Psychedelic Spiders of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

I have been photographing fluorescence for over five years now. Mainly underwater but lately I have been testing the technique on land.  I often find insects, spiders, and plants that fluoresce using a specialized Light&Motion Sola Nightsea light.  Some of the micro-spiders fluoresce brightly under blue light, the challenge is to get an acceptable photograph.

Below are some comparison photographs of spiders. The first photograph was taken under blue light and the second under white light using on-camera flash. All the spiders were photographed in their natural habitat on the beautiful Island of Okinawa.

Jumping spider

Jumping spider -Fluorescence © Shawn Miller

Jumping spider - flash

Jumping spider – flash © Shawn Miller

Yanbaru jumping spider

Yanbaru jumping spider

 spider - flash

Spider and fluorescence© Shawn Miller

IMG_1643

Spider under white light © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi

Onomustus kanoi © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi shadow

Onomustus kanoi & shadow © Shawn Miller

The custom Light & Motion fluorescence setup for these land-based subjects.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography setup © Shawn Miller

The giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata) of Okinawa fluoresce under UV light.

DSC_6988

giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

DSC_7005

Giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

I used my nauticam underwater setup with NIGHTSEA’s fluorescence excitation filters to photograph the wood spiders.

D7102401-F1D5-4C7E-9D85-4F616F9E8184

Nauticam Fluorescence setup

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Light&Motion exploration lights – https://www.lightandmotion.com/the-perfect-light

 

 

Cherry blossoms of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

The Cherry blossoms are generally in full bloom mid-January through February. Mt Yaedake and Nakijin castle are the most popular viewing locations for the Cherry blossoms. Some of the most beautiful trees can also be found in residential areas and public parks.

8422837237_f7d253bcd6_b

Cherry blossoms – Mt Yaedake © Shawn Miller

12059159895_f2d3f33c33_b

Nakijin castle blossoms © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms -Kume Island

Cherry blossoms -Kume Island © Shawn Miller

Natures art by Shawn Miller

Natures Art © Shawn Miller

Every year I try to create an original photograph of the Cherry Blossoms. Something that has not been done before. Below are some of my favorite photographs using specialized blue lights during the night.

Cherry blossum under blue light

Cherry blossoms under blue light © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossum under blue light

Cherry blossoms under blue light © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what kind of camera setup do I use to create these images.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller © Shawn Miller

Psychedelic cherry blossoms

Psychedelic cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms -zakimi castle

Cherry blossoms -zakimi castle © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms - Yomitan Okinawa

Cherry blossoms – Yomitan Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Lightpainting with the Sola nightsea.

cherry blossoms

Lightpainting cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

I did some light painting comparisons using UV 385nm instead of 450nm. I used my sons Nike shoe as a background. The shoelaces fluoresced bright orange and the heal fluorescence bright green. I wanted to create something unique.

Cherry blossom under UV 385

Cherry blossom under UV 385 © Shawn Miller

It can be challenging to photograph the animals that feed on the blossoms. I have photographed fruit bats, birds and insect feeding on the sweet-smelling blossoms.

15750242268_e8ffa0ac3d_b

Fruitbat feeding on Cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

The Japanese White-eye  (Mejiro) is the most popular animal to photograph in the trees.  

Birds of okinawa

Japanese White-eye – Mejiro © Shawn Miller

Hummingbird hawk-moth

Hummingbird hawk-moth © Shawn Miller

The tree with grow fresh green leaves and produce sweet-smelling cherries. The animals feed on the fruit and help out with seed dispersal.

Cherry tree fruit

Cherry tree fruit

The Okinawa rail is a flightless bird endemic to northern Okinawa. It is currently listed as an endangered species. This was my first time documenting this behavior.

Okinawa rail feeding on the sweet fruit

Okinawa rail feeding on the sweet fruit © Shawn Miller

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

 

Light-painting with the nightsea by Shawn Miller

Light painting is the artistic technique of moving a hand held-light source while taking a long exposure. The purpose is to illuminate the subject with constant lighting to create a powerful image.  It takes a steady hand, patience, trial and error and imagination. Using a specialized blue light (nightsea) will allow you to capture fluorescence. The images will be enhanced with beautiful bright vibrant colors.

Most plants and animals fluoresce under blue light. Below are some of my favorite long-exposures photographed using the Nightsea and a Canon 70d.  I also included some comparison photos under white light.

Beautiful cherry blossoms under blue light, Okinawa-Japan

Cherry blossum under blue light

Cherry blossom under blue light

Cherry blossum under blue light

Cherry blossom under blue light

Psychedelic cherry blossoms

Psychedelic cherry blossoms

12059159895_f2d3f33c33_b

Cherry blossom |white light

Sunflowers show some fluorescence under blue light, Okinawa-Japan

Sundflower under blue light

Sundflower under blue light

Sunflower under white light -zoom panning

Sunflower under white light -zoom panning

The animal must not move in order to get a sharp image during a long-exposure.

Rhinoceros coconut  beetle under blue light

Rhinoceros coconut beetle under blue light

Rhinoceros coconut  beetle under white light

Rhinoceros coconut beetle under white light

Onomustus kanoi fluorescence

( Onomustus kanoi ) fluorescence photography

Cicada under blue light

Cicada under blue light by Shawn Miller

Cicada under white light

Cicada under white light

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under blue light

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under blue light

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under white light -

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under white light –

More flowers painted with the Light & Motion Nightsea

Flowers under blue light

Flowers under blue light

IMG_6386

Flowers under blue light

IMG_6392

Cactus under blue light

Mochi leaf flower under blue light

Mochi leaf flower under blue light

Flower under blue light

Flower under blue light

Light-painting with the Nightsea and Sola 600 red light

Light-painting Okinawa

Light-painting Okinawa

Blue light comparison (450nm) with UV (385)

Blue 450 vrs uv385

Blue comparison – 450nm vrs uv 385nm

Equipment used

  • Light&Motion Sola Nightsea or Gobe blue light
  • Modeling light Gobe 700 wide (white light) to lock in focus
  • Camera with Manual capabilities and macro lens (Canon 70d *60macro)
  • Manfrotto Tripod and remote
  • Barrier filter (block the reflected blue light )

My above water camera setup for fluorescence

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

The Light & Motion Nightsea Dive light.

Sola NightSea underwater blue light

Sola NightSea underwater blue light

My underwater setup for photographing fluorescence.

fluorescence-004

Friends and supporters – Save 20% off your first Light & Motion purchase https://prz.io/648x6bGC1

I want to thank  Light & Motion and Nightsea for all their continuous support over the years.