UV Arm Instruction Manual – UVIVF Photography

UVIVF (Ultraviolet Induced Visible Fluorescence) is a specialist technique that requires a pure UV light source like the Adaptalux UV Lighting Arms. It is a great way to learn about the science of light and explore subjects in a new way.

UV Lighting Arms connecto the ports in a Pod and activate automatically. Please refer to the LED Lighting Arm instruction manual for a detailed guide on using arms.

UV Light is invisible to the human eye. Shine the UV Lighting Arm it at something you know to be highly fluorescent. You should be able to see this fluorescence with your own eyes.

Most organic materials have some degree of natural fluorescence. It’s sometimes hard to tell with the naked eye, so the best way is to experiment.

Healthy flowers and insects are a good place to start. Dead or decaying plants and animals may have significantly less fluorescence or different colours to when they were alive.

Absolute darkness is important for this method of photography. Any visible light in your shooting space can easily contaminate your photograph and overwhelm the small amounts of fluorescence created by most subjects.

If you can see your surroundings with your own eyes, your space is likely still too bright.

Lastly, make sure there are no other fluorescent objects around your subject. White sheets, clothes or paint may create unintended fluorescence that will illuminate your subject with visible light.

1.  Set up and compose your shot under normal light, in a dark room. Your subject must be still and camera mounted on a steady tripod.

2.  The UV Arm will illuminate automatically at 50% brightness, increase the brightness up to 100% and position them as close as possible to the subject without obscuring it.

3. Focus on your subject. Use manual focus so your camera does not attempt to re-focus later. A White Lighting Arm can be useful when adjusting the camera focus under visible light. Ensure the white Lighting Arm is turned off or removed before proceeding to the next step.

4. IMPORTANT: When you are ready to take your photo, turn out the lights and remove all ambient light from the area, this includes light created by your phone, camera screens or any other equipment present.

5. Shoot a long exposure. Try to keep your ISO low and aperture narrow. Extend your shutter speed as needed until the image is correctly exposed for the fluorescence of the subject.