Rainier Snow Cave

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 17, 2012863 views24 comments

Trying out my new D800e which is proving itself in low light. Amazed at the ability to extract colors from darkness without hdr efforts. Nikon 14-24mm. F18. Cable. Tripod.

The heat has probably snuffed out this cave for the season and a couple like it nearby. This was shot a week ago.

Avoid cave interiors, keenly walk upstream above the snowpack and offset from the caves - take note... the fissures on the edges and topside of caves ...avoid them both above and below. Stay outside and shoot safely without the potential for wall or roof collapse. (I don't always practice what I preach)

(((To ALL ...thanks for the comments.
TO Wick, yes...those are drip lines in the left side.)))

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on August 17, 2012 at 1:24 AM

here is a shot of a collapse...the scale is understood when you realize the opening is 20 feet across and 12-15 ft height.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on August 17, 2012 at 1:34 AM

That is amazing. From the second image it looks like this is from mount rainier? I saw a few of these caves from very far away and wanted to get to one, just didn't have the time. Amazing the capabilities of these newer dSLR's.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 17, 2012 at 2:01 AM

Psychedelic scene Ken but don't think I would be brave enough to enter one of these. The upper half of your image is especially interesting.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on August 17, 2012 at 6:39 AM

Just fantastic vision, colors, detail, etc, etc. There is just a multitude of things going on in this image Ken.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 17, 2012 at 9:16 AM

Fascinating. I really like the blue hues and their contrast with the warmer hues.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 17, 2012 at 10:15 AM

Pretty incredible and incredibly pretty. Real nice all the way around.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 17, 2012 at 10:48 AM

Best color I have ever seen from a snow cave shot. The clarity and detail is amazing from this camera.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 17, 2012 at 1:54 PM

Love the kaleidoscopic ceiling Ken, I like the symmetry in the flowing stream too.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 17, 2012 at 2:25 PM

I really like the bright sections, the psychedelic top half and the stream. Wish the darker areas were a little easier to see. Looks like an amazing place.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Wick Smith on August 17, 2012 at 3:27 PM

This is a fabulous shot - love the blue/aqua colors in the ceiling. There seems to be two vertical streaks in the top left corner. Are those drips?

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on August 17, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Stunning! I've never seen anything like this. It has a great feeling of depth, and the color is outstanding.
Thank you for describing the danger factors.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 17, 2012 at 6:43 PM

Wow, that's some crazy color. Well composed with great light.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Chad Merrell on August 17, 2012 at 10:27 PM

Very cool scene. Love the rolling layers on the roof of the cave and the colors throughout.

Registered on July 8, 2010, 91 Posts, 304 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on August 17, 2012 at 11:02 PM

Whoa! This is pure awesome-ness. The colors are fantastic and the crazy shapes/textures in the roof are fantastic.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 18, 2012 at 7:53 AM

Cool psychedelic colours. Wonderful shot.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Natalie Mikaels on August 18, 2012 at 11:44 AM

Wow! Stunning shot. The clarity is amazing. Is this a DOF blend? Yes, the Nikon d800 is incredible. I'm loving mine.

Registered on November 3, 2011, 45 Posts, 181 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 18, 2012 at 10:01 PM

Ok, Im gonna be brutally honest with you here. This is totally cool, don't get me wrong, but i expected much more from the thumb. I think the problem for me is that it's too 2D. its an interesting study in the colors/shapes--but i wanted to be placed at the scene, and this doesnt take me there. Look at this killer example from Marc's portfolio:
HERE
Now, im not suggesting you copy Marc, what im saying is this is what grabs me, and it's absent from your shot. In the linked shot, he uses light (at the proverbial 'end of tunnel') to create depth. The backlighting strongly gives a feel for the passageway. In your shot, the lighting is up front, and that destroys the three dimensionality of the scene. I'm pretty sure that wasn't your goal here.
All that said, its still impressive--im just giving you something to chew on for next time.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on August 19, 2012 at 12:29 AM

This is incredible! I love everything about it except I wish the rocks and ground around the stream were a bit lighter, so I could see more of the detail! I thought at first you combined a shot of abalone shell as the sky and an awesome waterfall with succulent colors, but then to know you were inside a snow cave and that is real....WOW...too cool!

Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 19, 2012 at 8:33 PM

Love those colors Ken! Wish I could have made it up there with you and Steve!

As far as Stan's comment, I see his point. But, not having an opening at the end of the cave like Marc had for his shot kind of negates you being able to capture this in a similar way Marc did for his image. I think you did a great job with the conditions you were given. And I guess the D800e finally came!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on August 19, 2012 at 11:44 PM

Incredible colors and details top to bottom Ken. Love it. The textures are amazing and the light is fantastic.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on August 20, 2012 at 2:04 PM

The colors and patterns in the ceiling are outstanding

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 21, 2012 at 2:05 AM

super. i think that the roof, alone, could provide some fascinating abstracts.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on August 21, 2012 at 10:12 PM

Awesome Ken. Stan makes a point but I totally agree with Joe in that it's not a fair comparison. Well done.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on September 14, 2012 at 11:36 AM

Great job here, Ken. The colors are amazing for low light or any other light for that matter. And compositionally, you've done well. The fg water draws the eye in just fine, and what a reward at the eye's destination. Looks like a stained glass window.
The D800E, what a camera. I've got the D800, but its at nikon for repair already.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments