ultraviolet pattern in a flower (Helianthus tuberosus)

[Franz Neidl]

The picture shows the ultraviolet pattern in the Jerusalem-sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus).
I used an old digital camera (Pentax istD) an old russian objectiv without coating and a very new and modern ultraviolet filter from Baader (developped for astronomy).
The first picture shows the flower without the filter, the second with it (i.e. without any visible light).
(I made the photographs 3th 10.2008)

Franz

[dmillard]

Nice images Franz!

I was playing with a 35mm Noflexar and a Baader filter myself last weekend

Best regards -
David

[elf]

How did you get the red tint? Have you experimented with other interpretations?

[Cyclops]

Interesting how the dark eye spreads into the corolla of the flower in UV

[Franz Neidl]

Thank your for your answers!

for David (dmillard): what camera are you using and how are the results?
(as objective I used the russian Industar 61)

for Elf: for the moment I can not explain the red tint, but 2 things for me are important:
1. I excluded completely the visible light
2. The red colour is not important for me. Important is the black spot (you could not invent it). This spot is to explain with biological reasons.

for Cyclops:
the "dark eye" serves the plant for attracting the attention of the bees. It is a strategy (not the only one) developped during the evolution. Because the bees are also able to see ultraviolet and polarised light - according to the famous studies of Nobel-prize- winner Karl von Frisch. Bees prefer the dark coulor and they are not able to see the red colour.

best regards
Franz

[Cyclops]

for Cyclops:
the "dark eye" serves the plant for attracting the attention of the bees. It is a strategy (not the only one) developped during the evolution. Because the bees are also able to see ultraviolet and polarised light - according to the famous studies of Nobel-prize- winner Karl von Frisch. Bees prefer the dark coulor and they are not able to see the red colour.

best regards
Franz

Yea being a plant enthusiast I know about how bees use the UV light to find the nectar(or are the plants using the bees?)
Fascinating stuff

[elf]

Thank your for your answers!

for Elf: for the moment I can not explain the red tint, but 2 things for me are important:
1. I excluded completely the visible light
2. The red colour is not important for me. Important is the black spot (you could not invent it). This spot is to explain with biological reasons.
Franz

Since we can't see UV, something had to interpret the color. It would be interesting to see other interpretations, perhaps with the red color cast removed. The workflow shown by Cyberspider in this thread may work: http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... php?t=6518.

[Aynia]

Interesting photos. Didn't know that about bees!

[Harold Gough]

This species is commonly known as the Jerusalem Artichoke. Its edible tubers contain inulin, often mis-read as insulin.

Harold

[dmillard]

Thank your for your answers!

for David (dmillard): what camera are you using and how are the results?
(as objective I used the russian Industar 61)

Hello Franz,

For UV, I currently use a Nikon D70 with a 35mm Noflexar or Nikon 63mm f/3.5 enlarging lens, with a pair of Vivitar 283 flashes with the plastic panels removed (I wish I could afford a 60mm Coastal Optics lens ). Stacking UV images works well, allowing you to use a larger aperture and obtain a greater depth of field. I'll try to post some images this Sunday, and would definitely enjoy seeing more of yours.

Best regards,
David

[Cyclops]

I got to wondering. If pieces of such flowers were examined under a microscope using U V light. Get close up views of the U V emitting parts of the plants cells! Anyone done this?

[kds315*]

Very nice one Franz!

I usually use Bibble and "click white" to
change the red directly from the Nikon
RAW files (or jpg) to convert it "al gusto"

Since UV by definition has no "color" you
could choose whatever you want. I usually
use the short wavelength end (blue or violet
for it), since this is how I see UV.

The "red tint" comes from the UV sensitivity
of the RED CCD channel.

[kds315*]

I got to wondering. If pieces of such flowers were examined under a microscope using U V light. Get close up views of the U V emitting parts of the plants cells! Anyone done this?

Something like this? Not really micro though...(Primula leaf)

[Harold Gough]

I usually use Bibble and "click white" to
change the red directly from the Nikon
RAW files (or jpg) to convert it "al gusto"

I seem to have uncovered a deeply-coded message from a spy ring.

Harold

[kds315*]

http://bibblelabs.com/

Not really THAT secret...