How to detect and record bioluminescence of small animals photographically

After learning from Graham East that he was not able to record the bioluminescence of Anurida sp. photographically using a long extension tube bellows system, having earlier not been able to achieve a good result using a videoographer contacted for this purpose, it was suggested that Anurida sp. might be able to produce a photograph of themselves simply by putting them in contact with the film emulsion. This would essentially negate any effects of Newton's Inverse Square Law and permit film to be exposed by the light emitted before it traveled any great distance and be diminished in intensity. The following drawings relate the method which was suggested to Graham East which was used to successfully detect and record the bioluminescence of Anurida sp.

Figure 1. Method for recording bioluminescence upon film. Basically this method works because the intensity of light emitted, E, is greater than the minimum intensity of light E sub M required to expose the film. So long as the intensity of the light reaching the film E sub 2 = E (1/D²) is greater than E sub M the film will be exposed and bioluminescence will be recorded.

Figure 2. Optical device for photographing bioluminescence of small animals. This device was made by Lynch from an old Bosch and Lomb optical bench illuminator and is based upon the design in configuration #3 of Figure 1. High speed film is placed upon the filter stage and the small bioluminescent animals are placed inside a film can set in the specimen tube at the top of the device. One end of the film can is cut out and has Saran wrap (or glass) covering it such that the small animals, in this case springtails, set upon the clear material and are in focus upon the film. This device uses a double lens condenser to focus an image upon the film at 10X to 20X.

Below is shown the first recording of bioluminescence in Anurida sp.

The actual arrangement (not shown here) which Graham East used in his first successful attempt to record the bioluminescence of Anurida sp. upon film used ASA 1600 speed Fuji film which was processed normally. This involved simply placing specimens in contact with the film and stimulating them to glow in total darkness. The results are shown in the photo enhancements of the exposed film below:

Figure 3. First recording of Anurida sp. glowing. This film strip shows the first known recording of bioluminescence in Anurida sp. A number of specimens were placed upon a stripe of 35 mm 1600 ASA color print film and permitted to expose the film with their flash alarm response. The resulting negative was developed using normal C41 processing, then scanned and photo enhanced to dramatically capture and illustrate bioluminescence of this species. This was a collaborativee effort between Terry Lynch who suggested the technique of how to detect and record bioluminescence photographically and who made the photo enhancements and Graham East who built the contact print chamber he used to take this photograph. Photo (c) 2002 by Graham East enhanced by T. Lynch.

Figure 4. In this photo enhancement of Anurida sp. glowing one is given the impression of a surrealistic light sculpture. Actually the image is one produced by specimens moving and flashing in alarm as they are disturbed causing their flash to be recorded as a blur upon the film which they cling to as they glow. Photo (c) 2002 by Graham East enhanced by T. Lynch

Using the above photographs a simulation was made to demonstrate what bioluminescence of this species would look like if you could actually see it. To properly preform this simulation you need the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper or paper towels and a room which may be darkened. Click here to continue the simulation and follow the instructions on screen.

GEO Links

Home | Introduction | Amazing geodesic structures and architectural forms in the natural world | FAQ | Methodology | Gallery | Gallery Page Two | Links | Save the Planet | Emporium | Support | Experiments | Acknowledgments | Order Form | Contact

Copyright © 2002 by Terry Lynch. All Rights Reserved.