Post by L Roebuck on Apr 4, 2007 7:24:36 GMT -5
Shots in the dark
GROTTOES, Va. - During a recent expedition to Fountain Cave near Grottoes, I learned the basics of shooting photographs in caves - what works, what doesn't, how to see in the dark.
Lesson one: Dress down. It's not exactly the cleanest hobby. You'll want to wear the most unloved clothes you can find - as long as they will keep you warm.
My caving trip was a basic intro to cave photography, hosted by District of Columbia Grotto, the Washington, D.C.-area spelunking society. My uncle, Doug Viner, is taking his turn as president of the group and he invited me along.
Twenty-five cavers showed up - an assortment of mountain men, suburban professionals and combinations thereof. They wore coveralls, heavy boots and hardhats with headlamps, and most of them had brought cameras with them.
Unlike most caves, where you have to crawl in through a narrow opening, there is actually a door to Fountain Cave. So we just walked in and descended together into the black depths.
Inside caves, the temperature remains a balmy 52 degrees or so year-round. It's damp and muddy. Getting around is hard, because it's slippery and dark.
You're walking around on piles of rocks and mud. The flashlight on your head is your only source of illumination.
So it's not the safest place to bring expensive photography gear. However, this is exactly what we did.
Full Article
GROTTOES, Va. - During a recent expedition to Fountain Cave near Grottoes, I learned the basics of shooting photographs in caves - what works, what doesn't, how to see in the dark.
Lesson one: Dress down. It's not exactly the cleanest hobby. You'll want to wear the most unloved clothes you can find - as long as they will keep you warm.
My caving trip was a basic intro to cave photography, hosted by District of Columbia Grotto, the Washington, D.C.-area spelunking society. My uncle, Doug Viner, is taking his turn as president of the group and he invited me along.
Twenty-five cavers showed up - an assortment of mountain men, suburban professionals and combinations thereof. They wore coveralls, heavy boots and hardhats with headlamps, and most of them had brought cameras with them.
Unlike most caves, where you have to crawl in through a narrow opening, there is actually a door to Fountain Cave. So we just walked in and descended together into the black depths.
Inside caves, the temperature remains a balmy 52 degrees or so year-round. It's damp and muddy. Getting around is hard, because it's slippery and dark.
You're walking around on piles of rocks and mud. The flashlight on your head is your only source of illumination.
So it's not the safest place to bring expensive photography gear. However, this is exactly what we did.
Full Article
