The exit of Kabal Cave in Belize
When I went to Belize 10 years ago, I was told that the caves were big, but nothing in my experience prepared me for how big they actually are. I mean people can talk about passages hundreds of feet high all day long but nothing compares to actually seeing them.
Sand Passage of Kabal
Seeing them, that is was the problem for me as a photographer, I can see how big the entrance is, but in a huge passage underground, I can't see anything, the light on my helmet only reaches a few feet in front of me, I can barely see the guy standing closest to the camera in this frame, no way to see 600 feet down the passage. In fact without making a photograph I wouldn't really know what this cave looks like.
When I get my assistants out in the chamber and they fire their lights magic happens. Suddenly a black void opens and I can see. This what has alway gotten me going about cave photography. Showing something that is otherwise unseeable.
But I guess that is what we do as photographers, show things in a way no one has thought of. I do it underground, but you can do it anywhere. Thinking up new pictures, that gets me going too.
Have a great weekend
-Stephen Alvarez
Stephen, once again I am amazed at what you do...your photographs are truly amazing.
Posted by: Diane Benton | July 27, 2009 at 08:05 PM