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Cave Valley Mine
Cave Valley Nevada
Cave Photography
Exploring and photographing a deep, dark cave mine with wet mud, clay, and bats can be an exhilarating and rewarding experience for a photographer. Here's a detailed description of why you should consider capturing the essence of such an environment:
Venturing into a dark cave mine, you step into an entirely different world. The absence of natural light envelops you in an inky blackness, heightening your senses and evoking a sense of mystery and adventure. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you notice the glistening walls covered in wet mud and clay, reflecting the dim light of your flashlight. The dampness permeates the air, creating an earthy, organic scent that mingles with the mustiness of the cave.
Navigating through the mine, you encounter pools of water and slick patches of mud, which require careful maneuvering and sure-footedness. Each step is deliberate, as you feel the sticky clay tugging at your boots. The darkness engulfs you, urging you to rely on your instincts and senses to explore this enigmatic subterranean realm.
As you move deeper into the cave, you catch glimpses of movement overhead. High above, bats flit through the darkness, their delicate wings gracefully slicing through the air. The ethereal sounds of their wings, coupled with the occasional echo of their calls, reverberate through the cave, creating an eerie yet fascinating ambiance.
Photographing a deep, dark cave mine offers a multitude of creative opportunities. The absence of natural light challenges your skills in low-light photography, pushing the boundaries of your camera's capabilities. Capturing the interplay between light and darkness, you can experiment with long exposures, revealing the intricate details of the cave walls and the texture of the wet mud and clay.
The juxtaposition of the glistening wet surfaces and the rough, weathered rocks provides a striking contrast that can add depth and drama to your compositions. The bats, with their swift and elusive nature, present a captivating subject for your lens, capturing their swift movements or their serene moments of rest.
The beauty and uniqueness of a hidden world that few get to witness. It's an opportunity to document a place where time seems to stand still, preserving the allure and mystique of these hidden underground realms for generations to come.
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Nevada Caves
I almost died and fell into a hole...
I almost died falling into a hole. Into a clay cave.
The mud got stuck and my light started to go out. The clay bill was steep and the water surrounded my bag. It was nothing but mud and bats in the ceiling.
There was a steep hole and with my heavy camera gear, because I was a genius and brought all my lenses so my bag was heavier than usual. I thought I would fall off into the ledge of the rock.
The brand new boots 
I bought were useless. They stopped gripping after my boots got surrounded by clay. My gloves looked like brown coral reefs and I kept slipping into the hole deeper and deeper. The mud got 12 inches deep and I couldn’t get my shot. I was willing to risk it all for a stupid photo.
As I continue to slide down to this hole abyss I got lucky and was able to catch a rock 
. I climbed deeper into the cave thinking I would find something cool. Nope. Just more mud. More death. More bags. Deeper hole.
My light started to dim and flicker. My eyes started to get weak. My group got farther and farther away as since they said they would come back for me to get help.
I sat in the dark. Empty. In a rock of a puddle of muddy clay water with a ledge of a hole and a string. I turned off my light. Air started to thin and it was nothing but pitch black. Nothing but darkness. Nothing but the sounds of dripping water. Knowing one small step it was the end of me and my camera.
Once again I was alone, and all I could blame was myself knowing I made a choice to go into danger. The cave rescuers and BLM ( bureau of land management) if I was back in 30 minutes or less they would have to come in.
I accepted that clay and mud was the only way to get out. So I started to crawl in the mud filled with bat 
feces and water and clay. I crawled and hugged my buddy tight to the ground.
It started to work as I crawled out side of the hole I was stuck it.
I started to count in Japanese, as I remember and thought of my Sensei in my head telling me to stop being overly dramatic and be a man. Funny he’s dead now. He would made fun of me being stuck in a hole.
I started to count…
Itch > grabbed a rock
Ni > out my face into the mud
San > next grab
Yon > pull my leg up to the next clay pile
Light goes out. Dammit. It’s dimming. I’m going to do this in the dark. I’m not dying and if I do I’ll be a laughing stock of a stupid clay cave. I’m not turning into a pottery. F that. I’m a god damn Karate Sensei.
I finally after 4 hours. I walk out and I capture they cave I walked out of. I used the rest of my lights to get one shot.
The darkness is a reminder of when your at your lowest point. You laugh at yourself and stop being a drama king.
- Sensei Lorenzo
