Oncostele Wildcat 'Golden Red Star' orchid in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated butterfly and bee vision

Today shots of a decorative cultivated orchid, a Oncostele Wildcat 'Golden Red Star' in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as my XBV filters for simulating bee and butterfly vision. Lens was a CERCO 94mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. 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):
 

UV image using Jupiter-U filter (approx. 280-385nm, effective peak approx. 365nm):
 

UV image using Saturn-U filter (approx. 300-350nm, effective peak approx. 325nm):
 

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

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

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

IR image (mainly) using ND filter:
 

Hexaptych of some of the above:
 


This orchid has a very specific UV pattern, its petals are very UV dark, but its lower petal lip has on the lower center a very UV bright spot as well as on its center "nose" formation reflecting around 385nm and all this gets nicely visible.

There is more about this orchid 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