Treasury flower - Gazania rigens in deep reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated butterfly and bee vision

Today about a Gazania flower Treasury flower - Gazania rigens in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as my XBV filters for simulating bee and butterfly vision, but this time additionally also the Jupiter-U (280-385nm, eff. 365nm) and Saturn-U (300-350nm, eff. 325nm) filters. Lens used was the 94mm CERCO quartz fluorite lens. Light source was a modified for UV high power Xenon flash.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image using UV/IR cut filter:
 

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):
 

Simulated butterfly vision (UV - VIS) using XBV3 filter:
 

Simulated bee vision (UV - VIS) using XBV5 filter:
 

Simulated bee vision (UV - VIS) using XBV6 filter:
 

Infrared light image using IR filter:
 

Polyptych of the above:
 


Interesting to notice, how the visible details change when the used wavelength gets shorter and the then appearance of unique colors. The outer petals reflect strongly UV around 370nm, there are also highly reflecting marks inside around a dark UV center and that all gets nicely visible.

There is a Part II about this same flower using filter stacks HERE.

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