Using a UV fill light added to strobes for stills (i-Torch Pro6+) (?)

I just received my new iTorch Pro6+ and may have a chance to try it out next month (macro shoots). I am interested in how will it will work as a fill/add in light in UV mode (it is 2800 lumens, 120 degree beam angle, and UV is at the 420nm sweet spot for bio-luminescence). Any tips on the best way to make use of this?

Will this be enough UV power to bring out luminescence in stills? I assume I will still need my strobes, but I was thinking to reduce power by at least full stop so the strobes don't overpower the UV. Or do I need a second UV lamp and just shoot without strobe when I want shoot creatures and corals glowing?

If you only want fluorescence then you will need filters on your strobe. Otherwise all you will get is the strobe light.

Bill

If you only want fluorescence then you will need filters on your strobe. Otherwise all you will get is the strobe light.

Bill

Thank you .. what filters should I bring? I assume you mean filters/gells/diffusers on the strobes themselves, not at the camera.

You will need both. The bits that I use regularly are from NightSea and FireDiveGear. Both companies make great stuff.

Bill

 

Thank you .. what filters should I bring? I assume you mean filters/gels/diffusers on the strobes themselves, not at the camera.

For fluorescence photography, you need a filter on the light source to limit the output to the excitation wavelength, and you also need a second filter on the lens to remove the excitation wavelength, and only allow the emitted light. You are trying to photograph the light that has been re-emitted by the fluorescent organism. If you allowed the excitation light to reach the camera, it would over power the weaker fluorescence signal that are being emitted by the various organisms. So, as Bill says, you need filters at both the light source and the camera, albeit different wavelength filters at each spot. I hope that makes sense.

 

 

 

For fluorescence photography, you need a filter on the light source to limit the output to the excitation wavelength, and you also need a second filter on the lens to remove the excitation wavelength, and only allow the emitted light. You are trying to photograph the light that has been re-emitted by the fluorescent organism. If you allowed the excitation light to reach the camera, it would over power the weaker fluorescence signal that are being emitted by the various organisms. So, as Bill says, you need filters at both the light source and the camera, albeit different wavelength filters at each spot. I hope that makes sense.

Ahhh yes! I did not understand how the excitation filters on the strobe would help rather than overwhelm the lighting from the organism.. .but now it makes sense. Thank you!!!