Ultraviolet Photography
Photography using ultraviolet light, either reflected from a subject or as induced visible fluorescence.
Measured in
nm
In depth
Reflected ultraviolet imaging reveals patterns invisible to human eyes — the nectar guides on flowers, sun damage on skin, restoration work on paintings — but it requires quartz optics, since ordinary glass absorbs ultraviolet strongly. Fluorescence photography is far more accessible, using an ultraviolet source and a filter that blocks it while passing the visible glow.
Examples in practice
A flower photographed in reflected ultraviolet shows a dark bullseye pattern that guides pollinating insects.