Flashlight for Cave: I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees...

shughes

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

ggttc Loc: TN

Led lantern

shughes

Definitely better than a beam, but does not put out much light vertically.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I have used Surefire for a very long time. Can't think of a better brand. I don't do caves, but considerable distances in the dark hours. Check out their site and expertise.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

shughes wrote:

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

You might look for an Adlake railroad switchman's signal lantern. They are readily available on the used market for about $25, and use a 6 volt lantern battery to power a bare bulb. They are designed to be used handheld, so you'll need a helper, but you won't be alone in a cave. These lanterns have two electrically switchable bulbs...one with a small reflector and one without. With the proper lamp and battery, they have a run time of 8 hours (a full working shift). These arent terribly bright, so if you need more light, use additional lanterns. The illumination pattern is hemispherical, as you request. Both current and older models are readily available on line, and there are also other manufacturers of these lanterns.

Color temperature is probably around 2500K, which is is pretty far to the yellow/red end, but still usable.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

shughes wrote:

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

You may want to look at light painting, which you can do with a modest flashlight with a wide beam.

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/cave-photography-color-gear-and-light-painting-underground-style

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Stella lights. Various sizes. Battery operated and rechargeable, daylight balanced with filters and accessories. Intensity adjustable. Some are waterproof and made for diving. I’ll bet you can rent them if you don’t want to buy them. https://lightandmotion.com/collections/camera?gclid=CjwKCAiArOqOBhBmEiwAsgeLmeUVQI0dNa_rXP4w3wLPZwRvFY4ZpsGjDi8VoytSY_Bd69nZXSd-hxoCWekQAvD_BwE

TerryVS

shughes wrote:

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

Check out the Candlepower forum. Those guys know every flashlight on the planet! I bet they can offer some good advise.

Dave H2

TerryVS wrote:

Check out the Candlepower forum. Those guys know every flashlight on the planet! I bet they can offer some good advise.

How about a video LED light assembly that fits on your hot shoe? I use one now and then for low level shots with my D7200. Got a used one for about $20.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

shughes wrote:

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

Just curious. What "white balance" will you select for "white" light? Will "360 degrees" eliminate shadows all together? Sounds as though you seek a source light that will bend light. To date, only gravity can do that. Good luck in your search.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

shughes wrote:

I will be going into a cave to photograph rock art. Flashes are not permitted, but flashlights are. Do you know of a flashlight that puts out roughly 360 degrees of white light? I have the usual LED flashlights that put out a beam.

Try this from Cabela's sport store.
I have an older model years ago from them, it light up a big room with almost 180 degree. It uses older type of LEDs. Now the newer type of LED will be even brighter.
Try this :
https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Flashlights-Super-Waterproof-Emergencies/dp/B092ZP83T8/ref=sr_1_46_sspa?crid=2CEFCZ9QGGPMF&keywords=led%2Bwide%2Bangle%2Bflashlights&qid=1641739788&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=led%2Bwide%2Bangle%2Bflash%2Blights%2Csporting%2C85&sr=1-46-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS1VSM1YwNVkwVjdVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzUyNTU3M0gwTkE5RDFUVjU2SiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDUzODMzMUtOVkJEM0ZNRDNOQyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

You might consider Litra or Lume cube. I like the Litra, but it is white light only. Lume allows you to set the color temperature if that is something you want to consider.

JBRIII

Back in the film days, my wife and I got excellent shots using a lantern and setting the camera to a different ISO then the film to provide a longer exposure. There are smaller caves in Mammoth cave NP only open in the summer with helictites, shagetti like formations growing up, down and sideways, how unknown at the time. A good led lantern and a good low camera should do well. My Canon R made the Aurora over a city in Norway look like they were shot in daylight. One of us held the lantern, the other shot for the cave.

For those interested.
I believe it was called the Onyx cave. There were/are many tours and caves in the park only open in summer do to staffing, need to spread people out and even flooding. Also many smaller private caves in area.

shughes

I thank all of you for your thoughtful responses with solutions, many of which I had not thought of. I believe a LED cube light that attaches to the hotshoe will work well. I did not know they existed. Because the light will be directional to the subject I'm shooting (rock art), the light does not have to shine 360 degrees, which would be the case if the lighting device had to sit on the ground. It also allows both hands to be free to operate the camera. There are places where I will be lying on my back shooting rock art on low ceilings.

John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

shughes wrote:

I thank all of you for your thoughtful responses w... (show quote)

I got the LItra and it has a magnet on it to attach to surfaces. I did not want the magnet, so I got their drone version, (same but no magnet) for same price. With or Without magnet -- you choice.