Deep UV Ultraviolet Reflected Light Photography at UV-B and UV-C recording with candle light

Today another proof that reflected UV photography is doable at UV-B and UV-C using several special, up to NIR blocked, narrowband filters and a very different UV camera, an amplified 190-650nm MCP equipped video camera. Lens used was a CERCO f1.8/45mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was a candle flame.

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This reveals, that the deeper one looks into UV, the area where the candle flame emits that UV moves from the top of the flame down to the sides of the flame. Pretty amazing how sensitive this type of camera is, as the needed amplification was still just in the lower 30% of the total available range.

I have a newer system HERE with a normal camera attached to the MCP amplification device.

I have previously written more about combustion and UV HERE.

Btw. Michael Faraday has in 1848 given six famous lectures about the chemical history of the candle, which may be read about HERE

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

Cloisonné ceramics in reflected ultraviolet and simulated bee vision photography

Today about ceramics, Cloisonné especially and reflected UV photography. I have three different objects here as targets, from Thailand and India. For that test I'm using my the UV-Nikkor 105mm, as well as my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter and my bee vision simulating XBV6 filter. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at f11.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Diptych Visual light (top) and reflected UV light image (bottom):
 

Diptych Visual light (top) and simulated bee vision image (bottom):
 

Interesting to see how in reflected UV light and especially in simulated bee vision imaging, the center piece shows otherwise invisible patterns.


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

ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm lens for reflected ultraviolet photography using an African Violet

Today about a highly specialized UV lens, the ELCAN (Ernst Leitz CAnada) UV f5.6/52mm lens, a one-off prototype (I don't know of any other special UV lens Leitz/Leica has ever made). In lack of a flower with UV pattern, I'm using a African violet hybride flower for that test as well as my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at f8.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visual light image:
 

Reflected UV using Baader-U filter:
 

Simulated Bee Vision image:
 

IR image:
 

Triptych Visual, reflected UV, Simulated Bee Vision (left to right):
 

This specialized UV lens works very well, there is hardly any focus shift visible, not even between UV and IR (!), contrast is high, there is no visible hotspot and the lens renders very sharp and crispy images. A welcome new member of my small collection of such specialized lenses.

P.S.: The images were not re-adjusted in focus between all shots, to show that there is no visible focus shift between VIS and UV.

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