Cave photography
Jul 15, 2018 09:06:03 #
manofhg
Loc: Knoxville, TN
My brother does a lot of caving and has friends who have gotten some very impressive shots. As others have said, I don't understand some of the requirements, no headlamps? seems strange, but anyway. Whatever lights you have, you might try having everyone move to the farthest points in a room and you at the other side/end. Have everyone point their lights up and toward the walls or try a light pan across the walls/ceiling while you are shooting on bulb. You may have to have several shots to get the exposure level right and then shoot with those settings throughout.
Here is a link to some examples of cave photography putting the lights further away from you.
https://www.wired.com/2015/09/dinko-stopic-cave-photography/
Here is a link to some examples of cave photography putting the lights further away from you.
https://www.wired.com/2015/09/dinko-stopic-cave-photography/
Jul 15, 2018 09:11:01 #
Too bad flash is not allowed. If you insist on taking pictures, with the camera on tripod set it on B and 'paint' the area you see in your 50mm lens with any light you have, preferably something wide and powerful. You may take two or more overlapping images and stitch them together in photoshop.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Jul 15, 2018 09:31:16 #
tomad
Loc: North Carolina
manofhg wrote:
My brother does a lot of caving and has friends wh... (show quote)
I think the no headlamps rule is because when people look at each other to talk they blind each other...
Jul 15, 2018 09:47:44 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
Working with a group is a huge handicap - too many people to please at one time. Wide, fast lens and light painting is probably your best bet. Remote lighting may be impossible (?) in those circumstances, and there will likely be someone of several someone’s who want to keep moving. Doing it right is time consuming, and I don’t know how you’ll be able to use the remote lighting that is so helpful in dark places with a wide span of distances.
A tripod is almost a must in extreme low lighting that you’re postulating - but will it be practical in the group? I wish you the best of luck, but I’m not optimistic.
A tripod is almost a must in extreme low lighting that you’re postulating - but will it be practical in the group? I wish you the best of luck, but I’m not optimistic.
Jul 15, 2018 09:56:51 #
If you find a super bright led flashlight, you might try shining it through a white cloth (or small umbrella used for diffusing flash) and see if it causes the light to be more like a flood light rather than a narrow spotlight.
Jul 15, 2018 10:41:37 #
A couple of things. First, considering the seemingly senseless rules, I'd skip the trip. It seems more trouble than it's worth. Secondly, I've photographed in a cave a couple of times. Flash works, but I'd make a multi-layer filter for the flash. This would be of gray transparent plastic with the darker layers towards the outside and the center clear. This would be the equivalent of a VND, but with the center clear and the edges the darkest. However, you can't use flash, for whatever dumb reason, thus this useful and proven idea is worthless.
Most importantly, don't overdo it with the lights. You'd be surprised at how little light one needs once one's eyes acclimate to the environment. Most importantly, have fun. Bring two sources of light, perhaps three. I'd never go into a cave with less than three flashlights.
--Bob
Most importantly, don't overdo it with the lights. You'd be surprised at how little light one needs once one's eyes acclimate to the environment. Most importantly, have fun. Bring two sources of light, perhaps three. I'd never go into a cave with less than three flashlights.
--Bob
kcooke wrote:
Our camera club has an upcoming field trip in 2 we... (show quote)
Jul 15, 2018 10:52:19 #
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
kcooke wrote:
Our camera club has an upcoming field trip in 2 we... (show quote)
I haven't done much cave photography since I was in a speleology club at the University of Minnesota in the 60's. Of course, I worked in film in those days and shot Ektachrome. The trick in cave photography is to put your camera on a tripod, do long time exposures while using several multiple flashes (one at a time) from different locations so that the whole area or key areas are illuminated. It is called painting with light. It was not uncommon to use 15-50 flashbulbs for a single shot. We were working in wild caves where their was no light other than what we brought in so lighting control was simplified.
Jul 15, 2018 11:05:43 #
Revet wrote:
I just did a mine tour in Colorado. The only light available was two flashlights for a group of 15. I used a low f stop and high enough ISO to keep my shutter speed at the 1\focal length rule and I got some pretty cool shots. I did need to use noise reduction in post so if your looking to get the best possible shots and you dont have to keep up with a group, a tripod is in order.
I am now thinking that with the group size there will be plenty of light. BTW every person in the group except the owner will be shooting so I don’t know if a tripod is gonna work. I am taking a tripod and monopod. The cave is 3/4 mile deep and the trip will last a max of 4 hours
Jul 15, 2018 12:57:10 #
kcooke wrote:
Our camera club has an upcoming field trip in 2 we... (show quote)
Tripod, long exposures and paint your subject with your flashlight. Have fun.
Jul 15, 2018 14:00:18 #
kcooke wrote:
Our camera club has an upcoming field trip in 2 we... (show quote)
Back in the analog days, I did several cave shoots and really don't think you'll have much of a problem. Think about many of the bands, plays, and singers who only have a spotlight on them. Not really much difference except that you'll probably have to use a longer shutter speed. For most shots you'll need to use spot metering too.
Depending on how many people are there and if they are cooperative. (Some might insist they only work by themselves and screw it up for the others.) You can set up white and colored lights shining or behind on rock shining on the walls, get back a few feet or more and all of you can get a pretty nice shot.
If their not cooperative, you can do similar by using the light writing technique. That works well if you don't forget your tripod. If you do forget it or don't have room to use it in the cave, then just brace it on a rock. That should work.
Jul 15, 2018 14:11:28 #
hightor
Loc: Portland, Maine
Echoing what some have suggested, the further that lights are from angle and position of camera the better. Maybe hang back from this group a bit, and let their various lights do the work.
Jul 15, 2018 19:40:09 #
Only use the 24-70 lens, the bicycle light and tripod. Set the lens to 24mm and camera to manual. Set the aperture to F8 and start the ISO at 800. Exposure the first shot for 15-30 seconds while painting the cave walls with the light. Check the first exposure and then increase the ISO and the length of the exposure if the image is to dark.
Jul 15, 2018 21:33:39 #
Novicus
Loc: north and east
Why No to using Flash ??
In Cebu ( Philipines ) I took photo`s in a cave that had been used as a Church...benches and all..ceiling was about 10 to 17 mtr. high , travelling light , all I had was a D3S ...pc nikkor 28 f3.5 and 20 f2.8 and an SB 80...flash fired at the ceiling with the reflector card pulled out..pics. are acceptable,as everything was lit well.
In Cebu ( Philipines ) I took photo`s in a cave that had been used as a Church...benches and all..ceiling was about 10 to 17 mtr. high , travelling light , all I had was a D3S ...pc nikkor 28 f3.5 and 20 f2.8 and an SB 80...flash fired at the ceiling with the reflector card pulled out..pics. are acceptable,as everything was lit well.
Jul 15, 2018 21:47:27 #
manofhg wrote:
My brother does a lot of caving and has friends wh... (show quote)
Thanks for the link. Those are some great pics. Headlamps and flashes in a cave will blind folks in a group
Jul 15, 2018 21:48:07 #
ssymeono wrote:
Too bad flash is not allowed. If you insist on taking pictures, with the camera on tripod set it on B and 'paint' the area you see in your 50mm lens with any light you have, preferably something wide and powerful. You may take two or more overlapping images and stitch them together in photoshop.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Thanks
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