Studies in Bioluminescence- "Hello Hello" and "Signals" Duo Matted Prints- Limited Edition

I have always been fascinated by bioluminescence. This is one of the more delightfully scientific captures I've created, and I hope you like it as much as I do.

A firefly, photographed through a diffraction grating, on the side of a glass jar, and again on crumbled foil. He was a VERY patient and generous subject! 

I had set up to catch one — jar in hand, foil ready for the lid. Before I could try, one landed on the jar and stayed.

What you're seeing is the actual spectral fingerprint of bioluminescence. A firefly's glow isn't broadband white light — it's a narrow biochemical emission, almost pure yellow-green, produced by a reaction so efficient that nearly all of the energy becomes light instead of heat. That's why the spectrum reads as discrete bands of color instead of a smooth rainbow. There simply isn't more light to spread.

A duet of matted limited edition prints on fine art paper. 4x6 in an 8x10 matting. Signed and printed with the edition number.

This is what a firefly is saying when it glows. The grating just made it visible.

A diffraction grating splits light into its full visible spectrum — what you're seeing is real light, photographed, not edited.