User submission 3.7K 18.1K Photography, TravelDec 15, 2017 Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2) Shaun Jeffers Community member Open list comments 25 Vote arrow up Vote arrow down 298 Open list comments 25 Checkmark Link copied! Share icon Share Checkmark Link copied! Share icon Share Modal close ADVERTISEMENT Last year, I published my first Bored Panda post about New Zealand’s glowing underworld. Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a new selection of glow worm images that continue to showcase the magical mountain caves hidden beneath New Zealand. Once again, I donned my wetsuit and set off in search of something truly unique. Having previously only explored the one bioluminescent worm cave, I set myself the challenge of exploring as many different caves as I could.During my nature photography trips, I have explored caves in both New Zealand’s Northland and Waikato regions and have been totally mesmerized by what I have found! From small public accessible caves to huge Department of Conservation permit only caves big enough to fit a cruise ship, it’s been an absolutely incredible experience!I’ve never experienced anything quite like it and to be honest, it’s difficult to put the feeling into words. Standing alone in total darkness, looking up at these little luminescent creatures is just so surreal and magical. It’s like looking up at a starry night sky.I used a combination of Nikon equipment including my D850, D810, and various lenses. Shooting glow worms are no easy feat. Photographing them is just like taking photos of the night sky; only the exposure time can be much longer. Depending on how close I was to the glow worms and the amount of them, exposures varied from 30 seconds to 8 minutes. To achieve the shots, some required me to submerge myself and my tripod in freezing cold water, other required hiking, climbing, abseiling, and swimming. Once again, the cool photos were totally worth it! Bring on more glow worm adventures!ADVERTISEMENTMore info: shaunjeffersphotography.comSpellbound Cave, WaitomoShare iconSpellbound Cave, WaitomoShare iconDepartment of Conservation Permitted Cave, WaitomoShare iconADVERTISEMENTNorthland CavesShare iconDepartment of Conservation Permitted Cave, WaitomoShare iconNorthland CavesShare iconNorthland CavesShare iconADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTSpellbound Cave, WaitomoShare iconWaipu Cave, NorthlandShare iconWaipu Cave, NorthlandShare iconWaitomo Glowworm Cave, WaitomoShare iconWaipu Cave, NorthlandShare iconADVERTISEMENTWaitomo Glowworm Cave, WaitomoShare iconWaitomo Glowworm Cave, WaitomoShare iconADVERTISEMENTWaitomo Glowworm Cave, WaitomoShare iconWaitomo Glowworm Cave, WaitomoShare iconDepartment of Conservation Permitted Cave, WaitomoShare iconMe (Shaun Jeffers)Share icon Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! 18Kviews Share on Facebook Shaun Jeffers Author, Community member View profile Follow Read more Β» Shaun is a British-born Auckland based photographer specialising in commercial tourism. After he graduated in Film & Television Production he pursued a photography career in Liverpool before moving to New Zealand in 2013. He now works with NZ based tourism companies such as Hobbiton Movie Set, Discover Waitomo, Te Puia, Hamilton Waikato and SKYCITY. Read less Β» Shaun Jeffers Author, Community member Read more Β» Shaun is a British-born Auckland based photographer specialising in commercial tourism. After he graduated in Film & Television Production he pursued a photography career in Liverpool before moving to New Zealand in 2013. He now works with NZ based tourism companies such as Hobbiton Movie Set, Discover Waitomo, Te Puia, Hamilton Waikato and SKYCITY. Read less Β» View profile Follow Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Download Bored Panda app! What do you think ? Add photo comments POST SJ_Panda_love SJ_Panda_love Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I very well know these are real and natural. But still I refuse to believe it. Vote comment up 6 6points Vote comment down reply Kipper Mcgee Kipper Mcgee Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I know that feeling too well. Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... Nancy E Nancy E Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report More dramatic than Christmas lights ... Nature is phenomenal! Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply Marion Friedl Marion Friedl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report WOW STUNNING!!! In Germany these insectsΒ΄re called "GlΓΌhwΓΌrmchen" (small glowing worms), but for real theyΒ΄re bugs.... But not many of them left here anymore, when I was a child and went on a kids/teenie vacation from the Catholic Church (IΒ΄m Protestant myself, but my friend SandraΒ΄s Catholic and often took me to a kids group meeting for creative works, cooking etc., this is how I came to those vacations too) for a week twice and we had a night wandering both times we saw lots of them, but since then I havenΒ΄t seen a single one anymore, that was in the early 80s.... (This is the whole comment I shared the post with) Vote comment up 3 3points Vote comment down reply Dan Carter Dan Carter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report They are most definitely NOT GlΓΌhwΓΌrmchen. Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... tweetybird tweetybird Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report This is why I love my country Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Nickel.W Nickel.W Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love living in NZ Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Tom Rex Jessett Tom Rex Jessett Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report MY MAN Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply admshoe admshoe Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Pshhhhhh who needs those beautiful lights I can just duct tape glow sticks to my ceiling. Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Abby Loop Abby Loop Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I must have been dreaming, these are unbelievably amazing Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Sarah Ngakaari Hammond Sarah Ngakaari Hammond Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Thank you once again for promoting my country New Zealand in such a beautiful way! <3 Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Dnelle1972 Dnelle1972 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love this. Reminds me of The Fifth Elephant, when Vines was trying to get out out the underground caverns. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Lexy Prevost Lexy Prevost Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report They're amazing and I wonder how many are there Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Gina Lim Gina Lim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I visited one of these caves in NZ back in the 90s but could'nt see much glow . Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Dapur Cep Bobi Dapur Cep Bobi Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report need passion and patience to take amazing photos like 'em! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Stephanie Hutner Stephanie Hutner Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Now that everyone knows about them, they will be ruined. They'll have tours at night for people to come and see them, and they'll make money off them. Eventually they'll die out because humans are horrible, disgusting, vial creatures who can't leave things the way they are. Watch. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Charlotte Brine Charlotte Brine Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Calm down Debbie Downer Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... Victor Calamity Victor Calamity Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report These pictures alone are amazing...I'll bet in real life, the view is absolutely breathtaking Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply spirit wolf spirit wolf Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report The only thing that's missing is professor Dumbledore conjuring up something. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Gaetano Pirulli Gaetano Pirulli Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Skyrim anyone? Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Hari Onago Hari Onago Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report This is magical. Beautiful pictures. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Marion Friedl Marion Friedl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report WOW STUNNING!!! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply POST SJ_Panda_love SJ_Panda_love Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I very well know these are real and natural. But still I refuse to believe it. Vote comment up 6 6points Vote comment down reply Kipper Mcgee Kipper Mcgee Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I know that feeling too well. Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... Nancy E Nancy E Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report More dramatic than Christmas lights ... Nature is phenomenal! Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply Marion Friedl Marion Friedl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report WOW STUNNING!!! In Germany these insectsΒ΄re called "GlΓΌhwΓΌrmchen" (small glowing worms), but for real theyΒ΄re bugs.... But not many of them left here anymore, when I was a child and went on a kids/teenie vacation from the Catholic Church (IΒ΄m Protestant myself, but my friend SandraΒ΄s Catholic and often took me to a kids group meeting for creative works, cooking etc., this is how I came to those vacations too) for a week twice and we had a night wandering both times we saw lots of them, but since then I havenΒ΄t seen a single one anymore, that was in the early 80s.... (This is the whole comment I shared the post with) Vote comment up 3 3points Vote comment down reply Dan Carter Dan Carter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report They are most definitely NOT GlΓΌhwΓΌrmchen. Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... tweetybird tweetybird Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report This is why I love my country Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Nickel.W Nickel.W Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love living in NZ Vote comment up 2 2points Vote comment down reply Tom Rex Jessett Tom Rex Jessett Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report MY MAN Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply admshoe admshoe Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Pshhhhhh who needs those beautiful lights I can just duct tape glow sticks to my ceiling. Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Abby Loop Abby Loop Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I must have been dreaming, these are unbelievably amazing Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Sarah Ngakaari Hammond Sarah Ngakaari Hammond Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Thank you once again for promoting my country New Zealand in such a beautiful way! <3 Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Dnelle1972 Dnelle1972 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love this. Reminds me of The Fifth Elephant, when Vines was trying to get out out the underground caverns. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Lexy Prevost Lexy Prevost Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report They're amazing and I wonder how many are there Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Gina Lim Gina Lim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I visited one of these caves in NZ back in the 90s but could'nt see much glow . Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Dapur Cep Bobi Dapur Cep Bobi Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report need passion and patience to take amazing photos like 'em! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Stephanie Hutner Stephanie Hutner Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Now that everyone knows about them, they will be ruined. They'll have tours at night for people to come and see them, and they'll make money off them. Eventually they'll die out because humans are horrible, disgusting, vial creatures who can't leave things the way they are. Watch. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Charlotte Brine Charlotte Brine Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Calm down Debbie Downer Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... Victor Calamity Victor Calamity Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report These pictures alone are amazing...I'll bet in real life, the view is absolutely breathtaking Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply spirit wolf spirit wolf Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report The only thing that's missing is professor Dumbledore conjuring up something. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Gaetano Pirulli Gaetano Pirulli Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Skyrim anyone? Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Hari Onago Hari Onago Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report This is magical. Beautiful pictures. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Marion Friedl Marion Friedl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report WOW STUNNING!!! 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