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Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It
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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What do you think ?
artbyce 8 years ago
"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. "
Sarah Ngakaari Hammond 6 years ago
Thank you for promoting my country New Zealand, in such a beautiful way! <3
Jade-Ceres Violet Dolor 7 years ago
These images are breathtaking...I know people aren't usually allowed to photograph these, so these photos are super rare.
Abbass Muhammad 8 years ago
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 8 years ago
I've seen this cave on one of those nature series, but these photos are just absolutely stunning
Tyler Brown 8 years ago
Hmm I wish glow-worms looked like this in person.. Beautiful photos all the same :)
Aly Yo 8 years ago
Funny cause last time I checked, photography wasn't allowed in the Waitomo caves.. How did you pass that rule ?
Shaun Jeffers (Post author) 8 years ago
Official photographer privileges :)
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seven Dair 8 years ago
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 8 years ago
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)
artbyce 8 years ago
"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. "
Sarah Ngakaari Hammond 6 years ago
Thank you for promoting my country New Zealand, in such a beautiful way! <3
Jade-Ceres Violet Dolor 7 years ago
These images are breathtaking...I know people aren't usually allowed to photograph these, so these photos are super rare.
Abbass Muhammad 8 years ago
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 8 years ago
I've seen this cave on one of those nature series, but these photos are just absolutely stunning
Tyler Brown 8 years ago
Hmm I wish glow-worms looked like this in person.. Beautiful photos all the same :)
Aly Yo 8 years ago
Funny cause last time I checked, photography wasn't allowed in the Waitomo caves.. How did you pass that rule ?
Shaun Jeffers (Post author) 8 years ago
Official photographer privileges :)
Load More Replies... seven Dair 8 years ago
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 8 years ago
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)
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