Ultraviolet Photography Reveals the Unexpected Fluorescence of Flowers

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

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Self-proclaimed “photon-packing mixed photographer” Craig Burrows continues to captivate with his unique series of floral illuminations. Captured using cameras modified for ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence, the fanciful photographs showcase Burrow's ability to turn ordinary flora into beaming blooms.

To create each dazzling depiction, Burrows imaginatively employs a filtered 365nm LED light and a special lens (found, he explains, in “kits typically used for crime scene investigation”). This Technicolor treatment brings out the flower’s natural fluorescence, as it only conveys ultraviolet and infrared light. This results in an ethereal aesthetic, making everything from pollen and petals to stamens and stems spectacularly glow and glisten. 

To further enhance his subjects, Burrows sets the fairytale-esque flowers against stark black backdrops. On top of making the images' outstanding hues even more dramatic, the monochromatic backgrounds ensure all eyes will be on each fantastic flower.

If you’d like to see more of Burrow’s brightly-colored photographs, be sure to follow him on Instagram. And, if you’d like to order some out-of-this-world prints, visit his website.

Specializing in ultraviolet photography, Craig Burrows transforms ordinary flowers into beaming blooms.

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

UV Flowers UV Photography Ultraviolet Photography Craig Burrows

Craig Burrows: Website | Flickr | InstagramFacebookTwitter | Tumblr | Blog
h/t: [Colossal]

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Craig Burrows.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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