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MAY, 2011: HONEYCOMB CAVE BY AMBIENT LIGHT

Those of you following my photography know that I have recently started taking ambient nocturnes (night-time shots with available light only). The same challenges are present in photographing by ambient light in a cave, where it's pretty much night-like all the time.
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Honeycomb Cave (also called Bee Hive Cave). I've been thinking about attempting ambient shots there for quite some time. However, to do it with the quality I would like would likely require about 8 hours of photographing (for one photo). I decided to head up there this morning just to see if it would be likely that I could get a worthwhile shot. This was basically an "exploratory" trip, to see if I could learn from it and return at another date for the "real thing."<br /> <br /> This shot took nearly 4 hours of shooting. It results from 24 exposures, combined in a manner to reduce noise (grain) and enhance tonal range. I thought that this trip would either let me know that spending more time would not be worthwhile, or that it would give me the bug and let me know that I could get a sensational shot given more time. I've got to admit that I'm still in a quandary: I think this turned out somewhat interesting, but am not sure whether or not to go for a more quality (and time-consuming) shot. What do you think? Is there enough here for more effort, or should I forget it?<br /> <br /> For more conventional (flash type) shots and access to a map showing this location, see <a href="http://www.optimimagery.com/CNMI-ON-LAND/SAIPAN/JANUARY-10-2010-HONEYCOMB/12436438_iwtHx">http://www.optimimagery.com/CNMI-ON-LAND/SAIPAN/JANUARY-10-2010-HONEYCOMB/12436438_iwtHx</a>
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Honeycomb Cave (also called Bee Hive Cave). I've been thinking about attempting ambient shots there for quite some time. However, to do it with the quality I would like would likely require about 8 hours of photographing (for one photo). I decided to head up there this morning just to see if it would be likely that I could get a worthwhile shot. This was basically an "exploratory" trip, to see if I could learn from it and return at another date for the "real thing."

This shot took nearly 4 hours of shooting. It results from 24 exposures, combined in a manner to reduce noise (grain) and enhance tonal range. I thought that this trip would either let me know that spending more time would not be worthwhile, or that it would give me the bug and let me know that I could get a sensational shot given more time. I've got to admit that I'm still in a quandary: I think this turned out somewhat interesting, but am not sure whether or not to go for a more quality (and time-consuming) shot. What do you think? Is there enough here for more effort, or should I forget it?

For more conventional (flash type) shots and access to a map showing this location, see http://www.optimimagery.com/CNMI-ON-LAND/SAIPAN/JANUARY-10-2010-HONEYCOMB/12436438_iwtHx

saipancnmihoneycomb cavebee hive caveambient lightavailable lightnoflash photography

  • Honeycomb Cave (also called Bee Hive Cave). I've been thinking about attempting ambient shots there for quite some time. However, to do it with the quality I would like would likely require about 8 hours of photographing (for one photo). I decided to head up there this morning just to see if it would be likely that I could get a worthwhile shot. This was basically an "exploratory" trip, to see if I could learn from it and return at another date for the "real thing."<br /> <br /> This shot took nearly 4 hours of shooting. It results from 24 exposures, combined in a manner to reduce noise (grain) and enhance tonal range. I thought that this trip would either let me know that spending more time would not be worthwhile, or that it would give me the bug and let me know that I could get a sensational shot given more time. I've got to admit that I'm still in a quandary: I think this turned out somewhat interesting, but am not sure whether or not to go for a more quality (and time-consuming) shot. What do you think? Is there enough here for more effort, or should I forget it?<br /> <br /> For more conventional (flash type) shots and access to a map showing this location, see <a href="http://www.optimimagery.com/CNMI-ON-LAND/SAIPAN/JANUARY-10-2010-HONEYCOMB/12436438_iwtHx">http://www.optimimagery.com/CNMI-ON-LAND/SAIPAN/JANUARY-10-2010-HONEYCOMB/12436438_iwtHx</a>

  • OptimImagery

    on May 2, 2011

    The more I look at the photo the LESS I'm inclined to return. Unlike the other low-light photos I enjoy doing (the Nocturnes), this ambient cave photo doesn't really show as obvious the rich gradation of tones. For instance, one can't really tell by looking at this that the formation to the left was actually barely lit. To bring out the detail in the dimmer areas, I had to lighten them to the point where the photo is rather "drab." Maybe I can think of a way around this, but it seems to me like the outdoor nocturne shots pretty much take care of this naturally, with the richness of water, sky, etc. So, unless I get an "AhA!", this will likely be the last photo like this I will take for quite a while.

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