UV induced fluorescence

Surprisingly easy to do, all you need is a UV source, suitable subjects & a dark room:
uvif small by Mike Kanssen, on Flickr

UVIF + focus light small by Mike Kanssen, on Flickr

I've enjoyed viewing objects in UV light for years; sometimes very impressive, and revealing of features not seen under visible light.
In particular, some minerals are quite dull in visible light, and spectacular under UV, especially shortwave (used with caution for eyes and skin).

wow these look great! This looks like a lot of fun, will have to dig out the old UV light from the loft

Thanks, I was inspired by petrochemist's post to resurrect that image. I have a long-tube blacklight in the closet dating back to 1968. :-)
But note, this shot was done with a shortwave light; standard UV lights work with some minerals, but not as many. Shortwave costs more and needs careful use.

Cross posted from What did You Shoot Today With Your Pentax.

Just received the Adaptalux Pod Minis with UV arms. This is a UVIVF image. Unmodified Pentax 645Z with Pentax 645 A Series 120mm macro. One pod on boost other on devault. ISO 400 F8 69 seconds.
Thanks for looking,
barondla

That first one looks good, I've not managed to get flowers to work with my UVIF efforts. The other two aren't visible to me :(

Thanks. Something went wrong, there is only the one picture. I've done a few shots with Nemo UV flashlights that have the blocking filter built in. They are brighter than the Adaptalux, but harder to aim and the light doesn't seem as even.

I was surprised that all the Orchids have different patterns. I was expecting them to all be similar, like Dandelions in UV.
What are you having trouble with?
Thanks,
barondla

I've only had a very limited try, at a workshop I run.
It might be the UV sources I had were not energetic enough (~395nm mainly) or background light levels might have been too high. For most of the other subjects I'd selected fluorescence was strong enough to be clearly visible.

A spooky Halloween image. Pentaz 645Z, Pentax 645 120mm macro, Tiffen Haze/UV 2E, 2 Adaptalux Pod Mini with UV arms. ISO 400 at F8 and 237 seconds. The UV arms have 365nm leds with filtration, probably ZWB-1.
A very long exposure that would probably never work outside. I will try raising the ISO on future shots.
Thanks for viewing,
barondla

The results obtained by this lighting technique are interesting. 👍

Growth on a tree. Pentax 645Z with Pentax A series 120mm macro. I've shot this tree before but it never had the red organism, just yellow and the other colors. This is a UVIVF image illuminated via a "NEMO" 365nm UV torch.
Used two new enhancements this time. First is the Zeiss *T Star UV filter that cuts even more blue light than the special Tiffen UV Haze E. Fluorescence photography requires pure light for best results. Even at night distant lights were contaminating the tree. So I wrapped a black sheet around the tree and draped it over the camera making a 4'x6' shield. Light painting isn't easy in this situation, but it results in purer colors. Still practicing.

Thanks for looking,
barondla

Fascinating stuff. How does this lichen look in normal daylight?

Thanks. Here is a shot in daylight with the little Pentax Q and #01 normal lens.
Thanks for looking,
barondla