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Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It
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Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It

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Something quite special dwells beneath the surface of New Zealand and these images prove that the country is just as beautiful below ground as it is above!

The Waitomo area is famous for it’s limestone caves and within these caves are one of the most magical insects in the world, the glowworm. Glow worms emit a phosphorescent glow that light up the cave and create a surreal environment.

Over the past year I have been back and forth to Waitomo’s Ruakuri Cave to master the art of photographing these magnificent little creatures – it’s been quite the experience! When the headlamps are out and all you can see are the glowworms, you can’t help but feel like you’ve stepped into James Cameron’s Avatar Pandora, it’s just unreal! Photographing glow worms is very similar to shooting the night sky, however the exposure time can be much longer. These images in particular range between 30 seconds and 6 minutes exposures. To achieve the shots, it required me to submerge myself and my tripod in cold water for up to 6-8 hours a day – it was totally worth it!

More info: shaunjeffersphotography.com

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Shaun Jeffers

Shaun Jeffers

Author, Community member

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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.

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Shaun Jeffers

Shaun Jeffers

Author, Community member

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.

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artbyce
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) are not worms at all, but the larvae (maggot) of a creature called the fungus gnat. Their larval form is a long slimy worm-like creature that grows about the size of a matchstick, and hangs suspended in a transparent tube strung between two points (a bit like a hammock). Underneath this hammock, the glowworm suspends lines of silk with tiny sticky droplets of mucus that are used. Glow worm adult like fishing lines to capture flying prey. Flying insects are attracted to the glowing light emitted by the glowworm, and crash into the sticky threads, which are then reeled in so that the catch can be eaten by the glowworm. "

Daria B
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can hear background music from that forest in Final Fantasy 10 when I look at these.

Nyein
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of sorcery is that? Absolutely breathtaking. Wow...just wow!!

Jade-Ceres Violet Dolor
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These images are breathtaking...I know people aren't usually allowed to photograph these, so these photos are super rare.

karen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is soooo breathtaking and amazing !!! the innermost beauty of nature! great job!

gt
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the "Tree of Souls" in avatar and the seeds of the tree. It's like little, tiny tinkle bells floating with their magical wands. The photos make me watch Avatar again!

Abbass Muhammad
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're nice but no way photography can capture the magic. I saw them 35 years ago and am yet to see anything comparable.

KT Trondsen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this cave on one of those nature series, but these photos are just absolutely stunning

Tyler Brown
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm I wish glow-worms looked like this in person.. Beautiful photos all the same :)

Aly Yo
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny cause last time I checked, photography wasn't allowed in the Waitomo caves.. How did you pass that rule ?

seven Dair
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note that these caves are part of a tourist attraction and they don't allow photographs to be taken let alone for extended periods

seven Dair
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note that these caves are part of a tourist attraction and they don't let just anyone shoot photos in them (let alone for extended periods)

jonbane
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's by-far the best job I've had . Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $5474 this - 4 >>>>>>>>>>>>> www.realcash44.­ℭom

artbyce
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) are not worms at all, but the larvae (maggot) of a creature called the fungus gnat. Their larval form is a long slimy worm-like creature that grows about the size of a matchstick, and hangs suspended in a transparent tube strung between two points (a bit like a hammock). Underneath this hammock, the glowworm suspends lines of silk with tiny sticky droplets of mucus that are used. Glow worm adult like fishing lines to capture flying prey. Flying insects are attracted to the glowing light emitted by the glowworm, and crash into the sticky threads, which are then reeled in so that the catch can be eaten by the glowworm. "

Daria B
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can hear background music from that forest in Final Fantasy 10 when I look at these.

Nyein
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of sorcery is that? Absolutely breathtaking. Wow...just wow!!

Jade-Ceres Violet Dolor
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These images are breathtaking...I know people aren't usually allowed to photograph these, so these photos are super rare.

karen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is soooo breathtaking and amazing !!! the innermost beauty of nature! great job!

gt
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the "Tree of Souls" in avatar and the seeds of the tree. It's like little, tiny tinkle bells floating with their magical wands. The photos make me watch Avatar again!

Abbass Muhammad
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're nice but no way photography can capture the magic. I saw them 35 years ago and am yet to see anything comparable.

KT Trondsen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this cave on one of those nature series, but these photos are just absolutely stunning

Tyler Brown
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm I wish glow-worms looked like this in person.. Beautiful photos all the same :)

Aly Yo
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny cause last time I checked, photography wasn't allowed in the Waitomo caves.. How did you pass that rule ?

seven Dair
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note that these caves are part of a tourist attraction and they don't allow photographs to be taken let alone for extended periods

seven Dair
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note that these caves are part of a tourist attraction and they don't let just anyone shoot photos in them (let alone for extended periods)

jonbane
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's by-far the best job I've had . Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $5474 this - 4 >>>>>>>>>>>>> www.realcash44.­ℭom

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