Anyone have experience shooting florescent?

[M DeM]

I've read some "how-to's" on it, and I know what's needed (yellow barrier filter and blue filter)

Since I can't afford the real deal, I'm going to try some guy's DIY get up. (here's the link if anyone's interested: DIY Underwater Fluorescence Filters)

I was just curious if anyone has had a bad/decent/good time doing this, and specifically is there any issues with focus, the way there is when you shoot infrared.

Thanks!

 

[GJC]

The plastic filters scratch easily and are fragile if you try to cut them yourself. I broke one cutting it with a fine saw. So do everything you can to protect them from scratches and bumps.

I use a UV light, so don't have experience with blue filters.

I didn't find the yellow filter helpful at night using UV light. When shooting at night, I'm mostly interested in the florescent colors. Yellow filters will correct background color with ambient or white background light.

I haven't noticed focus issues.

 

[bvanant]

It is easy to get filters for the camera end. Getting high throughput excitation filters though is much more difficult. The dark blue acrylic will not let you get much in the red side of the fluorescence spectrum but is good for greens.
Bill

 

[M DeM]

It is easy to get filters for the camera end. Getting high throughput excitation filters though is much more difficult. The dark blue acrylic will not let you get much in the red side of the fluorescence spectrum but is good for greens.
Bill

I was wondering about that. Especially since it has to be a fairly dark blue...

 

[M DeM]

The plastic filters scratch easily and are fragile if you try to cut them yourself. I broke one cutting it with a fine saw. So do everything you can to protect them from scratches and bumps.

I use a UV light, so don't have experience with blue filters.

I didn't find the yellow filter helpful at night using UV light. When shooting at night, I'm mostly interested in the florescent colors. Yellow filters will correct background color with ambient or white background light.

I haven't noticed focus issues.

fortunately I've got a place right by me that cuts acrylic for cheap!

 

[M DeM]

VERDICT!

The cheapo way I did was horrid. Nothing was clear through the acrylic - looked like we were swimming through pee.

 

[kelemvor]

I haven't used DIY filters, but I have used a blue light with yellow ikelite filters and I've also use a standard UV light. I greatly prefer using blue+yellow filter vs UV.

@M DeM, check Ikelite for filters. They aren't particularly expensive. I've got one ikelite mask filter, one knockoff mask filter, and a knockoff filter for a gopro. The trick is that you need the correct yellow to match the wavelength of your blue light. Yes, you could just strap a mask filter onto the front of your camera if you wanted to. Might be worth cutting it up with a hacksaw or dremel tool first if you're going to do that.

Most fluorescent colors fluoresce a lot more with blue (440-485nm) than with UV (380-440nm).

Good reading on the subject: Fascinating Fluoro Photography

Blue vs UV: Why NIGHTSEA uses Blue Light for Underwater Fluorescence - NIGHTSEA

You might have just got ahold of some crappy acrylic and/or it wasn't quite the right color. The brand name filters are around $50 and the brand name blue lights are under $100. I think I got the knockoff filters on amazon for closer to $25.

 

[M DeM]

You might have just got ahold of some crappy acrylic and/or it wasn't quite the right color. The brand name filters are around $50 and the brand name blue lights are under $100. I think I got the knockoff filters on amazon for closer to $25.

This is helpful stuff. And I think you're probably right about the crappy acrylic.... I'm going to go read that article right now!

 

[Orcabait]

I have a full setup from Firedivegear and have used it a few times. It's hard to photograph for sure. I need some more dives to get the technique down. The filters really suck the light from the strobes.

 

[tursiops]

NightSea is the premier source for information and accessories. The guy that runs it pretty much invented the subject many years ago...

The article linked above from them on UV vs Blue light really is the point: what you want is to use the color that most excites the fluorescence, so you get the maximum effect...and that is blue light, not "black" (UV) light. You then need the yellow filter to block the blue...but the fluorescence still comes through.