Deep within Valentine Cave at Lava Beds National Monument, total darkness and fleeting solitude set the stage for this image. With the camera on a tripod and 30-second exposures, I used a handheld flashlight to “paint” the cave walls with light. My wife timed each shot while I carefully illuminated textures formed by flowing lava thousands of years ago.

A ½ CTO gel on the flashlight helped bring warmth to the scene and balance the blue cast typical of LED light. With just 15 minutes alone in this usually crowded cave, we managed to capture its eerie beauty and incredible textures shaped by geologic time.

Valentine Cave is one of the most accessible in the monument, known for its wide, smooth passages and surreal volcanic formations. It’s a reminder of the raw power beneath our feet. 🌋🕯️

#LavaBeds #ValentineCave #LightPainting #CaveExploration #LongExposurePhotography
If you're using an ultra-wide angle lens and there's nothing interesting in the foreground at the beach, try slowing down your shutter speed (you may need an ND filter). This will allow you to capture the movement of the water, creating a dynamic and engaging foreground. Point Ronald, Victoria, Australia.
#beach
#beachphotography
#waves
#coast
#surf
#snap_beaches
#greatoceanroad
#longexposure
#longexposure_shots
#longexposurephotography
#australialongexposure
#snap_longexposure
#abcmyphoto
#focusaustralia
#raw_australia_nz
#raw_longexposure
#raw_landscape
If you're using an ultra-wide angle lens and there's nothing interesting in the foreground at the beach, try slowing down your shutter speed (you may need an ND filter). This will allow you to capture the movement of the water, creating a dynamic and engaging foreground. Point Ronald, Victoria, Australia.
#beach
#beachphotography
#waves
#coast
#surf
#snap_beaches
#greatoceanroad
#longexposure
#longexposure_shots
#longexposurephotography
If you're using an ultra-wide angle lens and there's nothing interesting in the foreground at the beach, try slowing down your shutter speed (you may need an ND filter). This will allow you to capture the movement of the water, creating a dynamic and engaging foreground. Point Ronald, Victoria, Australia.
#beach
#beachphotography
#waves
#coast
#surf
#snap_beaches
#greatoceanroad
#longexposure
#longexposure_shots
#longexposurephotography
#australialongexposure
#snap_longexposure
#abcmyphoto
#focusaustralia
#raw_australia_nz
#raw_longexposure
#raw_landscape
If you're using an ultra-wide angle lens and there's nothing interesting in the foreground at the beach, try slowing down your shutter speed (you may need an ND filter). This will allow you to capture the movement of the water, creating a dynamic and engaging foreground. Point Ronald, Victoria, Australia.
#beach
#beachphotography
#waves
#coast
#surf
#snap_beaches
#greatoceanroad
#longexposure
#longexposure_shots
#longexposurephotography