Rudbeckia missouriensis - simulated tri- and tetrachromatic vision

Today from my evolving Rudbeckia series a Rudbeckia missouriensis flower portrait in simulated trichromatic and tetrachromatic vision. Birds and butterflies are Tetrachromats, so are able to see UV, blue, green and red, wheras we and bees are trichomats; we see blue, green and red, bees however see UV, blue and green. This is what I have tried here to simulate using specilized filtering techniques.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Simulated tetrachromatic vision (i.e. UV=blue, Blue, Green, Red):



Simulated trichromatic vision (i.e. UV=blue, Blue, Green):



For comparison, this is the normal, human vision version (i.e. Blue, Green, Red):



and here also the pure UV (300-400nm) response showing that prominent UV pattern:



Also here for that flower both simulated tri- and tetrachromatic vision images include that UV pattern plus also the other channels bees (trichromatic) resp. birds/butterflies (tetrachromatic) can see.

And in situ shot example of this flower is 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