Natalie L Gibb: Shadows and Stalactites
I was a cave diver and explorer long before I ever held a camera underwater. I shot cheesy GoPro videos, but never considered a real camera until my dear friend Luca loaned me his Sony A7S and told me to try it. He must have seen something that I didn’t because that first video dive was a joyous revelation. Filming with a camera able to see the cave the way I saw it, with subtle shadows and defined darkness, changed everything for me.
A videographer at heart, I originally had no interest in photography. I started shooting photos using video lights as studies for cave video lighting but soon realized that some of my photos could stand on their own. I still use video lights in my photographs as I like the softness and subtlety of using just enough light to show the cave. Caves are, in the end, quite dark, and I find that video lights allow me to set a scene and move through it. I use no on-board lights, and prefer to lurk in the shadows with that same Sony A7S, voyeuristically capturing the landscapes I love so much.
I have no formal training and do not take photos on land. Lacking a predetermined concept of what I “should” do has helped me to be creative and show the caves how I see them as a cave diver and explorer. However, several people have definitely influenced my photography.
Jill Heinerth told me my photos looked like I was setting up stage lighting, having her define that helped me to understand my style and what I want out of my images. She was right! Ping Fan introduced me to diffused video lights with high CRI indexes, thereby ruining my life and my finances – I saw no point of ever shooting images again until I purchased Keldan video lights. He was also right. Wetpixel’s own Adam Hanlon has mentored me beyond all expectations, including a strongly worded phone call last year, during which he explained to me I had to stop shooting auto, and actually adjust the aperture and ISO. First I had heard of those things. My models have all been extremely forgiving as the listen to me yell at myself underwater on each photoshoot. As cave photography is never a one-person endeavor, these photos would not be possible without their patience. Finally, Luca deFranco, who put that camera in my hands a few years ago, I will never be able to define how you changed my world.
While maybe not the most technically excellent images, I hope you enjoy a window to the underground world the way I see it, silt and dirt, twisting tunnels, and mystery.
![Three divers float in a line, with video lights placed in front and behind the divers to show the cave. The models are also carrying their own lights to illuminate their bodies.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/diver_arc_nwm__large.jpg)
Three divers float in a line, with video lights placed in front and behind the divers to show the cave. The models are also carrying their own lights to illuminate their bodies.
![Diver Stephanie Lee hovers between two massive columns at Cenote Nai Tucha. Video lights were placed behind each column, with weaker lights behind the photographer.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/double_column_2_nwm__large.jpg)
Diver Stephanie Lee hovers between two massive columns at Cenote Nai Tucha. Video lights were placed behind each column, with weaker lights behind the photographer.
![Photographing another photographer is a delight! Wreck and cave photographer Jeff Lindsay let me take a turn at Cenote String of Pearls.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/horizontal_jeff_1__large.jpg)
Photographing another photographer is a delight! Wreck and cave photographer Jeff Lindsay let me take a turn at Cenote String of Pearls.
![Reflections scatter light and illuminate Alex Buess at Santuario de los Guerreros.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/alex_fly__bright__large.jpg)
Reflections scatter light and illuminate Alex Buess at Santuario de los Guerreros.
![Diver Rory O'Keefe descends though 70-meter tall light beams at Cenote Xkail, a sinkhole in Yucatan State.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/xkail_6__large.jpg)
Diver Rory O'Keefe descends though 70-meter tall light beams at Cenote Xkail, a sinkhole in Yucatan State.
![Diver Rick Dobbins illuminates what I call the Jabba the Hut formation at Cenote Nai Tucha. This photo looks simple, but took five video lights and about thirty minutes to set up.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/jabba_the_hut_1___large.jpg)
Diver Rick Dobbins illuminates what I call the Jabba the Hut formation at Cenote Nai Tucha. This photo looks simple, but took five video lights and about thirty minutes to set up.
![Divers Nick, Nik, and Troy turn a corner at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich. Each divers holds his own video light to illuminate his face.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/stagger_close_nwm__large.jpg)
Divers Nick, Nik, and Troy turn a corner at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich. Each divers holds his own video light to illuminate his face.
![Diver Hana Cho patiently sat in this position for at least 30 minutes while I moved seven video lights around to get this shot at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/dsc-1521-yellow-nwm__large.jpg)
Diver Hana Cho patiently sat in this position for at least 30 minutes while I moved seven video lights around to get this shot at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.
![Natural light was all that was needed to illuminate these massive formations and Rory O'Keefe at Cenote Xkail, a sinkhole in the State of Yucatan](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/xkail_5__large.jpg)
Natural light was all that was needed to illuminate these massive formations and Rory O'Keefe at Cenote Xkail, a sinkhole in the State of Yucatan
![A single light behind diver Hana Cho and her cave light were used to create this shot in a tunnel at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/dsc-1573-nwm__large.jpg)
A single light behind diver Hana Cho and her cave light were used to create this shot in a tunnel at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.
![Diver Hana Cho floats above the halocline at Cenote Lunas y Sombras. The halocline is the interface of fresh and salt water, and it looks like an underwater lake.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/dsc1400nwm__large.jpg)
Diver Hana Cho floats above the halocline at Cenote Lunas y Sombras. The halocline is the interface of fresh and salt water, and it looks like an underwater lake.
![My favorite photo yet! Hana Cho floats beneath delicate soda straw formations at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/dsc1656nwm-clarity__large.jpg)
My favorite photo yet! Hana Cho floats beneath delicate soda straw formations at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.
![Diver Hana Cho swims beneath the surface of Cenote Lunas y Sombras. Calcite from the water creates a thin crust on the surface, and her exhaled bubbles mark her path.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/dsc1496nwm__large.jpg)
Diver Hana Cho swims beneath the surface of Cenote Lunas y Sombras. Calcite from the water creates a thin crust on the surface, and her exhaled bubbles mark her path.
![Bre Kramer slides through a tight restriction at Cenote Caterpillar.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/bre_caterpillar_2_portrait_nwm__large.jpg)
Bre Kramer slides through a tight restriction at Cenote Caterpillar.
![A light placed behind a conveniently located column create a sunburst effect for diver Bre Kramer at Cenote Caterpillar.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/bre_caterpillar_mid_2_nwm__large.jpg)
A light placed behind a conveniently located column create a sunburst effect for diver Bre Kramer at Cenote Caterpillar.
![Glenn Farquhar's strong primary light punches into the darkness, illuminating sediment in the water and giving a sense of depth to this photo from Cenote Minotauro.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/glenn_8578_nwm__large.jpg)
Glenn Farquhar's strong primary light punches into the darkness, illuminating sediment in the water and giving a sense of depth to this photo from Cenote Minotauro.
![Nicholas White floats in front of a single video light, which adds depth to this canyon shot at Cenote Coop One.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/canyon_8211_nwm__large.jpg)
Nicholas White floats in front of a single video light, which adds depth to this canyon shot at Cenote Coop One.
![Diver Alex K.S. Fraser floats in front of a single video light at Nohoch Nah Chich. Bubbles on the cave ceiling create a mirror effect.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/lexi_nohoch_4__large.jpg)
Diver Alex K.S. Fraser floats in front of a single video light at Nohoch Nah Chich. Bubbles on the cave ceiling create a mirror effect.
![Lights placed behind the columns create window into another world with Joe Fellows at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.](http://wetpixel.com/images/uploads/full_frame/10073/fellows_window__large.jpg)
Lights placed behind the columns create window into another world with Joe Fellows at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.