Fluorescent photos?

[stepcutnut]

 

[stepcutnut]

Here it is with the fluor from the sunshine

 

[chrono]

I''m so loving this thread.

 

[zeolite]

Kismet: How do I get them to stop looking so purple in the photos?
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/gemtest.htm
Quoting from this reference: Stones that look purplish are inert, with the "purple" color being a reflection of the light source

Chrono: It looks like maybe only the top pink sapphire might show a reaction,
Yes, only the top sapphire is reacting strongly. The lower one is fluorescing weakly, since it is still red, and not the purple of an inert stone that is reflecting the light source.

http://www.uvsystems.com/articles/uvlightandfluorescentminerals.pdfQuoting from this reference: Fluorescence is the visible light produced by certain minerals when they are illuminated by the invisible light rays of an ultraviolet (UV) light source. The term was coined in 1852 by Sir George Stokes (1820-1903) …Fluorescence occurs as “activator” atoms in the fluorescing mineral absorb UV, thereby transferring an electron from a lower vibration band to a less-stable upper (i.e., higher-energy) vibration band. As a result, the electron is thrown into increased vibration which, in turn, transfers energy to neighboring atoms. Thus, the energized electron gradually gives up much of its new-found energy as heat and gradually slips down to the lower edge of the upper vibration band. Next, the electron gives up all, or nearly all, of its remaining surplus energy derived from UV radiation in one burst, in the form of visible light, while returning to its original “ground state.” This, then, is fluorescence. In accordance with Stokes’ law of fluorescence, the light produced must be of lower energy (i.e., longer wavelength) than that taken in earlier from the absorbed UV, with the remainder of the energy dissipated as heat. Stokes’ law, then, allows a blue light to produce a red fluorescence, but not vice-versa.

 

[Kismet]

Date: 3/16/2010 1:39:25 PM
Author: zeolite
Kismet: How do I get them to stop looking so purple in the photos?

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/gemtest.htm

Quoting from this reference: Stones that look purplish are inert, with the ''purple'' color being a reflection of the light source

Thanks for the link and the explanation! The funny thing is is that in the picture of the sapphire and spinel they don''t look purple to my eyes; the sapphire looks red and the spinel looks redder. Are my eyes being fooled (more than possible) or is it the camera picking up something I''m not seeing?

 

[zeolite]

Date: 3/16/2010 1:48:49 PM
Author: Kismet

Thanks for the link and the explanation! The funny thing is is that in the picture of the sapphire and spinel they don''t look purple to my eyes; the sapphire looks red and the spinel looks redder. Are my eyes being fooled (more than possible) or is it the camera picking up something I''m not seeing?

The human eye has somewhat of an automatic white balance. If you look at a white wall at night , that is being lighted by a flourescent light, your eye and your brain will tell you it is pure white. But if you photograph it with a film camera, it will show the greenish white color that is actually there.

LD and Gene''s pictures don''t seem to show the violet color that is actually coming from the black light. I suspect they are setting a fluorescent white balance that is removing the violet color.

The human eye and the camera don''t see subjects exactly the same. And with digital photograpy, you can set the subject or the background color to whatever you want. So digital can show a scene that is not very accurate relative to the colors that are actually there.

 

[LD]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:48:34 PM
Author: zeolite

Date: 3/16/2010 1:48:49 PM
Author: Kismet

Thanks for the link and the explanation! The funny thing is is that in the picture of the sapphire and spinel they don''t look purple to my eyes; the sapphire looks red and the spinel looks redder. Are my eyes being fooled (more than possible) or is it the camera picking up something I''m not seeing?

The human eye has somewhat of an automatic white balance. If you look at a white wall at night , that is being lighted by a flourescent light, your eye and your brain will tell you it is pure white. But if you photograph it with a film camera, it will show the greenish white color that is actually there.

LD and Gene''s pictures don''t seem to show the violet color that is actually coming from the black light. I suspect they are setting a fluorescent white balance that is removing the violet color.

The human eye and the camera don''t see subjects exactly the same. And with digital photograpy, you can set the subject or the background color to whatever you want. So digital can show a scene that is not very accurate relative to the colors that are actually there.

You flatter me! I''m afraid I''m doing no such thing!!!! If you look carefully at the surrounding areas in the photos you will see the violet of the UV penlight. It is mostly definitely there but I think because I still have lights on in the room (albeit dim ones) it''s not a blacked out area so the violet doesn''t show.

I am purely using a Canon IXUS in macro and the standard setting for fluorescent lighting. I then place the UV penlight in front of the gem (shining onto it) about 4 inches away, make sure the room is dimly lit overhead and then use my macro lens to block out the UV pen by push the shutter!!! No long exposures, no fancy schmancy, no nothing!

I can assure you that my photos are accurate to what I see. All of the gems I photographed above have very strong fluor (some GIA cert''d) which may make a difference. I would never post a photo that wasn''t accurate!

 

[T L]

Just a UV-fluor picture I took of my fancy hat.

 

[chrono]

TL,
Will you let me wear your fancy hat for a few days? I think it fits me just right.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/16/2010 9:59:15 PM
Author: Chrono
TL,
Will you let me wear your fancy hat for a few days? I think it fits me just right.

I don''t know, it''s kind of heavy. LOL!

 

[chrono]

Date: 3/16/2010 10:01:24 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 3/16/2010 9:59:15 PM
Author: Chrono
TL,
Will you let me wear your fancy hat for a few days? I think it fits me just right.

I don''t know, it''s kind of heavy. LOL!

Don''t worry, I''ve been doing strength training just for this.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/16/2010 8:28:08 AM
Author: stepcutnut

My grey green diamond does very odd fluor in the sun. Sometimes it''s orangish green (not brown but orange) and sometimes it''s a bluish green. The fluor itself is orange. I should take a photo of the fluor. Diamonds have fascinating fluor and I love yours!!

 

[T L]

Date: 3/16/2010 8:30:37 AM
Author: stepcutnut
Here it is with the fluor from the sunshine

SCN,
I see you finallly set this!! GORGEOUS!!

But no thread with photos???

 

[stepcutnut]

Date: 3/16/2010 11:14:29 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 3/16/2010 8:28:08 AM

Author: stepcutnut

My grey green diamond does very odd fluor in the sun. Sometimes it''s orangish green (not brown but orange) and sometimes it''s a bluish green. The fluor itself is orange. I should take a photo of the fluor. Diamonds have fascinating fluor and I love yours!!

I love fluor is colored stones and diamonds, a really awesome accomplishment of nature!!!

I was just looking for pics of my FDGYG pear, it too fluor orange and phosphoresces from a pink to yellow as it fades-sooo fun to watch. You''ll have to take pics of your green.

 

[stepcutnut]

Date: 3/16/2010 11:15:54 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 3/16/2010 8:30:37 AM

Author: stepcutnut

Here it is with the fluor from the sunshine

SCN,

I see you finallly set this!! GORGEOUS!!

But no thread with photos???

Actually, I haven''t set it yet(bad, bad, me---I have this nagging feeling that the setting is not quite what I was hoping for. It is a gorgeous setting(much better than my poor pics show), but I still feel it should be set in Plat. and 18kt-not just 18kt.

Maybe I should just take the plunge and have it set, I can always change it later and that way I can finally wear it!!!

I promise to start a thread as soon as I make up my mind, I have so many potential projects that I just keep pushing this one to the back of the line! Hopefully someday soon, then it can come out of the safe deposit box!

 

[T L]

SCN,
That setting is gorgeous - just set it in there. Who cares if it''s not platinum (PT tends to wash out some colored gems anyways).

 

[brandy_z28]

I

this thread but wasn''t able to contribute to it until now. I know I''m extremely late to the fluor thread and I hope no one minds but I can''t help myself...I got my uv pen light in the mail today!

First up Tanzanian spinel and Australian opal. The opal really took me by surprise!

 

[brandy_z28]

Burma red spinel

 

[brandy_z28]

Thai ruby, if I remember right

 

[brandy_z28]

opal again

 

[brandy_z28]

LOGR halo with diamond fluor

 

[brandy_z28]

my pink/orange ceylon sapphire...I won''t dare call it the "P" word. I find it beautiful no matter what it may or may not be called.