Taking pictures of florescent corals with film?

Spanky · 09-06-2001, 08:27 PM

I can't tell you guys how much film I've wasted. How many different cameras, lens, exposures, etc, I've tried. I just can't capture that "glow in the dark" effect. Now I know that most film is made to filter out the UV, but with the 03's on, all I'm getting is a pretty blue picture. Nice, but no cigar.
Do I need to change film? Is there another film for this? Change lighting? I was thinking about trying a black light. Don't tell me I need to go digital.
Does anyone know something about this. If not for aquariums, how about something left over from the 60's/70's.

Hope all is well with every body,
Jerel

Demogarr · 09-06-2001, 09:41 PM

I wish I could help, but if anyone has some suggestions I would be interested to hear the replies as well.

horge · 09-06-2001, 10:10 PM

Kill the 03's. There's a lot of pollution from outside the desired band in it.

You need a narrower bandwidth of output: a true black-light UV lamp. Depending on wattage of the lamp, you will have to jack up your exposure time and keep the aperture wide.

hth,
horge

Spanky · 09-06-2001, 10:37 PM

[quote]Originally posted by horge:
Kill the 03's. There's a lot of pollution from outside the desired band in it.

You need a narrower bandwidth of output: a true black-light UV lamp. Depending on wattage of the lamp, you will have to jack up your exposure time and keep the aperture wide.

hth,
horge

Have I told you lately, how much I love you. You've saved my life again.

Here's my situation. We've been messing around with induced bleaching. Then introducing the zoox "de jour". If I use a "glow in the dark" zoox, we could possibly document (time line) the entire process.
So far, I can't capture this on film at all. With the 03's, I just get a pretty blue tank.
I had thought about using black light, but Jorge's thinking wasjust more UV.
I'm going to try this ASAP.

Keep you posted,
Jerel

Alice · 09-07-2001, 02:32 AM

[quote]introducing the zoox "de jour".

Oooooooh; keep me posted. Are you doing this in a closed system or in your semi-open system? Not much has been done with reaquiring zoox in a closed system and I'm definitely interested! [blob]

Even if it's in your tank that has all the water exchange if you can positively track the aquisition, that would be way kewl!!

Keep us informed, Spanky

~Alice

Spanky · 09-07-2001, 07:58 AM

LOL, you like that Spanky thing too much young lady!

It's at work, not at home. And it's definitely a closed sterile system. Actually, a lot of work has been done. Alice, think back - How old is Helen? and what could she do that no other anemone could do? LOL

Jerel

Alice · 09-07-2001, 10:29 AM

Hmmm...yes I know Helen was "special"

On discussions with bleachings with a few people I was trying to find out if corals were aquiring new zoox from their tank environment or if they were just building back up their original population of zooxanthelle. I was told "No one's really sure about that" and "no one's done much work in that area." Of course, one of those people may have been trying to "baffle me"

Any literature you could point me towards?

~Alice

Spanky · 09-07-2001, 10:47 AM

Oh Lord, tons! I'll send it to you this afternoon. Unfortunately, most of it was done in the field and no actual time lines were drawn, just field observations. The hardest part was figuring out how to get them absolutely clean, so you could start over from square one.
We're not really involved with studying the "mechanics" of the process, Dr. Howell at Rosenthiel is working on that. We're working on the actual "mechanics" of getting it done so it can be studied. Truth is, by the time we figured it all out, we will probably know more about it than he will.

Anywho, talked to several people this morning about the picture taking. I think it's all worked out. We have special lens coming, black lights, etc. We'll see.

Horge, thank you again.
Jerel

Oh Alice, to be more specific to your question. Think of it this way. If they were recruiting from their environment exclusively, they would be colored like a pinto pony sometimes.

Alice · 09-07-2001, 11:32 AM

[quote]they would be colored like a pinto pony sometimes.

Lol, true and a very funny image

I'm trying to remember: Corals can/do host more than one species of zooxanthelle at one time but one is usually more "dominant" depending on the type of conditions the coral (and the zoox) are subject to? And isn't "bleaching" sometimes just the coral expelling the one type of zooxanthelle for another it is harboring that is now more dominant due to adaptation to changed/changing conditions in the corals environment (overshading by other corals, for example)?

~Alice (probably confusing herself)

Spanky · 09-07-2001, 05:31 PM

Hmmmm, alright Moninator.

I think what you tried to say is:
Different zoox grow better in different conditions. sort of winter clothes, summer clothes.
One of the things we're looking at is how much "choice" does the animal have. Is it internal, external. Do they even get a choice, or just decide it's time for a change, and hope for the best.
Inside tip - Bet on the animal.

Jerel

Alice · 09-08-2001, 02:24 AM

Aaaaarrgghhh; there's so much to learn! [help]