Rhododendron ponticum in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated bee vision

Today shots of a spring flower, a Rhododendron ponticum in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as my XBV filters for simulating 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 bee vision (UV - VIS) using XBV6 filter:
 

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

Quadtriptych of some of the above:
 


This Rhododendron flower has no specific UV pattern, rather similar to the visible image, but its petals are bright in UV around 380nm, and anthers and stamen are UV dark and this gets 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