NoHoch Cenote, Tulum Mexico

Hi Folks,

Just recently back from two weeks of cave diving in Mexico. On the last few days of the trip, we decided to do some easy dives (just linear main-line penetration) with the camera. It was my first time shooting in caves, but felt prepared in that I took a second strobe to use as a remote slave. I attached the EV controller to the middle of the model's doubles and the strobe was held much like a dive light (with the "hands-free" can light in the same hand). I specifically wanted the lighting to look as natural as possible so I shot from behind in the hopes that the slave strobe might look like a dive light. The obvious disadvantage is the view of the diver in the image... maybe not the best side? Anyway, like I said, it was my first time shooting in caves - so any comments/hints/tips would be welcome.

Thanks

Lee

Hi Lee!

The second image is really awesome! Offcourse it would be better if the diver would be looking into the camera, but maybe that's something You can work on next time.

Sorry I cant give You any hints and tips since I've never dived or photographed in caves, but I'm sure someone here could help You out.

Thanks alot for sharing!

Cheers

Karel

Looks great Lee.

Was the model aware that the flash would fire, or did you surprise him )

I take it there were just two of you?

I've thought of how this could be accomplished within the given cave practices, the two (cave diving and photography) don't sit well together and some shots I've seen from others must have either been meticulously planned and executed or flouted the cave diving principles.

Positioning is the key, maybe two teams independent of each other, one models with strobes tethered to them, the other team the lead and then the photographer who can then independently T off for position allowing the unencumbered 2nd team to go there way.

Great shots though!

#2 and #3 are awesome

I have not yet had a chance to use the remote slaves in cave but really looking forward to it.

Nohoch is an awesome place to photgraph!

Hi Karel, thanks very much for the comments.

Hi Captain Cavemen, well, the models did have the strobe in their hand most of the dive so I'm relatively certain they knew it would go off at some point during the dive! Both models are/were very experienced divers, so it would likely take a bit more than a ramdon flash to surprise them! ; ) As for the team, on three of the photo dives we were in a team of three, one diver not "task loaded" with photo responsibilities. On one of the dives, it was just me and a model - that was the dive where we had already swam the mainline once before and kept the shooting very simple. Obviously, being the photographer in the back (team #3, or #2) meant I was always keeping an eye on my team. As for your suggestions with respect to positioning, as you know, in cave diving it is very important to keep things as simple as possible. Staying on the mainline and having me with the camera in the back seemed to work out pretty well. I do know what you mean though, I've seem images that defy explaination given the normal protocols of maintaining the guideline. Thanks for the comments.

Hi Nick, thanks for the generous comments. Good luck with the cave, slave thing and do share if you shoot in Nohoch!

Lee