CraigBILL

Carlsbad Caverns is a great place for the camera to capture amazing details that normal sight misses. There are no colored lights in Carlsbad Caverns, but the camera is much more sensitive to different types of light bulbs that are used to creatively illuminate (now however, LED lights of only one color are used so no "hidden" colors exist now). because of this, subtle colors are revealed - just one of photography’s unique attributes. In this image, for example, tungsten bulbs record as oranges and yellows while mercury bulbs show greens and blues. Using a long exposure and a warm camera filter, I was able to capture these dramatic effects in an underground panoramic vista titled “Dragon’s Lair”.

 

This vintage image of mine was captured with the old lighting system that I as an enthusiast and photographer like much better than the new LED lights.

During Ansel Adams documenting of Carlsbad Caverns in 1930’s, he considered his efforts a frustrating failure, and many of his images were personally destroyed by him.