A student sent me this image and asked how it was done. My background is in optics, but it has been a number of years since I worked with surface interferometry.
I am wondering if you can identify what type of surface interferometry system was used?
Description: with the image
For this image an interferometer was used to measure and photograph the interference patterns made by a group of water striders (family Gerridae) as they walk on the surface of water.
Credit: Perennou Nuridsany/Science Source
What we know so far:
Images and still photographs were done by a French team(Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou). They have not answered any emails about this technique.
Taken on film at least 15 years ago, but is probably older.
Color is real (not applied with computer)
The technique is described as interferometry
The insects are on water, the light could be transmitted through the container or reflected from the surface. I suspect it might be light reflected from the surface.
We found a movie at:
https://www.sciencesource.com/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2OPESQQY7LQTU&SMLS=1&RW=1601&RH=897#/SearchResult&VBID=2OPESQQY7LQTU&SMLS=1&RW=1601&RH=897&POPUPPN=4&POPUPIID=2OPEBM6ZZEE
This question that has caused quite a debate over the last few weeks.
Thank you for the help.
The image here was found at ScienceSource a science stock image site
https://www.sciencesource.com/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2OPESQQR3H25M&SMLS=1&RW=1601&RH=897#/SearchResult&VBID=2OPESQQR3H25M&SMLS=1&RW=1601&RH=897&POPUPPN=15&POPUPIID=2OPEBMS2ZH7I
May be the term 'interferometric' might have mislead you. This is cross polarized photography.
Illuminate your subject with polarized light, load your camera with a polarizer, rotate it until you maximize the colors, done.
The surface tension created between the legs and the water surface will change the polarization phase wrt the almost smooth/constant background to put vivid colors on to your camera sensor.
I at first thought this too, but note the multiple color shifts in the leg areas. (polarization alone should not do this). To my knowledge this is more than just polarization alone. Any other ideas?
Ted Kinsman
The multiple color shift is consistent with the stress field resultant to an intented forward motion (see image attached). Hence the polarizer should pick it up.
I would guess the photo was taken with a burst mode through the motion of the insect.
It looks like fringes from photoelastic crossed polarizer set-up. The impression of a 'stress field' direction as indicated by your arrows might be due to the direction of the oblique incidence of the light onto the water surface.
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