Woodland Sunflower - Helianthus divaricatus in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision

Today shots of a woodland flower, Woodland Sunflower - Helianthus divaricatus in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens was my CERCO 94mm quartz flourite 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 image using experimental XBV filter:  

Triptych of the above images:  


This flower has a specific and unique UV pattern, its petals are brightly UV reflective around 365nm up to the middle or two-thirds and the rest and its center is UV dark forming an UV bullseye pattern, and all this gets nicely visible. I will do more research about this species...

There is more about that flower HERE.

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