Usually, UV rays are something we want to avoid. They make us think of burnt skin, sun spots, and even cancer. But how would you like to be able to SEE these rays? Seeing the colors of the world reflecting back under UV rays is a privilege reserved only for certain organisms, such as bees, hedgehogs, dogs, cats, and ferrets. Using certain equipment, we can see colorful flowers through the bee's eye, and it's absolutely breathtaking!
During the long days of quarantine and lockdowns, many of us found new hobbies and creative outlets. Such was the case for photographer Debora Lombardi as well, who started experimenting with UV photography during these times in her home in Italy. What started as a new creative venture ended as a finalist project at the World Photography Organization awards.
Lombardi used a forensics UV torch, the kind usually used for detecting fingerprints on a crime scene. She shot the flowers on a simple black background to enhance the colors and create a sense of intimacy like you would when shooting a portrait.
