The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
Ahh but did you stop there or struggle on through ?
Photography Showcase 3 per week limit
- Thread starter chunky
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I went through 💪😁, I blame Matt, he's far too keen!
She's actually on her way back through in the photo.
Then the duck is just before the Craven dig as I understand it.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
I like that last image as it tells a story. Its not overcooked by some editing programme. Yes its posed but in a way that tells the story. They have had fun and are pleased with their achievment. Its a simple set up and it works. So I try not to be patronizing but as ever try to encourage folk to post similiar photos reflecting caving as fun and photography as something open to eveyone.
I absolutely had fun, still smiling when I think back to a great weekend with Matt and Gary and Hubby. The photo isn’t lying 😁
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
Cropped it down a bit to lessen the shadow. At the end of a days digging. Old Pals.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
Who needs A I to make a distorted view in a cave. This The Frozen Deep. I got Alison to stand back to accentuate the size of the column. Somehow it looked better in monochrome for the effect. Photo from The Reservoir Hole file.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
My number three for this week. Another retrospective I did for the late Pete Rose's 70th birthday a few years ago. Trying to get " character " in a portrait image is not easy and usually has to be done very quickly before the pose sets in. Here he was bringing poles into Vurley. Whilst not known for a jolly nature Pete had many other attributes and was a good and loyal friend for 60 years. Here is Pete looking in his usual non jolly mode. We laughingly called it " The Knackered Gnome " effect. Gone but not forgotton. Yes grab those images whilst you can.
William_Emmo
New member
Steve Clark
Well-known member
I am by no means an expert, but for lighting angles I learnt a lot from Chris Howes book - Cave Photography, A Practical Guide. It is based on film photography, published in 1987, but all the principles are still 100% relevant. It's just a lot easier to get good results now with remotely controlled strobes and immediate feedback with in-camera review. I bought my copy on ebay for less than £3.
I think the two things that can immediately give more depth and interest are :
- light behind the subject pointing away or at the subject, creating a silhouette (as you have done in shot 2)
- light that is off camera. when the light is on camera the shadows aren't visible in the finished photos. If you move the light off to one side or hide it somewhere off camera, then the shadow appear as diagonal lines. Your brain can decode this as depth - exactly how you view things normally. it's usual for light in a building or even the sun to be in a different spot to your eyes. (shot 3 on the left works really well without shadows because the stals are a different colour to the background. in shot 2 foreground on the ceiling they are the same colour and would really benefit from some shadows to add some black behind each one.)
I think the two things that can immediately give more depth and interest are :
- light behind the subject pointing away or at the subject, creating a silhouette (as you have done in shot 2)
- light that is off camera. when the light is on camera the shadows aren't visible in the finished photos. If you move the light off to one side or hide it somewhere off camera, then the shadow appear as diagonal lines. Your brain can decode this as depth - exactly how you view things normally. it's usual for light in a building or even the sun to be in a different spot to your eyes. (shot 3 on the left works really well without shadows because the stals are a different colour to the background. in shot 2 foreground on the ceiling they are the same colour and would really benefit from some shadows to add some black behind each one.)
William_Emmo
New member
Thanks for the advice, I’ll have a go doing this on my next trip.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
I think its unwise to be too critical about other folks images. I would say find your own way and dont listen too much to others. Try to see things differantly. The web is awash with formulaic images. Most that we see now are enhanced by editing or apps and AI in someway. Photos are just two things essentially. Light and composition. Get the hang of both but dont follow the crowd. I do stuff my own way. I resist the temptation to alter them too much. I use hand held torches now rather than flash. I dont use RAW and start the road to hours of tinkering at home. Always take more than one shot. If you do ten one will probably be OK. Resist the grinning back lit poses if you can. To my mind they are far too prevelant. Look for charactacter in a person. Look for the story in an image. Share your work and dont worry about what others think. Its your work done the way you want it . Essentially there is no right and wrong way. Hope to see you here again.
Rob
Well-known member
I'm going to disagree with most of what OR says there. But i will agree with:
- Look for character in a person.
- Look for the story in an image.
- Hope to see you here again.
While I feel that TOR makes some valid points, I also think that if, William, you want pictures to stick on your wall or to show non-caving friends/family/colleagues what it's like underground, then character studies aren't going to cut the mustard; the chances are that non-cavers, on seeing good photos, even if they are clichéed, are more likely to say 'Wow – that's amazing'.
Steve Clark
Well-known member
My response was quite specific and I do actually share some of TOR's opinions too. Capturing the 'fun' of caving, whilst making it 'wow' is the hardest skill of all. To be blunt, following the remote strobe formula (as expertly passed on by Chris Howes book and Mark Burkey's CNCC workshop) is a relatively quick way to get impressive looking shots that will grab the attention of cavers & non-cavers alike. It has also now become quite easy to grab the 'real caving' / characterful action shots using the like of TG cameras, go-pros and phones. Trying to get both together is where I'd like to be! One of my favorite shots I've taken was a mis-fired shot, whilst we had already taken the time to setup the lighting first. It's far better (IMHO) than the sterile one I'd initially setup to take.
As an example of lighting, there is a strobe over to the right of the camera, giving the shadows behind the stal curtains on the ceiling. Just 3 of us on this trip, the camera is on a mini-tripod stuck in the muck.
As an example of lighting, there is a strobe over to the right of the camera, giving the shadows behind the stal curtains on the ceiling. Just 3 of us on this trip, the camera is on a mini-tripod stuck in the muck.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
I am now bombarded by AI editing apps etc on Facebook so serves me right for looking. It does make you realise how many there are. There was an image of a mouse inside a flower on line today. Point is can you believe it ? Anyway some good measured responses to the question which shows ultimately that we all dont think the same way.
