Although you may take the Lower Cave tour in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, you may not recognize this cave opening at first glance. But I promise you, you will pass through it on the lower cave tour if you take it. This cave is looking back into the pearl beds from the main lower cave room. This image maximizes the light through a technique known as High Dynamic Range photography. Multiple exposures at various times from 2 seconds to 30 seconds combined to show a long cavern illuminated by dim and bright lights. I did a few more exposures than was recommended by Peter Jones because I wanted to bring out the details in the back of the cave.
Believe it or not, here are the min and max exposures that go into this image: www.flickr.com/photos/samurai_cat/201455634/ www.flickr.com/photos/samurai_cat/201457934/
If you would like to see close to what I have done with your eye, you can try though it will not be the same image (the eye processes things differently than a camera, and more so still than a light compression math technique). Still, if you find the cave from the the trail and your tour can stop for a moment. Look at the cave and close your eyes, count to about 20-30 seconds, then open them. The light will be brighter than this, but you will see some of the color captured here that you don't normally see from the dull gray light you see in the corner.
Enjoy, and happy caving!
L A I D L E R, Patrick Houlihan, Kyudos, ironmountainfilms, and 55 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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marinamerritt 65 months ago | reply
Great photo.
I'm am doing a trip to Carlsbad in Feb. I used to go there quite frequently about 20 years ago. I'm looking forward to it this time because its the first time I'm doing it digitally.
I'm looking forward to using various combinations of f stop and aperature, using a remote flash for unusual effects and such.
Its a great place to go in the winter because there aern't too many people and the weather is always great underground.
LeszekZadlo 60 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called 100 + Viewed Best of Geology (Add 1, Award 1), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
1888junkteam? 45 months ago | reply
excellent image!
La Palma Mágica 14 months ago | reply
Photo used at unbosqueinterior.blogspot.com/2012/03/quien.html