Multiple pops of a handheld flash create silhouettes of the photographer in a small part of a very large and complex abandoned silica mine somewhere in South Dakota. The white streak near the bottom is my friend's dog's headlamp. The dog doesn't have enough sense to stay behind the camera while I'm exposing without constant reminders.
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This is a neat technique photo, but I believe it is a bit of a stretch on the challenge theme. The image itself doesn't seem to relay much on the theme without the title. The idea here and the effect of light created by your technique is excellent though :)
To answer a few questions right off, the location is an abandoned silica mine somewhere in the midwest area of the US (sorry, I need to be vague to protect it from vandals). The mine has about twenty miles of passages that we have been mapping. A usual trip involves about a half dozen people with headlamps, plenty of flashlights, snacks, and water. On this particular trip, our map was fairly complete and we were much more relaxed and able to spend a lot of time at our base camp deep in the mine. The faint foreground lighting (orange) is from a few candles that were lit around base camp behind the camera. They provided enough light for the people in camp to see what they were doing (and not have to use other lights) and just barely enough light for me to have half a prayer of where I was walking out in the view of the camera.
I locked the shutter open with a cable release and walked out into the dark junction room with an off-camera flash. I fired about six flashes from various points around the room, trying to mentally choreograph how the shadows and lighing would look when I was done. Overall, the shutter was open for 49 seconds. The white squiggly line at the bottom of the frame was the dog (more specifically, his headlamp). Mr. Brown was having a blast running around in the dark mine with his own light surce, and me managed to get into several of my shots that weekend. I thought about cropping off the bottom of the frame, but decided not to for the sake of adding a bit more mystery to the photo.
Is that big white dog hair the flashlight as you went to your first spot? You know, I kindof like it. It would be neat if we could see the trail the whole way. Of course, without would still be better... I'm very impressed with the even illumination you got on the cave walls and roof.
looks like you used a long exposure and a constantly on light source near the cam, might have been better with the movable light alone; I hate seeing so many footprints undeground
Very interesting. The "half shapes" add quite an element of mystery. Lighting is very unique. Only thing that bothers is the white line at the bottom.. Well done.
cool capture. the white thread/wire/something on the foreground takes away from the image a bit. but i like the idea and the execusion. it is very original.
GREAT SHOT!!! One of the best of all time! Let me guess 30 second exposure; f11, and you walking around with a strobe. Truly a perfect shot. what is the location?
I had to stop and think about how this one was done. Great idea! I've played with long exposures and lighting things up, but never this good. I love the picture ... hope you do well.
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