reflecting pool, a photo from バージニア, South

Photographer's Note

Singuanti's (Stephen Inguanti) earlier posting of the reflecting pond from Luray Caverns inspired me to visit the area a few weeks ago. Without a tripod, I set up my camera on a stone to take this image. The overexposed areas are those where the spotlights shone.

Luray Caverns are a large, celebrated commercial cave just west of Luray, Virginia, USA, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878. The underground cavern system is generously adorned with speleothems (columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, mirrored pools, etc). The caverns are noted for the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone made from solenoid fired strikers that tap stalactites of various sizes to produce tones similar to those of xylophones, tuning forks, or bells.

Gerrit, Philippe, gracious, sabyasachi1212, ChrisJ, snunney, Cretense, NellyD, Budapestman, axiotea, Royaldevon, leonorkuhn, Charo, Clementi, kiwi_explorer, elmec, saylan-cb, plimrn, stego, adores, singuanti, mehmetemin, AiresSantos, delic, atus, danos, pboehringer, Dyerco, andante, edytungkal, Hendrika, noborders, rigoletto, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bracasha75 (24591) 2007-11-16 13:37

Hello Danilo
What a fantastic cave and this remaind me little on place where i work...near me is bigest cave in serbia and i have not once image from there(12km)...
Good one
TFS
]Cheers,Braca

Gerrit (62042) 2007-11-16 14:07

Hi Danilo,
fantastic picture. Incredible reflections and splendid colours and light.
Groeten Gerrit

gracious (20025) 2007-11-16 20:19

My friend Danilo,
Excellent composition of the reflection pond!
good sharpness, vivid colour and so much details in the shot
very well done
have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
cheers
Tony

siolaw (38294) 2007-11-16 21:22

Salut Jos�
C'est superbe la vue de ces stalactites et de leurs r馭lexions!... La nettet� est bonne et les couleurs chaudes conviennent bien a la sc鈩e.
Bien vu
Laurent

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2007-11-17 0:29

Hi Danilo,
This is a very good effort without a tripod. Superb reflections.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

ChrisJ (171818) 2007-11-17 0:39

Hi Danilo

Marvellous reflections of the stalagmites or tites? in the tranquil rockpool waters. I like the amber monochromatic colour. Good sharpness & framing. Tfs!

Philippe (11836) 2007-11-17 0:45

Hi, Danilo. The reflections on the mirror-like water are really great. The orange tones create a very warm atmosphere in the picture. There is also some kind of mystery hanging around. This would be a very good setting for a movie.

partha (14023) 2007-11-17 1:11

Reflection is the strength of the shot. The colour is warm and really adds plus in your shot.
Regards.
partha

pablominto (53746) 2007-11-17 1:19

Hello Danilo,
An amazing cave landscape has been captured!
The shapes and colours are out of this world, and the details are well captured...
Scenery is well framed and with a good feeling of depth!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Graal (103040) 2007-11-17 1:25

Hi Danilo,
unusual place, great reflections and warm colours. Interesting informations. Good work. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

vincz (19113) 2007-11-17 1:39

Fantastic! The reflection is truly unique and all dimensions mix with so much depth. Colors are excellent. A beautiful one!

snunney (130967) 2007-11-17 5:43

Hello Danilo,
A fascinating and eerie scene. Has a great abstract quality about it despite the symmetry provided by the reflections. Magnificent tones and clarity.

Cretense (68709) 2007-11-17 6:00

Hi Danilo!

What an amazing shot, fantastic cave and impressive mirror effect. A world doubled and turned upside down! Dificule but excellent shot! Congratulations!

Hercules

NellyD (1874) 2007-11-17 6:59

Hi Danilo,

Wow, what a great looking reflection you've captured here!
The sharpness looks excellent, good composition, colours, light and details.
I like it, thanks for sharing and have a good weekend!

Greetings, Nel

leo61 (0) 2007-11-17 10:08

Hi Danilo!
A great shot with excellent lightmanagement.The orange tones are wonderful and the image has a great depth.
Regards,Leo

evanrizo (462) 2007-11-17 11:08

Hi Danilo, it looks marvelous, the reflections come so clear!
All the effect here works great.
Cheers
Evan
I will come back...

UnTrained (0) 2007-11-17 11:18

Hi Danilo,
great effect of reflection and only the wonderful presentation of the cave would be something to enjoy, but that also mirrored maks it wonderful. Superb quality.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Gustaw (21670) 2007-11-17 14:14

Hi, my friend!
It is very oryginal photo. I like your idea. Nice and interesting reflection. Interesting colours and light.
Marek

berek (50518) 2007-11-17 22:30

Hi Danilo,
impressive atmosphere my friend. you managed light very good. I like it. greetings.
Burak Erek

Karmenu (1408) 2007-11-18 0:40

Hi danilo
really a nice shot of this mysterious cave. The scene in this composition is really dynamic and so is lighting.
have a nice Sunday
Charles

jojo31 (1601) 2007-11-18 2:59

hello Danilo
excellente capture avec une splendide r馭lection
les couleurs sont chaudes et la nettet� impecable
amiti駸

jojo

Budapestman (82620) 2007-11-18 3:05

Hi Danilo,
Amazing natural impression the composition is very spectacular. I like the fantastic atmosphere and the wonderful colours, clarity is excellent. Very well done! Have a nice Sunday
George

Silvio1953 (221493) 2007-11-18 5:18

Hi Danilo, superb composition of magnificent cave with wonderful reflections and splendid colors, fascinating light, very well done, ciao Silvio

axiotea (21651) 2007-11-18 10:00

Hello Danilo
Amazing place, with the good capture of the stalactite's reflection which create a nice visual effect and also a good sense of depth.
Cheers
Marilyn

Royaldevon (85862) 2007-11-18 14:41

Wow, Danilo, what a place!
The true meaning of fantastic is that it is like a fantasy, which really applies here! I can see roaring dragons and crooked witches' fingers! I love the wonderful shapes and the super colour tones! This should be on everyone's list fo a visit!

kind regards,
Bev :-)

leonorkuhn (16237) 2007-11-18 15:15

Hi Danilo,

Very nice composition in difficult light conditions. Excellent colors, textures, good details and perfect reflections.

Well done!
Leonor

Charo (51290) 2007-11-19 3:27

Hola Danilo,
Excelente toma de esta gruta con su estupendo e intenso color reflejada perfectamente en el agua.
Muy buena luz y resoluci.
Cordialmente
Charo

Clementi (52514) 2007-11-19 12:58

Ciao Danilo ,
wath a fantastic reflection on this cavern , great ligth and colors ,
a good job
Giorgio

Dragonheart (8434) 2007-11-19 15:04

Hi Danilo,
Beautiful colours, amazing shot. I like this picture a lot. Good control of exposure too.
Thanks for sharing
Best regards
Vivek

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-11-19 16:14

Hello Dan,
Well captured ... good use of dramatic lighting. I didn't realize there was a reflection until I read your notes. Good lighting management and A+ for being resourceful with your tripod substitute. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

elmec (12210) 2007-11-20 1:07

Hello Danilo!
Amazing shot in the cave!
I like this reflections - perfect mirror scene makes the cave magic labirynth!
Very good done!
Best regardS!

saylan-cb (12738) 2007-11-20 4:08

Hi Danilo
This is a fantastic composition and great colours,light.Very nice details and sharpness,well done.
TFS/Regards

plimrn (21344) 2007-11-20 6:46

Hi Danilo,
I especially like the way you framed that bright curve of light reflecting of the toothy projections of the stalactites, & stalagmites.
HLJ, Pat

chpp (4283) 2007-11-20 7:47

Hi Danilo
what a great shot! very nice exposure and light. and the reflection is amazing.
Nice POV an interesting note
cheers
chris

Scharan (14144) 2007-11-20 11:16

Ol� Danilo

Grande imagem. Lindas cores,luz, formas e textura. Bom trabalho Danilo, parab駭s!
GA
Vera

toto (0) 2007-11-20 13:45

Belle photo des r馭lections de cette grotte dans cette eau, vraiment un superbes coup d' oeil. Jolies couleurs et bonne nettet� de l' ensemble de cette grotte.
Amiti駸 Thomas

stego (24132) 2007-11-20 14:22

Hi Danilo,
A magical place, remarkably well captured. Hats off for the firm hand and talent for compo and light control.
TFS, Regards, Jos�.

adores (46979) 2007-11-20 16:25

Hi Danilo!
Great shot here, and caves must not be really easy to shoot. The pov is very good and you got a great reflection and symetry. Good light and definition!

singuanti (15250) 2007-11-20 19:27

Hi Danilo. Before I read your note I was about ready to tell you that I took a picture just like this! I'm glad you found the same area I took mine in. One thing I did in mine was push the contrast up a fair bit but you don't look to need it as much as I did. Thanks for the recognition in your note too. tfs Danilo!

mehmetemin (7231) 2007-11-21 6:30

Hi Danilo
Amazing color, great capture... color, light is perfect
Mehmet Emin

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-11-21 7:42

Hi Danilo,
Great view of the Luray Caverns. I like to see columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and mirrored pools in the caverns.
I have in my plans to visit the 'Mira de Aire' Caverns.
Very Good picture with nice reflections and light well managed
My best wishes

delic (6735) 2007-11-21 12:11

Hello Danilo,
I lived in VA for six years and have visited Luray Caverns, too. This photo brings back memories. Photography is not easy in caverns. You have quite well handholding the camera. Composition and colors are very nice. Regards,
Hakan

atus (15878) 2007-11-21 16:38

Hi Danilo,
very nice and eye-cathing shot of a great perspective and very good handling of the difficult light conditions. The reflection is stunning and of an excellent clarity.
Very nice work! Tfs and best regards.
Attila

danos (110407) 2007-11-22 7:31

Hello Danilo,
very nice the reflections on the pool of the interior of this cave.The reddish hue is impressive and the shape of stalactites, stalagmites, reflected perfect and we see it much better on the sufface of the water.Informative your note too.Well done Danilo.

Regards,Danos

batalay (41261) 2007-11-22 21:27

Hello Danilo,

I remember now that you are a neighbor -- I live in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is an excellent shot of Luray Caverns, and I too have been inspired to visit the site by Stephen Inguanti's excellent photo. You have captured the rugged topography of the cave very nicely, with good light and resolution. The light creates a glow that is really quite compelling.

Warm regards,

Bulent

pboehringer (770) 2007-11-23 22:56

Danilo, a very perfect image done in a cavern. The light conditions were certainly perfect to enhance the reflections Last weekend I did some shot in a cavern myself and I got to experience the difficulties of photography in such an environment. I admire your work here! Kudos for you!
Regards, Peter

Dyerco (10185) 2007-11-24 12:06

Great shot Danilo. No worries about wind on the water here eh? A very stunning composition.
Phil

andante (7092) 2007-11-28 4:24

Love the image, posted a workshop, with some suggestions. Hope you find them helpful. Cheers,
Enrique

[workshop] [compare]

Angshu (56760) 2007-11-28 19:58

Hello Danilo
The reflections are fantastic, in fact the features are better seen here than on the stalactites themselves. Beautiful warm orange stone throughout the picture is a strength. Beautiful!
Regards
Angshu

edytungkal (4551) 2007-11-29 20:48

Fantastic pov and perfect reflection, i like the colours alot, Danilo. Thanks for this beautiful picture and for the note too.

daniel

Hendrika (655) 2007-12-02 2:12

Hi Danilo,
Am I glad you went inside the cavern - I am claustrofobic but I love to see what the constant seeping water through the linestone created.
Nice picture - the ceiling is very impressive in the poolreflections.
TFS
Els

noborders (1010) 2007-12-11 3:20

This is a mind-boggling photo, light and sharpness are gorgeous, the reflection makes it a graphic photo and I love this kind of subjects (returning often in Cappadocia where there are a lot of caves, but yours is much more impressive !)
The only thing that I miss here is a little human silhouette lost in the far, which would have given a scale to the ensemble...
But otherwise : fantastic, really !
Best regards,
Cath.

rigoletto (34279) 2007-12-12 3:40

Hi Danilo,
Excellent sharpness for 1/8 sec, and exposure is perfectly set. Black-orange-red-yellow tones make a great mix, and give the superb atmosphere in perfect colors. Lovely reflections and a nice place for solitude :)
Cheers,
Deniz

marietom (34611) 2007-12-16 4:08

Hi danilo,

Superbe, on dirait un bouche grande ouverte, pr黎e � engouffrer tout ce qui passerait � sa port馥.
Tr鑚 belles couleurs.
Marie

bakes888 (18499) 2007-12-16 23:39

Hi Danilo. Nice capture. You have made the most of the limited light to catch good colour and texture. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

jmcl (14535) 2007-12-22 19:53

Hi Danilo,

Some wonderful images as of late ... from attempting some cave shots last summer .. this one really stands out .. tremendous .. great tone .. did they let you use a tripod or is is this hand held? great range of light .. those textures and formations are even more incredible and unique inverted .. tremendous work.

take care,

John

hdl (7035) 2007-12-31 4:41

Hi Danilo. It does have sth very artistic. It's even difficult to see if it's upside down or not. I suppose it is not easy to shoot this with the difficult light conditions, but it comes out very good. Best wishes!

nels (2623) 2008-07-25 10:22

hello danilo, amazing result taken under poor conditions,(i know i have a couple of shots on T.E from the ngilgi caves in west australia) some of the scenes can be breath taking.
regards

adrian