bright (around 365nm) to about the middle and its center is very UV dark, and all this gets nicely visible.

I have previously written about that flower HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos