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

Gazania rigens: Quartz Singlet Lens for Soft Focus Reflected UV Ultraviolet Photography III

Today a set of shots with a Gazania rigens flower that I have shot previously with a quartz-fluorite lens now using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet that I used before, stopped down mildly to various degrees, so as to control a wanted soft focus effect. Shots were done using the Baader-U filter and sunlight as light source and "contra lucem".

[click on image to see a larger one]







So, I'm sure this is not to everyones taste, but on my way to explore other possibilities then just "scientific" shots, it is a welcome new style.

Part II is 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

Gazania: Quartz Singlet Lens for Soft Focus Reflected UV Ultraviolet Photography II

Today a set of shots with a different Gazania rigens flower that I have shot previously with a quartz-fluorite lens now using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet that I used before, stopped down mildly to various degrees, so as to control a wanted soft focus effect. Shots were done using the Baader-U filter and sunlight as light source on my balcony with some glass mirror effect.

[click on image to see a larger one]







So, I'm sure this is not to everyones taste, but on my way to explore other possibilities then just "scientific" shots, it is a welcome new style.

Part I is HERE and part III is 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

Thistle: Quartz Singlet Lens for Soft Focus Reflected UV Ultraviolet Photography

Today a set of shots of a Thistle flower from 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]







So, I'm sure this is not to everyones taste, but on my way to explore other possibilities then just "scientific" shots, it is a welcome new style.


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

Rudbeckia triloba: Quartz Singlet Lens for Soft Focus Reflected UV Ultraviolet Photography

Today a set of shots with a Rudbeckia triloba flower 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]







So, I'm sure this is not to everyones taste, but on my way to explore other possibilities then just "scientific" shots, it is a welcome new style.


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

Gazania rigens: Quartz Singlet Lens for Soft Focus Reflected UV Ultraviolet Photography

Today a set of shots with a Gazania rigens flower that I have shot previously with a quartz-fluorite lens now using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet that I used before, stopped down mildly to various degrees, so as to control a wanted soft focus effect. Shots were done using the Baader-U filter and sunlight as light source.

[click on image to see a larger one]







So, I'm sure this is not to everyones taste, but on my way to explore other possibilities then just "scientific" shots, it is a welcome new style.

Part II is HERE and part III is 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

Gazania rigens: human vision vs simulated bee vison using a quartz singlet lens for reflected UV ultraviolet photography (III)

This is a 3rd set of shots with the same flower Gazania rigens flower that I have shot previously with a quartz-fluorite lens and the same setup as in shots before using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet, stopped down to around f16 (estimated as no scale). Shots are in normal human vision VIS, in UV using the Baader-U and Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV2 and XBV3 filters respectively. Flower placed into the center, higher magnification, otherwise unchanged setup as before.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visual shot:


Simulated bee vison using XBV3 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV2 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV5 filter:


UV using Baader-U filter:


UV using Jupiter-U filter:


I haven't re-adjusted the UV focus, so the rear of the flower drifts into blur, that could be avoided, if so wanted by individually adjusting focus for each shot.

I used a 365nm UV LED for focusing, that worked pretty well, even stopped down that much.

In my opinion this central placement is the best way to use this lens singlet, as it minimizes the visible blur, yet delivers acceptable sharpness in that whole spectral range.


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

Gazania rigens: human vision vs simulated bee vison using a quartz singlet lens for reflected UV ultraviolet photography (II)

This is a 2nd set of shots with the same flower Gazania rigens flower that I have shot previously with a quartz-fluorite lens and the same setup as in shots before using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet, stopped down to around f16 (estimated as no scale). Shots are in normal human vision VIS, in UV using the Baader-U and Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV2 and XBV3 filters respectively.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visual shot:


Simulated bee vison using XBV3 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV2 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV5 filter:


UV using Baader-U filter:


UV using Jupiter-U filter:


The idea behind that 2nd set was to get a better estimate of the VIS-UV focus shift (measured 5.8%, VIS is quite larger) as well as to show the effect of out-of-center imaging, to get an idea how the blur develops. I guess that gets pretty clear now.


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

Gazania rigens: human vision vs simulated bee vison using a quartz singlet lens for reflected UV ultraviolet photography

This is a Gazania rigens flower that I have shot before but now using a custom made up UV lens from a simple quartz singlet, stopped down to around f16 (estimated as no scale). Took some shots in normal human vision VIS, in UV using the Baader-U and Jupiter-U filter, as well as in simulated bee vision using my XBV2 and XBV3 filters respectively.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visual shot:


Simulated bee vison using XBV3 filter:


Simulated bee vison using XBV2 filter:


UV using Baader-U filter:


UV using Jupiter-U filter:


So and here you have the comparison as a quadriptych VIS-UV-BV2-BV3:




Missed the focus at the visible shot a bit obviously since this lens is not color corrected, i.e. has some focus shift. As you may further notice, the center is quite sharp, but of course the more outside it gets, the more the blur increases. For flowers this can actually be quite nice in my opinion.

Well, of course I cannot make a decision for somebody else if an investment of a few hours work and, depending if a mechanic is needed or not, the cost for making such a lens mount is within budget, but surely such a quartz singlet could be, as it can be had new for about $100. There is inconvenience of course, due to the "substantial" focus shift, but lifeview solves that easily.

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