Spring Flowers 2014: Competing for bee attention - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Well, spring finally seem to have arrived in Weinheim where I live, so here a few shots of some first spring flowers, Crocus and Winter Aconite, obviously competing for bee's attention. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U filter and in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was an older f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. 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:  


It is quite interesting to notice that Winter Aconite with UV reflection around 365nm and Crocus reflecting UV around 380nm are competing for bee's attention. I wonder which one wins, there haven't been many bees aroudn, mainly bumble bees, but I guess the Crosus does. This older quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.


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

Spring Flowers 2014: Crocus longiflorus - 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens for reflected ultraviolet photography

Well, spring finally seem to have arrived in Weinheim where I live, so here a few shots of some first spring flowers, like that Crocus longiflorus. Shots were done aside from visible photography in reflected ultraviolet using Baader-U filter and in simulated bee vision using my XBV6 filter. Lens used was an older f3.2 / 80mm Quartz Fluorite lens. Light source was sun. All shots were done at approx. 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:  


This attractive early spring flower shows its very specific UV pattern. Crocus usually is reflecting only in long wave UV around 380nm, visible as a bluish violet and its center (anthers, stamen) is UV dark. Its petals inside the flower are UV reflective, maybe caused by the shiny petal surface. This older quartz fluorite lens is reproducing this quite well and all that gets nicely visible.

P.S.: UV photographgy can reveal if a crocus is alive or dead, have a look HERE.

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