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

Here today 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 and in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. 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):  

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.

In situ shots of this flower are HERE.

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