Here is my entry for 2009.

It is for others to judge any photographic merit, however I feel that these pictures are interesting in that they have all been taken using my caplamps in various configurations.

I see the top chamber in Cwmorthin as been particularly challenging in that it is extremely large and therefore difficult to illuminate. All pictures are of this but from slightly different viewpoints and lighting configurations.

UniStar shines downwards from the top, 3 X SSC P7s round the corner, and 5 Cree Q5 MangumStar on my head. A couple of Tesco torches behind me for a little foreground illumination.

🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44281[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44281[/linkphoto][/link]

The second has me holding the P7 lamp plus the helmet Maggie.


🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44282[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44282[/linkphoto][/link]

The last used my helmet lamp to illuminate the top of the steps, P7s round a corner on the left.

🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44283[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-44283[/linkphoto][/link]

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Great photos Roy. You've got the sense of perspective absolutely nailed there.

Should you change you name to LED Fellows? I like the first one Roy, I think its the best and very well lit for such a massive area. Did you have helpers or did your position the lighting yourself?

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Hi Mike
Funny you should say that about the first one, I feel the same way about it being the best.
I was working solo, 3 caplamps plus 2 Tesco torches. Its a cosy place to work, until I was interupted by the retrobates of SCMC, but at least one of them ordered a lamp off me, so I forgive them.

I have always been fascinated by that top chamber and first photographed it in the late 1980s using a mix of electronic flashes and a car spotlamp.
There is no comparison with todays pictures.

I hope to be finished shortly on the MagnumStar and be able to move on to handlamps and photo lamps.
I would like to produce small selfcontained, 2 X P7 in series, photolamps at an inexpensive price.

A progresive switch could power them up at about 30%, 60% and full using my 3 X 1070mA driver plus 0.27 ohm series resistor circuit. Addressing each driver individually directly though the switching is easier than PWM, and the building cost cheap.

Still, this is next years project.

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Personally, I prefer the third one, as it doesn't have the "artificiallity" of the light in the top tunnel - it looks then as you see it. The light at the top pulls your attention.

Cheers

Grahami

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Roy these are ace. Not only a class location and great scale, but I love your way of lighting using several light sources. Its also great as it looks as if it is a huge chamber that would be difficult to light up but you certainly have done a grand job

hey Roy you cant use those pictures as I built those steps with Lilbro and i havent given permission for them to be photographed............









😉

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You NEARLY built those steps, I almost went flying......

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Roy wrote;

until I was interupted by the retrobates of SCMC

.
Sorry Roy and you had to wait as we shuffled through your shot. The results are excellent, I think the first photo just shades it.

I see that I am getting votes on this. I am not after brownie points or coming from somewhere else but I would be very interested to see which of these 3 pictures is generally considered the best.
I am sure that others would be as well.
Basically my #1 could be considered 'arty' with the backlighting etc.
The #3 which is getting the votes shows the mine etc without anything ‘fancy’.
As I have said, I am not coming from anywhere and will happily withdraw from the competition if necessary, not that I ever get anywhere anyway.
But I would like opinion on this.
So pretty please, take the trouble to vote.
If you don’t want to do this, please post your opinion.
You see this subject has been touched upon before, and I see this as the ideal opportunity to get a consensus on opinion.

So here we go, ‘arty’ V ’reality’
Or am I somewhere out of line starting this discussion at all?

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That is a difficult question to answer Roy. I wouldn't consider any of them to be "arty". I think it is between #1 and #2. I think #3 doesn't show the stairs quite well enough. It is very difficult to choose between #1 and #2. I think #1 is slightly let down by the light at the top being just a tad too bright.

I prefer #1 Roy. Though I think for me it shows up the mine better than #3, even if it is considered to be more arty. I like deep shadows in photos, like the first one as I think it gives more depth to the photo and as well as revealing the nature of the rock, better than what flatter lighter does..

No 3 definitely.
The light is more consistent and the top two almost give the impression they are looking out to surface which could be a bit misleading.
Think back-lighting has been overdone a tad so its nice to see good photos without it.

It's #3 for me!! like the even lighting throughout and the top steps are clear, still, the other two are good,like the lightinf on the lower steps in #2!

No 3 definitely.

Nice one Roy, you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge of most things good. I like 3 too, I like fotos which light up what I`m looking at without the "photoshop" feeling. keep up the good work man and stay safe.

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Whilst I think they are all cracking photos I feel that No. 3 has the edge as the lighting is more consistant (even if you are scratching your arse!). If you could keep the even, consistant light whilst sharpening up the stairs........

Not bad, but not that good, we do not want to see scatching your arse, you should be facing the camera. Go back and take them again, facing the camera this time.

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Not bad, but not that good, we do not want to see scatching your arse, you should be facing the camera. Go back and take them again, facing the camera this time.

But surely, then the cap lamp would dazzle the camera? :lol:

Not if you turn it off. 🙂 See my near perfect avatar.

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