My Favourite Photographs

[The Old Ruminator]

Bath time. Peter Glanvill TFD. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Falling waters. Alison. TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

All along the edge. Botryoidals TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Getting the hang of this climbing thingy. Ascencion by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Botryoidals TFD (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Botryoidals TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Hooray. Page 9


1,171 Images.

 

[rhychydwr1]

Where  is Ogof CAF?

 

[The Old Ruminator]

No flash cave photos or combinations with headlamp spot.

Usually a recipe for a bad photo as the image can look " grainy " and flat. I do think they have some artistic merit though.

1,000 ISO, eighth second, f2.

P6060063 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

As above but 1250 ISO.

P6060065 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Fifteenth second. 800 ISO.

P5020061 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Twentieth second at 800 ISO.

P8180013 (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Combination thirtieth second at 400 ISO.

P5240143 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P6140096 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr


Gone caving ----

 

[Laurie]

Gone caving ----

With camera? 

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Gone caving ----

With camera? 

Ruddy loads of photos taken today ---


Incoming --

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Spider Hole Set .

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr


Usual thing. All done on the move.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

All Spider Hole images from yesterday's trip. The pitch area images were with hand held Yongnuo YN660 slave flash now considered essential for dealing with back scatter. Set at one sixteenth flash at 25mm area. The TG 2 ( trusty beast ) was in the " flash obscuring box " so only acted as a trigger. I took 200 images on the go reducing them to 45. For some I used the Photoshop haze reducing filter. In truth Flickr "perks " up images anyway so it would be interesting to see a direct comparison with other hosting formats. Flickr does not allow copying BUT once hosted on another platform I believe that they can be copied by anyone. In saying that I usually do not mind anything of mine being used by others to promote caving in a positive way. Please acknowledge my copyright. Peter G. used two wireless flashguns for set ups. He does his his way. I do mine my way. Neither is essentially  " the correct way ". We had a new member of our little team yesterday so I wanted a few quick images of him so he could have a record of his trip. This image is me yesterday copyright Peter Glanvill.

Nick in Spider Hole. Copyright Peter Glanvill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

In the Peli case-

The Yongnuo flashgun.
A steak slice pasty.
A chocolate bar.
A mini can of root beer.
The camera flash box
The old Olympus TG 2
A hand cloth ( duster for the lens )
Some cheap glasses to see the flashgun settings.

Spider Hole will forever be a monument to the Mendip way of vertical digging. The drywalled and cemented shafts are amazing. Very reminiscent of the work in Reservoir by Willie Stanton. I only saw a couple of short bits of scaffolding. The awkward bit near the top of the cave has stemples similiar again to those in Reservoir. The cave is gated with a CSCC lock and you can park two cars a few metres from the entrance. Please respect the work and wishes of the current digging team.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

As attachment with reduced res.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Via Flickr

Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Meanwhile back at the ranch -

The " safest " place for my choccy bar.

PC050001 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Men at work.

P8180028 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P8180031 (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P9150022 (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P9080216 (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

There is a cave here somewhere. Pipe location Vurley.

IMG_0471 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

IMG_0434 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Always one !

P5100067 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Discovery.

Discovery of La La Land. Peter Glanvill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The ever enthusiastic digger.

P4190023 (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Recording the geology.

Section . Upper Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Macro stal section. Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Erosion surface. Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Stal Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Tissue Moth. Spider Hole.

Tissue moth. Spider Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Gate. Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Major digging in Spider Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Pretty Buckets. Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Root. Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The Secret Tunnel. Under water macro. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Only the slim shall pass. Green Lake Chamber, Withyhill.

Only the slim shall pass. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

A curtain now sadly broken Photo 1978 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Close to glory.

Alison. Topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

" Its huge ! "

Nigel goes. Resurrection discovery trip. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Alison with Disto X near the sump. Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Alison surveying near the sump. Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

All along the dig. Topless. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Under the boulder. topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Building walls. Topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The scallops tell a story. Topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Hanging horribilness. Skyfall dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Better wash the nose. Cheddar Gorge. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Its not ruddy safe in here. Peter Glanvill Skyfall by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Nicks cementing. Skyfall slab. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Hot tea anyone. Peter Glanvill. TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Ancient scallops. Skyfall by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

John Cooper TFD by helmet light. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Headless in TFD. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Looking for the master cave. TFD. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Working on TFD platform support. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Working on TFD platform by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

TFD pitch. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Re taping in TFD. Orange tape changed to white. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Re taping in TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Re taping TFD. Alison and Nigel. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Drip pocket near the end of High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

First footsteps. Choked side passage at the end of High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Baby knobs by helmet light. High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Fed up with knobbly knobs now. High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Not a knobbly knob. High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

From the platform to TFD Ascension by helmet light. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Wall building at Topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The endless trundle. Topless dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Engineer on upper Ascencion by helmet light. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Andrew Atkinson returning from exploring High Country. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr



1262.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Waiting in for the Yodel person. New 49" TV.  Not that I watch much of it of course. SWMBO is away so starvation threatens. Might scuttle off to The Frozen Deep on Sunday. ( not more ruddy photos ? )

Oh no that ruddy sump trip where I got my hand squashed.

Rob Harper. Support. Reservoir sump trip by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Naomi. Reservoir Sump trip May 2012. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The diver returns, Duncan Price. Reservoir sump trip by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Duncan Price in the squeeze that is no more. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Disaster looms. Minutes later that big boulder will fall on me. Reservoir Sump trip by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I actually like this image. Sort of a portent of doom I suppose. The hand looks disembodied . One of those funny images you only get one chance with. Anyway that lot collapsed so is not there now.

Preview of disaster. The hand on the boulder that would squash mine. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Duncan Price. Reservoir sump trip. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Naomi lowering kit. This area collapsed on the way out. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Claire Cohen ,third from left kindly, drove my car back to Taunton. Such a nice person.

Sump Trip May 2012. It was to end in disaster. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

My tiny hand is squashed. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr.

It took a lot of finger bending by my sadistic physio to get my hand working again as the tendons were damaged. I still have one bent finger which tends to cross over the others when making a fist. How we moved that huge boulder I will never know. I had my shoulder pushing upwards whilst Duncan hauled on a rope. Close to panic and shock Duncan's reassurance did not help. " Don't worry I am a doctor . Er of Chemistry " ( or something ). Naomi came down with the collapse as if the boulders were not enough. She was bleeding a lot from a facial wound. They took her out and initiated a huge and embarrasing call out. Rob the vet asked to see my tongue. " Shall I say meow " I said. The hand was pinned against the side wall by the boulder. It must have missed my head by a few centimetres. I managed to get out with help on the ladders. Exiting the cave I saw a policeman. " I am the casualty" I said. " Can you carry me down? He refused. Looking down to the road I was horrified. Fire engines, Hazard Response Teams, Ambulances and Paramedics. Many people milling around but nobody in caving gear. I tried to get to the car to change and drive home. They would have none of it. I got " attacked " by the Hazard Response Team who helpfully declared that my blood pressure was high. Another argument ensued when they wanted to take me by ambulance to Weston Super Mare hospital which I flatly declined. Luckily one of the paramedics had driven up from Taunton and took me back there. Claire drove my car home .

Next time.

When my arm was broken at Skyfall we decided no ruddy call out with the attendant fuss. God did it hurt when the boulder came down the pitch on to me. The ladder climbs were awful but they got me up. Not easy with an arm in a sling. The rest was easier. We went back to Martin's for tea where I fell asleep. Nigel drove my car home. The wife was not amused. Anyway I had tea and then walked nearly a mile to the hospital in pouring rain. Took my turn for three hours in shock and mud splattered. Nobody in the crowd looked worse than me. One child had a raisen up her nose. Anyway her Grandad bought me coffee.

Some six weeks in a pink caste then I was told that there was " no union ". Despite taking Vitamin D the ruddy bone had not set. In any case it was %30 displaced. I could feel the lump.I walked home in tears. ( A was also waiting for a painful hernia repair cancelled whilst my arm was in a sling  ). Luckily I got admitted next day ( New Years Eve ) and a plate was put in. I had nobody to wish me Happy New Year alone in my hospital room at mid night.

 

[Laurie]

Can't really hit the 'Like' button and there isn't a 'sympathy' one.
......or should I just laugh?


PS I've been let out of hospital to hobble around with a stick.

 

[Roger W]

And people ask, "Why do you go caving?"

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Now in a bad mood. The 49"TV delivered by Yodel but the screen is smashed. Last time I get a TV on Amazon.

So a couple more for the loyal watchers.

Nick in Great Expectations. Discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Come on in its a new chamber.

Alison. Great Expectations (2) by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Might need a bit of cementing. Breakthrough point Great Expectations. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Great Expectations. Route to the big chamber. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Somewhere down there. Nigel imagines what may lie ahead.Great Expectations. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Yes. Alison had some tape.

Great Expectations. Discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Mind your head. Me in Great Expectations. Discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Huge boulder. Great Expectations by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Golgotha fault wall and hanging block . Great Expectations. Discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Great Expectations. Third person in. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

I doubt more than a handful of cavers have been to the upper end of Great Expectations. The squeeze in you see above is a bit awkward and a block has slipped down resting just above it. We meant to sort it but never did as its way off normal route.

Off to Curry's.