Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => Landscape Showcase => Topic started by: maddogmurph on February 14, 2021, 04:56:21 am

Title: Cave Exploration
Post by: maddogmurph on February 14, 2021, 04:56:21 am

I didn't go in the normal way... it was a bit uncanny to be out here exploring this glacier by myself, crampons and boots soiled by glacial till, and then running into these two swiss guys as I'm crawling down into a wet dripping cave into the darkness along some crag or crevasse. We found a shelf inside, and it lead into this cavern that you see here, which quite a few people before us had discovered... although they all took the much easier approach you see him standing on here. The guides in Iceland make a lot of money by exploring these glaciers as they change shapes, and taking tourists from all over the world to see these. It's sort of an interesting experience to be out there on your own, with a couple of guys, running into large groups of people that paid quite a bit of money to essentially go on a walk. That being said, this is a risky place, and I don't really pretend to think that a guided tour removes the reality that at any point in time, the monumental forces involved in cascading ice can cause a shift, collapse, shattering, or disturbance that could result in catastrophe. It feels so solid and almost like rock when you're there, but what you see in this picture is constantly in slow motion. It took me quite some time to get comfortable with the processing here... to capture the natural feel of the alpineglow as the sun set, and also attempt to capture the details inside the cave. Anyone who's attempted these shots knows the challenges of the dynamic range in these settings. Lots of light bleed, and unresolvable issues in post.

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: Bob_B on February 14, 2021, 06:35:42 am

I like it a lot, but it reminded me of the scenes from "Alien". And, great back story. Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 14, 2021, 10:19:05 am

I've been on a number of large glaciers, in Iceland and Canada, but I'd never dare to venture into one of those spectacular ice caves by myself.

Great shot!

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: francois on February 15, 2021, 08:34:21 am

Unreal… I have to agree with Bob, the place looks like it's a Giger creation made for Alien.
Well done and thanks for the additional info!

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: armand on February 15, 2021, 10:50:33 am

Great shot!
Single exposure?

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on February 16, 2021, 06:23:25 am

Fantastic.

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: Dave (Isle of Skye) on February 16, 2021, 12:43:41 pm

It look so menacing and beautiful at the same time.

Very good indeed :)

Dave

Title: Re: Cave Exploration
Post by: Peter McLennan on February 16, 2021, 05:59:59 pm

No way would I venture in there alone, not even for an image as astounding as this one.

Thanks for bringing us along!