Spring Flowers 2014: Elephant's ears - Bergenia cordifolia - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the pretty Elephant's ears - Bergenia cordifolia early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Bergenia flower has no prominent UV pattern, but highly UV reflective petals around 385nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Horny goat weed - Epimedium sulphureum - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the interesting and quite pretty Horny goat weed - Epimedium sulphureum early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Epimedium flower has a prominent UV pattern, UV dark center and anthers, and highly reflective petals around 365nm forming some UV bullseye pattern. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Grape hyacinth - Muscari neglectum - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the well known Grape hyacinth - Muscari neglectum early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Muscari flower has no very prominent UV pattern, but shows some reflection around 385nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Pheasant's Eye - Adonis vernalis - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the pretty Pheasant's Eye - Adonis vernalis early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Adonis flower has a well known bulls-eye UV pattern, its center is UV dark, whereas its petals strongly reflect around 365nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Checkerboard flower - Fritillaria tubiformis - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the well known Checkerboard flower - Fritillaria tubiformis early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Fritillaria flower has an interesting checkerboard UV pattern. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography II

Here today again shots of the well known Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U and the deeper reaching Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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):  

Simulated bee vision image using experimental XBV filter:  

Quadriptych of the above images:  


This Potentilla flower has a well known bulls-eye UV pattern, its center is UV dark, whereas its petals strongly reflect around 365nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Article in NAUTILUS Magazine "How Animals see the World" human vs animal vision

Today just an announcement about a very interesting article in NAUTILUS Magazine.  It is by Elizabeth Preston and carries the title: "How Animals See the World - See through the eyes of cats, birds, fish, and snakes".

It is about the different types of vision, our human tetrachromatic one compared to some other animals, made nicely visible using interactive image sliders.

It has my pictures in it of the following flowers:
- Rudbeckia fulgida
 

- Geranium oxonianum
 

The link to the Nautilus article is HERE

*** I dedicate this to my mom, Helga Schmitt, who just today celebrates her 80th birthday. Without her love and support all this would not be here ***

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

Spring Flowers 2014: Crocus flower dead vs alive - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Today about something that caught my attention when I was out in the park shooting in reflected ultraviolet (UV) light, here a Crocus. It is the fact that a dead crocus flower dos not show the same colors in UV as one alive, which usually reflects around 385nm. This is not visible in normal light. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet light using my standard Baader-U filter. Lens used was my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image:  

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

Diptych of the above:  


This early spring flower shows its very specific UV pattern. Crocus usually is reflecting only in long wave UV around 385nm, visible as a bluish violet and its center (anthers, stamen) is UV dark. Its petals inside the flower are UV reflective, maybe caused by the shiny petal surface. But the dead one appears just grey as the stones around, wheras in visible light it looks like the one alive. Pure coincidence? I don't think so. Why should nature wate energy and attract a bee when there is nothing to gain for both sides? This older quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.

P.S.: a very alive spring Crocus (C. longiflorus) may be seen HERE

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

Spring Flowers 2014: Lesser Celandine - Ranunculus ficaria - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography II

Here today in situ shots of the well known Lesser Celandine - Ranunculus ficaria early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U filter and in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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 Lesser Celandine flower has a well known bulls-eye UV pattern, its center is UV dark, whereas its petals strongly reflect around 365nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.

I have written about this flower already HERE (studio shots).

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

Spring Flowers 2014: Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today shots of the well known Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U filter and in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. f8.

[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 Potentilla flower has a well known bulls-eye UV pattern, its center is UV dark, whereas its petals strongly reflect around 365nm. The X80QF quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Ranunculus ficaria - Lesser Celandine - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for deep reflected ultraviolet photography

Here today deep UV studio shots of the well known Ranunculus ficaria - Lesser Celandine early spring flower. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U filter as well as several UV only transmitting narrowband filters. Lens used my X80QF f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at approx. f11.

[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):  

UV image using Uranus-U filter (approx. 300-325nm, effective peak approx. 313nm):  

UV image using Neptun-U filter (approx. 290-330nm, effective peak approx. 310nm):  

Hexaptych of the above images:  


This Lesser Celandine flower has a well known bulls-eye UV pattern, this time down to 300nm and beyond. Its center is UV dark, but its petals are strong UV reflective around 365nm, ie. UV bright, both invisible to us humans. The X80QF apo quartz fluorite lens makes all that nicely visible.


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