Saturday, August 24, 2013

Eryngium amethystinum in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision

Today shots of a decorative flower of the Apiaceae family, Eryngium amethystinum in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter. Lens was my CERCO 94mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was sunlight. All shots were done at about f5.6.

[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 pretty flower has a specific UV pattern, its little individual flower petals are UV bright around 385nm, whereas the flower center is quite UV dark, and all this gets nicely visible.


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