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Cave shooting & curse of the green box

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FunPhotons:
So I was doing some shooting while in a lava cave, not knowing any better I stuck two 600RTs in my pocket and away I went (5DMKII 24-105 lens). I was surprised at how difficult it was to take pictures (I shouldn't have been).

First problem, the camera can't focus (duh). I finally stuck it in MF and tried to focus to what it should be - tons of blurred shots.

Second problem; not enough light (duh). I had one flash on top and one in my hand, and it still wasn't enough to light up some of the big spaces most of the time. A few shots worked out more or less, must have been an accident.

Third problem, in desperation I went to the green box to try and get something, guess what I found? The 600RT wireless turned off. Of course its dark so you can't easily see everything going on with your camera (and I was walking along at the same time), but that green mode is so blindly stupid that it even turns off wireless and the flash goes into no RF master mode (might as well have had a 580 up there). WTF ... half the reason I want a 1 series body is so I don't have to see that awful green box anymore.

Anyhow, you want a challenge? Go shoot in a cave. I'd recommend trying ...


* Bring some high powered flashes, two 600's at the minimum
* Put the wide angle barn door on the flashes (I did this eventually and it helped). I'd be curious to try a small softbox too but that might kill too much light
* Use a MF prime lens light a Zeiss or Voightlander for precise manual control
* Manual mode, f/9 1/100s and let the flashes to the heavy lifting
* Wide angle seemed to work better, shorter focal lengths just made it look like a bad picture of a rock face

Mt Spokane Photography:
The local cave wardens would string up anyone using a flash.  They supposedly do a lot of damage.
There are low level lights though, so my 5D MK II/ 35mmL worked just fine.
Gardner cave in NE Washington State up near the Canadian Border.  Sorry for the poor photoshop job, I removed some obstructions from the image, and its a poor job.

Menace:
Well you came across a real challenge, tried various things and now you are better prepared for the next shoot down a cave  :) good lesson learned.

Have fun and show us your next set of cave pics.

Cheers

neuroanatomist:
Depending on the size of the formation(s), a handheld flashlight (ideally held by someone else) can do the job.  These are from Actun Tunichil Muknal, in the Cayo district of Belize.  We stopped there on our way to Guatemala, and I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area (and don't mind swimming with your boots on and slogging through mud)...

FunPhotons:

--- Quote from: Mt Spokane Photography on August 07, 2012, 10:50:53 PM ---The local cave wardens would string up anyone using a flash.  They supposedly do a lot of damage.
--- End quote ---

I have a hard time believing that. From what exactly, a few microseconds of photons? Open a cave to the noonday sun for a week and it will change things, but a flash doesn't make sense. And if so, then how is a headlamp supposed to be OK?


--- Quote ---There are low level lights though, so my 5D MK II/ 35mmL worked just fine.
--- End quote ---

I probably would have done better if I could have stopped. I was with a group that was marching forward.


--- Quote ---Gardner cave in NE Washington State up near the Canadian Border.  Sorry for the poor photoshop job, I removed some obstructions from the image, and its a poor job.

--- End quote ---

Nice, I'll have to visit it next time I'm up there.

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