Jenolan Caves weekend, Now that was FUN!

[MHD]

I had a quick search so feel free to shoot me down in flames if this has already been done!

First: a HUGE thanks to Nigel for the most awesome fun I have had on five legs! The tours we had were awesome and the guides were amazing and really enthusastic!

Second: What do you want us to give you? I for one are keen to repay all the stuff we got from the trust (3 nights camping, free parking and 6 hours worth of tours) with some photos.

Is there any particular shots they really want?

Third: How did everyone find it? What did people learn?

For me this was a real challenge... I learnt (and thankfully had already decided this) that this is where shooting raw is not a luxury, it was a nescessity.. I also learnt squeezing into small holes and climbing near on 2K stairs with a whole heap of camera gear is a bit of work

[birddog114]

Second: What do you want us to give you? I for one are keen to repay all the stuff we got from the trust (3 nights camping, free parking and 6 hours worth of tours) with some photos.

$250.00/ each night campingat first class spot/ parking flat rate: $25.00/day/ $10.00/ hr/ person.

All funds go into the Jenolan Caves Trust to support the local community.


Nigel, send each camper a nice bill on the gold plated plaque

[W00DY]

What do you want us to give you?

We were wondering this as well.. Do we have to supply a CD with our images on them?

Waiting on Nigel.

What I learnt - Don't go into the caves with a tripod you are not used to and don't know how to use... It's dark in there and hard to find the adjustments etc...

Took me the first cave to realise how to move my tripod head into the portrait angle

W00DY

[stubbsy]

I learnt ISO 1000 is very noisy (knew there'd be noise, just not that much). I also learnt a tripod is essential for long exposures. And finally I learnt an SB800 is a great tool in such an environment.

And before there's a chorus of "I told you so's" I know the first two statements are photographic axioms.

I also found just how useful the 12-24 lens was in such an environment.

I just hope I have at least one decent image to repay the trust, Nigel, Russell and Ted for the gift they gave us in both time and access to the caves.

[leek]

I found it a great way to get to know my camera better... Due to the darkness, you had to very quickly learn where all the various buttons were. I found myself wishing for a backlight on the top LCD.
I'm glad I was shooting RAW as this gave me a little leeway with the exposure...
I also found that I need a better tripod - having driven everyone nuts with my squeaky Velbon.
I also learnt that it probably wasn't such a good idea to take the 5 year old along when I couldn't help look after her. She drove her mother crazy.

Thanks again to Nigel and Russell & Ted...

We probably need to consolidate the photos onto one CD / DVD where possible... Perhaps we could collect them together at one of Birdy's meets?

[W00DY]

I found myself wishing for a backlight on the top LCD.

There is one...

There is a little button to the right of the LCD screen which lights the LCD screen up a nice little green colour.

Is this what you were reffering to?

W00DY

[stubbsy]

I used that quite a bit. Plus a lot of the info also shows in the bottom of the viewinfder window.

[W00DY]

What I found annoying was the fact that when you use the remote (which I did all the time) Every once in a while the setting for the remote would change back to normal.

I am not sure why it was doing this, maybe someone can help?

[leek]

What I found annoying was the fact that when you use the remote (which I did all the time) Every once in a while the setting for the remote would change back to normal.

I am not sure why it was doing this, maybe someone can help?

You need to change custom setting 25. Time limit for the Remote...

[leek]

I found myself wishing for a backlight on the top LCD.

There is one...

There is a little button to the right of the LCD screen which lights the LCD screen up a nice little green colour.

Is this what you were reffering to?

W00DY

DOH!!!

[Onyx]

I found myself wishing for a backlight on the top LCD.

There is one...

There is a little button to the right of the LCD screen which lights the LCD screen up a nice little green colour.

Is this what you were reffering to?

W00DY

DOH!!!

What's even more neat is when you have an SB800 speedlight on the camera. When you press for the top LCD backlight, the one on the back of the flash comes on too! System integration - it's a wonderful thing!

[MHD]

That makes me want a sb-800 even more now!

[stubbsy]

That makes me want a sb-800 even more now!

Scott

What was the strobe you were using?

[birddog114]

That makes me want a sb-800 even more now!

MHD,
I know you want many things! how long is your wish list now?
Is Santa going to drop off all of them for you this coming Xmas?

[MHD]

Sb-80DX

No i-ttl for me..
I bought it when I had my coolpix 5400 thinking that it would work with any future purchase...

No huge deal, but not having things like ballanced fill flash and ittl means I do on occasion miss shots by blowing them out or under exposing..

Its kind of like using a manual lens, you have to to it by feel or hunch many times..

[MHD]

That makes me want a sb-800 even more now!

MHD,
I know you want many things! how long is your wish list now?
Is Santa going to drop off all of them for you this coming Xmas?

hehe... methinks santa needs to buy a few lottery tickets..

I guess one thing I also learnt this weekend is that I have a very capable camera kit... what we all did to out d70's was quite a workout in very challenging conditions, both envirnonmentaly and photographically..

[nigels]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I really hope you enjoyed the caves, and I wished I could have gone with you but quite frankly I was buggered just walking up to Caves House.

At least the weather on Sunday was kind for any outside shots. I will pass on your thanks to Rusell and Ted, but they were most surprised with your gifts of a bottle of wine. I can also assure you they sincerely appreciated them.

As for me, honestly, no need for any thanks, I was only too pleased that I could help in some small way, especially after all the friendly and useful advice I have received from you guys. Please don't forget I'm a member of this forum too; were all in here together, to help each other out.

My main wish now, is that I can become proficient enough to be able to give advice to newcomers, and of course become a reasonable photographer.

As far as the images go, the Trust would prefer them on CD in as high a resolution as possible, something approaching 300dpi (this is usually what the printers want), in nearly any format, JPG, TIFF, raw or Photoshop format. We currently use Photoshop CS. Of course, do any adjustments to the images you feel need doing.

Just post the CD to

Nigel Scanlan
Jenolan Caves Trust
P.O. Box C283 CSU LPO
Bathurst N.S.W. 2795

Again guys thanks and it was so good to meet so many of you in person.

Kindest regards to all
Nige

[W00DY]

What I found annoying was the fact that when you use the remote (which I did all the time) Every once in a while the setting for the remote would change back to normal.

I am not sure why it was doing this, maybe someone can help?

You need to change custom setting 25. Time limit for the Remote...

Ahh cool.

We both answered each others questions

[MHD]

Thanks Nigel!

Now do you want All the images?
I think it will make your peoples work easier if you get sent, say, the best 10 each person has with the agreement we will not do anything with the others (and of course, as per the agreement we sign, seek the aproval of the trust to do anything with the ones we send you)

and, btw, Big thanks for the blanket portfolio and non-commercial permission...

I know of a couple of pictures I will be asking the trust to let me sell

[bochup]

I must say there are some awesome pics from Jenolan Caves. Great lighting in the cave as well.

I'm actually heading down to the Blue Mountains this weekend and will go to the Caves myself.

May I ask which caves you guys went to? I'm planning on going to Lucas and River myself but really like some of the cave scenery in your shoots. Where did you guys take them?!?!

Also might go to Grovett's Leap and see if I can trail down to the bottom of it (if the walk is open) and go along the creek to Bridal Veil to get some waterfall shots. Maybe some duck shots too.

Unfortunately though won't have the D70 with me since my dad wants a play with it over the weekend.

[leek]

I must say there are some awesome pics from Jenolan Caves. Great lighting in the cave as well.

I'm actually heading down to the Blue Mountains this weekend and will go to the Caves myself.

May I ask which caves you guys went to? I'm planning on going to Lucas and River myself but really like some of the cave scenery in your shoots. Where did you guys take them?!?!

Also might go to Grovett's Leap and see if I can trail down to the bottom of it (if the walk is open) and go along the creek to Bridal Veil to get some waterfall shots. Maybe some duck shots too.

Unfortunately though won't have the D70 with me since my dad wants a play with it over the weekend.

If this helps, all of my cave photos were taken in Lucas Cave... See my gallery on smugmug...

[gstark]

Nigel,

Thanx once more for taking the initiative, and making this happen. Your comments about us all being here to help one another are very well made, and exactly correct.

All,

This is most important.

As far as the images go, the Trust would prefer them on CD in as high a resolution as possible, something approaching 300dpi (this is usually what the printers want), in nearly any format, JPG, TIFF, raw or Photoshop format. We currently use Photoshop CS. Of course, do any adjustments to the images you feel need doing.

Just post the CD to

Nigel Scanlan
Jenolan Caves Trust
P.O. Box C283 CSU LPO
Bathurst N.S.W. 2795

The Trust have done wonderfully in keeping up their end of this arrangement. Please now help make Nigel's follow-up tasks from this as easy as possible, and take care of this aspect as soon as you possibly can.

Let's make the Trust's feelings about us (and by implication, Nigel) as positive as we can, by getting the image CDs to Nigel as one of our highest priorities.

[MHD]

Agreed entirely...
I have 10 PPed images ready to go so unless some one is going to co-ordinate the collation of the images I will just submit mine seperately...

I would volenteer but I am rather busy with this PhD thing...


Nigel: Can they accept NEF?

[birddog114]

Agreed entirely...
I have 10 PPed images ready to go so unless some one is going to co-ordinate the collation of the images I will just submit mine seperately...

I would volenteer but I am rather busy with this PhD thing...


Nigel: Can they accept NEF?

MHD,
Only 10 images, should be 100

[gleff]

I've just put mine on CD.. I'll be sending them today.

Geoff

[MHD]

Agreed entirely...
I have 10 PPed images ready to go so unless some one is going to co-ordinate the collation of the images I will just submit mine seperately...

I would volenteer but I am rather busy with this PhD thing...


Nigel: Can they accept NEF?

MHD,
Only 10 images, should be 100

I've only PPed 10 I am super happy with so far... PPed about 20 in total... (10 I'm ok with 10 I'm happy with)

I shot raw so I am a little slower than usual!

[MHD]

23 PPed images and ~100NEFs on thier way...

[nigels]

Hi guys,

Best 10 or if you have 50 that you consider are OK, then send them all, but really leave it up to you guys, the Trust and I will be more than happy with your decision as I respect your analysis of the quality of the shots.

Really pleased you enjoyed the day and again I wish I had have been with you for the experience and fellowship.

By the way NEF files are fine.

Kindest regards
Nige

[stubbsy]

Nigel

I'm a bit of a slowpoke. Just posted off my pics in TIFF and NEF to you on cd. Thanks again for this great opportunity.

[W00DY]

I only just saw the update to this thread now.

I will get the best from myself and Rick onto a CD and send it to you.

Sorry for the delay.

W00DY