In celebration of Nibi's underground photography recently I scoured my archives, didn't find the pic I wanted, but got an interesting one none-the-less. Let's have it, then I'll tell you about the pic later.
Randy

I like the exposure and the color. I am bothered by the bright highlights though. Also, I usually don't like to put people in many of my pictures but, this one could have used a person or some othre object for scale.

About the color -- did you use a filter on the camera or on the flash to get the amber color? My flash has different colored filters (which I've hardly ever used) that came with it. I've often thought of using different ones in a single, long exposure, cave or other darkness shot; red, yellow, and white (diffuser) mainly. I didn't think to use them when I was in Carlsbad and wish that I had. They had formations pretty well lit and nicely colored but, there are some substantial black areas in some of my prints which I could have lightened by using the flash with one of the filters. Could have really had some fun!!! Oh well, next time.

Thanks for submitting the pic.

Larry

I am not familiar with photography in caves. Seems like it would be difficult to make the right adjustments.

I agree with Nibi in that it is difficult to gather the perspective without another object in the frame.

What are those objects throwing the light back at the camera? They are very interesting.

I can't wait for your description of this shot.

Madl

Randy,

I like this photo, but I agree that the bright lights in the photo somewhat distracting. I've always found cave photographs to be absolutely fascinating, but have never tried it myself, although I've done some cave tours.

Is the shadow in the lower center the photographer's shadow? If so, was there also light behind you?

I've seen some cave shots in which the flash was pointed directly away from the camera and hidden by the person holding the flash to protect the lens from a point source of light, so the photo consisted of several flashes with "several" people standing in various places in silhoutte.

I'm really curious about where and how you got this shot.

Gordon Dietzman

The photo was taken in Lobelia Saltpeter Cave in West Virginia, a completely wild cave with no manmade lighting other than what you bring in. The passage photographed is about 15 feet wide, 30 feet high, and about 100 feet long. Lighting it can be done with high power flash units which will burn out the forground, or with multiple flashes spaced out along the view as Gordon noted.

Or the third option is the one I chose for this pic. The camera is mounted on a tripod and the shutter held open with the bulb setting, with an f-stop around 16 or higer to get the depth of field. The distracting lights mentioned are there on purpose. They are my light source. Once the shutter was open, my assistant (hope I don't sound professional) walked away from the camera and shone his carbide lamp from side to side thus lighting the frame. The orange flame of the lamp cast the red glow on the rocks to give the composition more life.

Gordon did catch my shadow in the forground and that's a distraction in retrospect, but I was experimenting and had a second person stand behind me with their light to cast the shadow. I was hoping for a more dramatic effect, but it's kind of an amorphous shape in practice.

As a historical note this cave was mined during the civil war for saltpeter which was used in the making of gunpowder. The small chamber at the back of the frame (barely visible) still contained a hollowed log and a paddle used to remove the saltpeter from the soils.

Glad you all enjoyed
Randy

Randy,

Thanks for sharing this photo and how you got it. I'm going to have to try something like this. Also thanks for the brief history of the place.

Gordon

Here are a couple of samples:





Flowstone I believe






Stalactite Chandelier




Of course, I had it relatively easy... the lighting was already set up (didn't need an assistant ), all I had to do was compose and let the camera's meter take care of the exposure. I think it did a very good job.

BTW Pyker, as long as you didn't pay that assistant of yours, don't worry about sounding too professional

Oh, and Madl, sorry if I'm teasing again -- NOT!

Larry

I'm over the "being teased" stage and have moved into the "in total awe" stage with some of the shots that have been posted.

Hopefully I'll be able to "tease" all of you in July when I return from the BWCA.

I had a meeting with my trip partners yesterday and found out that four of the six are VERY interested in devoting a lot of time to photography on this trip!

Madl

Did you use any filters on these shots? Do you remember exposure data?

Gordon

No filters.

Using Kodak Gold 100. Contax 139 body with Sigma 28-70 mm lens, mostly set at 28 mm (although I did zoom in some on the "chandelier" shot for a better composition). Used the Contax's built in meter with no compensation. Aperature set between f/8 and f/22 for depth of field. Counted a few of the exposures and they varied between 8 and 10 seconds -- obviously, I used a tripod. All colors are due to the lighting provided in the cavern (they did a real nice job).

Larry

I really like it! The texture of the rock is wonderful.