UV Light Photography

Well, in the past few month i have been interested in a different part of Sunlight.photography...wawelenght 260 -300 nm...forensic photos,
and had to prepare my equipment  for this, as follows...

The source of UV light can be normal bulb but with Woods-glass, fluorescent bulb with the same glass,  and UV led-s. The first two use high Voltage, which was inconvenienced for my needs, so I purchased on E-bay UV led-s  260-400nm.
More on UV, phosphorescence and photography  you can find on Web.


This UV led's has to be mounted in a waterproof housing ...

I have to construct housing - it has to be plexiglas, tube with O-ring covers. LED has to be in a circle to get strong, even emission UV light.

First drawings, and planning, and..voila.

I took plexi plate 4mm thick and cut of circle,diameter to fit tube. drill holes for UV led's 8mm and 5mm, according plan, to get holder for led's...

Two different types of led's ... 8mm 390-410 nm and 5mm 370nm, parallel wired connection, so each got 3,6V and 20 mA, according producers tech.spec. I choose NiMh 2000mA rechargeable batteries as power source - direct connection, 3 pc's x 1.2V = 3.6V.

I choose two different diameter plexi tubes, one which fit to hold 3 battery holder flat, and bigger one to hold led's.
Tube cover with O-ring seal for bigger one and smaller are glued together facing opposite each other. Smaller has no O-ring seal and smaller tube I glued direct to them. I cut simple glass mirror as a bottom under led's holder.

Well, further was little easier.  From pictures you can got idea about all this project. Switch is added on the back cover, small 4mm shaft, O ring seal, micro switch an rotating plexi ex-centar. Mirror glass reflect all back emitted light forward,

Of course,  I took several pictures to see what I shall get.  Before diving...I at last few pictures under water..This UV underwater photography shall be very interested field for future research...


Limitation is  weak light, has to be photograph in a dark with  long exposures, night pictures, avoiding any "daylight" intrusion and finding objects, flora and fauna,  with Phosphorus,  etc...etc.

So, I made this for me.
No any responsibility for yours.

Sincerely yours
Kreaimir Pregernik, dipl.ing