Photos in commercial caves

[Brian Roebuck]

The tripod option makes all the difference, but alas it's often forbidden.
The distances to subject are such that the f/2.8 isn't going to get you enough DOF to have razor sharp corners so don't worry too much about corners.

forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=30509681

Check the other replies etc on this forum thread too.

[deepcaver]

One of the things you can do to steady yourself if you can't use a tripod or monopod (they must fear someone taking an exceptional photo and selling it making MILLLLLIONS and they don't get a cent in royalty... )... you can tuck your elbows in to your chest to steady hand/camera movement, hold your breath when opening the shutter and stand with legs not WIDE apart but just to where the outer edges of your feet are aligned with the outer edges of your shoulders.

You could also use the hand railing as a "third-leg" in the body's natural tripod. If there is a rock wall nearby you could steady your shoulder/back on that... but problem with that is possibly leaving behind a thread or lint... people do by the pound anyway throughout the course of the year/season, but why add to it?

Sometimes having the tops of people's heads in a commercial cave photo does lend interest (and sometimes scale) so don't fret if you see in the view finder those hairy bumps along the bottom part of the screen/viewfinder. Besides some tour guides are in a hurry and will just rush you along so you gotta take what you can get... but you can ask the guide to take THEIR photo and some are natural hams and they can be cropped out later if you frame it right ;D