- A visually opaque (Wratten) #87 filter gel was used for the red image,
and the Ultraviolet transmitting Schott Glass UG1 filter for the second pseudocolor photograph.
The Zuiko 50mm macro f 3.5 lens was focussed on the brass rod that supports the feeder. There seems increased depth of field with the shorter wavelengths transmitted by the UG1 filter.
- Air blanked Spectrum of my Schott UG1 (ultraviolet) filter
The "Y" (vertical) axis shows the wavelength in nanometers from 900 nm to 200 nm,
the "X" (horizontal) axis shows the per cent transmittance.
Dark red under the small infrared lobe which is centered at 760 nm and purple for the larger Ultraviolet peak which is centered just beyond 340nm, probably 360 nm.
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) -- Lentar brand 250 mm catadioptric (mirror) lens fit with a glass Wratten #12 Yellow filter. Three extension tubes ( 7 + 14 + 25 ) = 46 mm. The film was Kodak EIR (Ektachrome Infrared) at ISO 200 developed in E6 processing.
Kodak EIR film is made on a sturdy "E-star" base. This "E-star" (polyester) base makes the film difficult to cut for certain types of automatic slide mounting machines. I was advised that some photofinishers will refuse to develop Kodak EIR film because mounting it will break the slide cutter. Order the film "sleeved" or developed but not mounted. Pako (brand) makes slide mounts with a special tool that makes hand mounting easy to do. Use lint-less cotton or polyester film handling gloves to avoid fingerprints on the film.
Since Mirror/Catadioptric lenses focus light to the same plane regardless of wavelength they are particularly suited for infrared as well as ultraviolet photography.
- I made the photos above using an OM2S camera and a Zuiko 28 mm lens fit with a 49-55 mm step up filter adapter. The EIR film speed was ISO 200 and developed in E6. I have not adjusted the colors or balance with software. I did use the sharpening tool at its default setting and made minor adjustments like cropping. Moving your pointer with the mouse over the image will tell you which filter was used on the camera.
This bloom of the Big Stinky Flower (Titan arum) was announced on the local TV new and thousands of people turned out for the event.
Comparison photos of the Titan Arum:
Ultraviolet (B/W 403) on Kodak EIR (E6) film left and no filter, Kodak Gold 200 right.
This giant flower also emits a foul odor that attracts insect pollinators. The odor was definitely unpleasant, and the name "Corpse Flower" is an appropriate one. It attracted a few flies but mostly people came to see this rare event. During the peak hours the line stretched for miles and it took me four hours to go through ! It was so crowded that there was no room to set up my tripod. I photographed the big flower in two sections because the entire image would not fit into the frame even though I was using the "portrait" aspect. The Schott UG1/BW403 filter is opaque to visible light so I could not use the viewfinder. I stitched the images together on the computer using Adobe Photoshop LE.
The lens was a single coated Zuiko 55mm f1.2 lens at f1.2 with the B+W 403 Ultraviolet filter. For Ultraviolet photography a single coated lens is preferable to a multicoated lens and an uncoated lens or a quartz lens even better. The venerable, single coated, Zuiko 55mm/1.2 is a good choice of lens for ultraviolet photography because of it's large aperture and the fact that it also fits the Olympus T10 Ring Flash. This Flash Unit is powerful for its size. It emits a short, diffuse pulse of light in all of the wavelengths required.
Film Type: Kodak EIR Infrared Ektachrome (E6) ISO 200 (left photo) and Kodak Gold 200 (C41) ISO 200 (right photo)
The B+W 403 is a Schott Glass UG1 filter and it requires between eight and twenty times as much light as a normal exposure.
Exposure: The OM2S camera was set to 1/30th second. The aperture of the lens was f 1.2 for the UV picture and f 8 for the Visible light image.
See the Huntington Botanical Gardens web site for more information and many photos:
Interesting facts about:
Amorphophallus titanum, the Titan Arum or Bunga Bangkai
UPDATE: The plant has now set seed and some of these self pollinated seedlings have sprouted !
A new plant conservatory that has some architectural resemblance to the famous Kew Gardens in London is under construction at the Huntington.
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A small circle of Wratten #12 yellow gelatin filter was fit behind the 500mm catadioptric (mirror) lens
to make this Kodak Infrared Ektachrome (EIR) image in the Southern California Upper Newport Bay Estuary.
The image saturation was boosted 33% in Adobe Photoshop LE
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A few blue herons can be seen in this exposure which is from the same roll of film as the previous image.
- Action Infrared Photography by Andrew Davidhazy (R I T)
- W.J. Markerink's Infrared Web Site
- Photography Board - ... Sharpen your images! ... a place to find out more about photograpy/imaging.
- Simon's IR SFX
- G.W's SPEARMINT Color EIR pages
- Bergquist's FAQ
- Hawkins' Olympus OMs
- CoCam & Infrared Photography FAQ - New Edition (V2.4.4)
