{"id":58056,"date":"2026-04-02T12:23:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-cave-was-pitch-black-so-to-create-this-magical-underwater-shot-the-photographer-had-to-use-all-his-camera-expertise\/02\/04\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T12:23:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:23:32","slug":"the-cave-was-pitch-black-so-to-create-this-magical-underwater-shot-the-photographer-had-to-use-all-his-camera-expertise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-cave-was-pitch-black-so-to-create-this-magical-underwater-shot-the-photographer-had-to-use-all-his-camera-expertise\/02\/04\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The cave was pitch black \u2013 so to create this magical underwater shot, the photographer had to use all his camera expertise&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] figure-caption mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<p>It was the alien nature of the setting that enthralled Pol\u00e1ch and inspired his imagination, driving him to capture an image that accurately depicted the scene. | Credit: Petr Pol\u00e1ch<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Underwater photography is in many ways the definition of a niche genre. It is amazing how much of an adjustment is needed when shooting in this unfamiliar medium. A special set of skills is required to work effectively in aquatic environments \u2013 both practical and technical.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Photographer Petr Pol\u00e1ch is an experienced shooter and diver, but needed to call on all his photographic expertise when shooting his impactful image titled <em>Dream Gate. <\/em>He explains, &#8220;This image was taken while diving in the cave system in Yucat\u00e1n, Mexico, specifically in the flooded cave Dream Gate\u2019s downstream section.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">&#8220;Flooded caves are characterized by an unfavorable situation for a photographer \u2013 absolute darkness,&#8221; Pol\u00e1ch explains. Fortunately, he had a solution&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\">The story behind still<\/h2>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Pol\u00e1ch explains, &#8220;The world of flooded caves, in which the diver swims in a state of weightlessness among the beautiful stalactite decorations, completely captivated me and forced me to capture this beauty in photographs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">&#8220;I wanted to capture the size of the cave space, so in the foreground is a large stalactite, followed by a diver, and in the background a blue cave space with small stalactites.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">&#8220;The colors in this cave made it possible to emphasise the space with complementary colors \u2013 orange and azure blue. I wanted to share this beauty with people who have no chance to visit this world,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">But how did he manage to lighten up the pitch-black cave? &#8220;The solution is to use external underwater flashes. For this photo, I used a total of five flashes \u2013 three external and two on the case.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\">Tech details \u2013 &#8216;Dream Gate&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The Sony A7R II\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/aOOnr_s0gg_TNbE9o.2y7w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/digital_camera_world_590\/33e49363dc6d19dfc7128a09a4e0b246\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] figure-caption mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The Sony A7R II is a 42-MP full-frame camera with phase-detect AF and 4K video, launched in 2015 | Credit: Sony<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\"><strong>Gear info<\/strong><br \/>Camera: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/sony-a7r-ii-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Sony A7R II;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Sony A7R II&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Sony A7R II <\/a><br \/>Lens: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/news\/sony-launches-full-frame-fe-pz-16-35mm-f4-g-power-zoom-lens-but-why\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:FE 16-35mm f\/4 G;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;FE 16-35mm f\/4 G&quot;}\" class=\"link \">FE 16-35mm f\/4 G<\/a><br \/>Accessories: Five<a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/the-best-flashgun\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:flashes;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;flashes&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> flashes<\/a> (three external + two on the case)<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\"><strong>Exposure details<\/strong><br \/>1\/80 sec, f\/9, ISO 3200<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">In post-processing, Pol\u00e1ch only made minor adjustments, focusing on color, contrast, brightness, and saturation to emphasize the natural impact of the scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">To see more of Pol\u00e1ch&#8217;s work, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polachpetr.cz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:his website.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;his website.&quot;}\" class=\"link \">his website.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading-mb col-body text-[1.125rem]\/[1.375rem] font-bold charcoal-color\"><span>You might like&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Browse the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-underwater-housings-for-cameras-and-phones\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:best underwater housings for cameras and phones;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;best underwater housings for cameras and phones&quot;}\" class=\"link \">best underwater housings for cameras and phones<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-underwater-fishing-camera\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:best underwater fishing camera;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;best underwater fishing camera&quot;}\" class=\"link \">best underwater fishing camera<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-underwater-drones\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:best underwater drones and ROVS.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;best underwater drones and ROVS.&quot;}\" class=\"link \">best underwater drones and ROVS. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tech.yahoo.com\/cameras\/articles\/cave-pitch-black-create-magical-160000961.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It was the alien nature<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-cave-was-pitch-black-so-to-create-this-magical-underwater-shot-the-photographer-had-to-use-all-his-camera-expertise\/02\/04\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/YleZNyO5Tb3djhuoycg_cw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD02NzU-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/digital_camera_world_590\/776b3d4e303d6de2cbb3e95e38520b5c","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}