The theory that keeps me pushing forward with this

Cave photography is by far one of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken. When I took my very first images 5 years ago at a TAG caving trip I never dreamed underground photography would take me on such a dynamic journey. Like the pieces of a puzzle the different elements seem to slowly fall into place and while I still can't see it all I do have a better understanding of this realm.
There are many factors that take place to create the mix that drives me to do what I do. First lets look at the obvious - caves. Caves can be right under your feet and you might never know it. Places so utterly amazing and beautiful, so exotic, so unreal. There is something to be said of a place that can make you forget time altogether. In place where light is alien to the landscape, caves hold a unique mystery that calls out. People from all over the world answer the call in their own way. My drive for caving is ambition that I will somehow do the cave justice in an image that may be shared with others.
Next there is the technical challenge. I am driven by this challenge that I do not possess all the answers needed to illuminate and capture every cave shot in the world. I must take steps to learn what has to be done in order to pull off a shot and get it right. There are so many elements that go into a shot. The odds that something will go wrong are usually higher than having it work right. This challenge and the fact that failure is always lurking at your doorstep drives me to push on and try new things. When it works, its magic.
Finally there is the teamwork. Few things in life demand the kind of trust that caving asks of your companions. We knowingly and willingly time and time again put our total trust in our caving partners. Trusting your life to someone is a big step. In my humble opinion the world would be a better place if everyone had that reponsibillity placed on them and understood it. Everything we do has to have the team in mind.
Tying this back into photography translates to having a unique place, a challenge that seems daunting, and an amazing team of friends who all work together to make it work.

-Stay tuned for the next post about photons and making them work for you.