50 Years Behind The Caving Camera.

[The Old Ruminator]

I have reached 625 uploads today.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/96466079@N05/

 

[bograt]

I have one in my attic if you want it. It will fit any SLR with the appropriate adapter. Never thought of trying that but I used to be disappointed with the slide duplicates I made that way even with slide duplicating film which has a lower contrast. Biggest problem was getting the colour balance right and I never mastered it.

Got the copier, its the DSLR I can't afford! :-[

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Seeing if I can upload direct from the Flickr feed as it would make image searching quicker.

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/96466079@N05/15388279149/in/photostream/player/" width="75" height="75" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Umm. I wonder. Can I post photos here direct from my Flickr photo feed. I cant seem to be able to copy them to Photobucket. It would save time sorting through files.

Anyway currently uploading the ill fated sump trip in May 2012.

This one of Rob Harper heaving grandly on a large boulder.
I had to smile as it has since collapsed and fallen down the hole. Close shave Rob !

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Well it was nearly only 49 years. The ill fated sump trip. I wont dwell on this set.
Connor edges past the two boulders that collapsed minutes later. The little one hit Naomi and the big one hit me. I think my light must have loosened them.





See the shard underneath. That subsequently fell on somebody else breaking their arm.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Tourist trips no longer venture along Pickwick Passage.

 

[graham]

Or you did a whole trip without the roll of film. No names ----

The incredible thing was that he admitted to it, rather than just claiming that it got ruined during processing or summat.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

What to do with your stuff.

A lot of mine goes into hard back photo books. This is the latest slide show of the contents.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=2838169110

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Assuming the above works.

Even if you dont order hard copies an upload site makes for good free storage and you can upload a link to your slide show here. I use Photobox. I will have 15 albums of about 1,500 images now. OK its not cheap but being old fashioned I do like albums. Oddly enough whilst uploading stuff to the Flickr photo stream I have noticed how better the images have looked. They come out better than Photobucket links posted here.Will get some older stuff on here some when.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Here is the link to the diving album I created recently. There must be one or two divers on here.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=2733570373

 

[The Old Ruminator]

So thats a good few images I dont need to post directly here.
Up to 750 on Flickr now.

 

[Roger W]

Aah...  The days when "Photobox" meant an old shoe box full of 6x4 prints (as it still does for me  )!

 

[The Old Ruminator]

And Flickr had something to do with bogeys in the classroom.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Once you know your limitations you are free.

Composition is fun.

I liked the diagonal transection of this one.



Naming shots is fun.
" Highly Charged ".



Focus wont always be possible. Getting the reflection on the top thirds is more important.



Hand held i auto might just work once in a while. Be lucky.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I love available light and the soft focus it gives. All lit purely by headlamps. Mine is on the curtains in the far distance. They fact that they are beyond the camera focus range does not matter.



The Scurian is great for highlights with a black background.



I still pretty much stand by my rule. If it takes longer than 5 minutes to set up. I dont bother.
Another rule. Never get a posed shot if you can help it.

With macro like this. Prefocus on a piece of card then take it out of shot.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I was walking by and saw him drilling the wall in the far distance. I banged off ten shots on i auto. You have really got to be lucky once in a while.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Reflected available helmet light. All though the cave log book is over exposed it has reflected light onto the subjects face. My spot on the far wall adds interest and helps illuminate the upper. figure.



A helmet light is a great photo tool. A tiny bit on this stal tip brings it to life.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Know ye well the rule of thirds.

You can get away with the diagonal trans section which I quite like.
Technically a difficult shot but let auto take care of it, Three points of illumination. On camera flash ( oh why do folk disdain it so. ) Subjects own headlamp. My Scurion on spot on the curtains way beyond the focus range.



Another diagonal. The eye still gets dawn to the work in hand.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I think I am drifting away with my own philosophy which as OP I guess I can.

Love the diagonal.
Remember the rule of thirds.
If it takes more than 5 minutes why bother?
See the shot as you walk by.
On camera flash is not so bad.
Be lucky on auto. Hit ten shots. One might be great.
Don't use the flash at all sometimes.
Look for the angle others don't see.
Share your work. Don't be shy.
You can be your best subject. Use the timer.
Why spend more than ?200 on camera kit?
Record things in a cave that might change for ever.
See things differently.

I really will find some older stuff. This current lot is from today's upload to Flickr.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Hurray. I just made 800 uploads.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/96466079@N05/