Ladyslipper - Cypripedum sp in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated butterfly and bee vision

Today shots of a decorative flower (actually two, as there are also orange Welsh Poppies - Meconopsis cambrica mixed in), a Ladyslipper - Cypripedium sp 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. Lens was a CERCO 94mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sun. 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 butterfly vision (UV - VIS) using XBV3 filter:
 

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

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

Quadriptych of some of the above:
 


This Ladyslipper flower has no very specific UV pattern, but quite UV bright around 390nm is its balloon formed lower petal. The Welsh Poppy petals reflect strongly around 365nm with a dark UV center and that all gets nicely visible.

There is more about that flower 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

Negative Space used by Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy): UV ultraviolet photography

Today about Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy), which makes use of a very interesting concept: Negative Space. I made those shots at Herrmashof Park, Weinheim, Germany using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet that I used before, stopped down mildly to various degrees to control a wanted soft focus effect. Shots in UV were done using the Baader-U filter and sunlight was used as light source.

[click on image to see a larger one]







The most interesting part, aside that soft focus effect was for me, how this California Poppy uses its pitch black petals (in UV) to make its anthers stand out brightly against that dark background by massively increasing contrast. To help attract pollinators? I would guess so...


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