Ratibida columnifera (Upright Prairie coneflower): human vision vs simulated bee vison; reflected UV ultraviolet photography

Today about Ratibida columnifera, the "Upright Prairie Coneflower" or "Mexican Hat" in its multispectral representation. I took some shots at Hermannshof, Weinheim, Germany in normal human vision VIS, in UV using the Baader-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV2 and new XBV6 filters respectively.

[click on image to see a larger one]

First showing a juvenile flower

Visual shot:


Simulated butterfly vison using XBV2 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV6 filter:


UV using Baader-U filter:


Then an adult flower

Visual shot:


Simulated butterfly vison using XBV2 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV6 filter:


UV using Baader-U filter:


This attractive flower, pretty common to nearly all of the US shows a very intense, Rudbeckia-like bullseye pattern with a petal tip reflection around 365nm.

As you may have noticed, I'm still working on my bee vision (BV) filters; BV6 is one with very intensive colors and much shorter exposure time, due to new filter glass combinations.

More about these special new filters here later in a seperate entry.


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