Compass Plant - Silphium laciniatum in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision

Today shots of a Prairie flower, Compass Plant - Silphium laciniatum in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens was a 55mm Dialyte lens. Light source was sunlight. All shots were done at about f8.

[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 flower has no specific UV pattern, its petals are quite UV dark and also is its center, but with some very little reflection around 385nm, and all this gets nicely visible.


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