Mexican Creeping Zinnia - Sanvitalia procumbens in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated bee and butterfly vision

Today shots of a spring flower, a Mexican Creeping Zinnia - Sanvitalia procumbens in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as my XBV filters for simulating butterfly and bee vision. Lens was a CERCO 94mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sunlight. All shots were done at about f5.6.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image:
 

UV image using Baader-U filter (approx. 320-395nm, effective peak approx. 375nm):
 

Simulated butterfly vision (UV - VIS) using XBV3 filter:
 

Simulated bee vision (UV - VIS) using XBV5 filter:
 

Simulated bee vision (UV - VIS) using XBV6 filter:
 

Quadtriptych of some of the above:
 


This Mexican Zinna has a strongly visible, deep into UV reaching pattern. Its petal tips are UV bright, its center is quite UV dark, so this gets quite nicely visible.


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