Touring Mammoth Caves

[rover]

Mammoth Caves is the largest cave system in the world. Over 300 miles of connected caves and tunnels have been discovered so far. If you have a herd of cattle who seem to just be baking in the summer sun in the middle of a field in south central Kentucky, you can bet assured that they are enjoying a cool air vent from the caves below.

The National Park Services manages the caves and has numerous tours which take you through different sections. Most tours start with a wait to meet your Park Ranger Guide and a bus ride to the cave entrance.

 

[rover]

You want to sit in the back of the bus so you can get the biggest bumps.

 

[rover]

OK, here is where th photo story fails I think. TriX at 1600 in Diafine looses the wonder of the caves. This is the job for color film.

 

[bmattock]

Great shots! I remember my dad taking me on a tour of Mammoth Caves when I was a kid. I vividly recall when they turn the lights off and give your eyes time to adjust and you can't see your hand in front of your face. Darkroom photographers know what 'totally dark' looks like; not many others do. It's kind of freaky. I tell people that I saw 'blind cave fish' in that cave, I remember them vividly. But now I can find no reference to them. Perhaps I imagined them.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[rover]

Bill, much of the life in the caves has passed on due to man's disruption of their habitat. The National Park service has taken over the cave system and is starting to see the creatures return. We did see cave crickets, salamanders and a bat or two. The fish I guess have been slow to return.

You may find some reference to the wild life in the caves here.

http://www.nps.gov/maca/home.htm

 

[bmattock]

Bill, much of the life in the caves has passed on due to man's disruption of their habitat. The National Park service has taken over the cave system and is starting to see the creatures return. We did see cave crickets, salamanders and a bat or two. The fish I guess have been slow to return.

You may find some reference to the wild life in the caves here.

http://www.nps.gov/maca/home.htm

Forgive us, we didn't know what damage we were doing. When I visited with my dad, he was a smoker. I disinctly recall that they allowed smoking in the cave - the floors of the 'ballrooms' were littered with butts and they asked smokers to put them out when they turned out the lights. The price was paid - dad died from smoking-related illnesses at age 61.

I hope future generations learn from our mistakes. Some things we should have known about, but some things - we just didn't know.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dmr]

Forgive us, we didn't know what damage we were doing. When I visited with my dad, he was a smoker. I disinctly recall that they allowed smoking in the cave - the floors of the 'ballrooms' were littered with butts and they asked smokers to put them out when they turned out the lights. The price was paid - dad died from smoking-related illnesses at age 61.

When we visited the Caves (I was a young(er) adult at the time) I distinctly remember the guide stating in that Kentucky twang "now ya cain't smoke in the cave ..." so I'm sure the cave is still nonsmoking.

Unfortunately this was one period in my life (there have been a few) when I temporarily lost interest in photography, so I don't have any shots. 🙁 Good excuse to go back. 🙂 I really enjoyed all of the tours we took, in particular the lantern light only tour. 🙂 That would be a challenge to capture. 🙂

And yes, I do agree that color film is the best for the cave. The one I sure wish I had a camera for was the "Frozen Niagara" section.

I hope future generations learn from our mistakes. Some things we should have known about, but some things - we just didn't know.

That is one habit I'm SOOO glad I did not pick up!!! Back when I was in high school there was quite a bit of coercive social pressure to take up smoking, even for girls. Reasons/excuses were for weight control, just because everybody does it, and "it looks cool" -- uh, excuse me???!!! (_GAG_)

Even for today's generation it's still there. One reference to Britney or Lindsay smoking in the fan mags counteracts countless anti-smoking PSAs. 🙁 Even with the expense today and the token sales enforcement, kids still find a way to get them and afford them. 🙁

Now for that ObPhoto angle. 🙂 I almost always consider a photo of somebody smoking to be tacky and unappealing. I'll always avoid shooting somebody while they are smoking. It does have a certain earthy quality to it, but I don't think it's necessary to use it. Oh well ...

 

[bmattock]

That is one habit I'm SOOO glad I did not pick up!!! Back when I was in high school there was quite a bit of coercive social pressure to take up smoking, even for girls. Reasons/excuses were for weight control, just because everybody does it, and "it looks cool" -- uh, excuse me???!!! (_GAG_)

If you're old enough to remember the B&W classic movies, there was nothing like seeing a lead actor light up. Very sensual.

I resisted peer pressure and started smoking at age 31. Finally quit at age 43. No excuse for me, I knew well the risks.

Even for today's generation it's still there. One reference to Britney or Lindsay smoking in the fan mags counteracts countless anti-smoking PSAs. 🙁 Even with the expense today and the token sales enforcement, kids still find a way to get them and afford them. 🙁

In a free society...there is always a downside to letting people make up their own minds. It means people have the right to be idiots, too.

Now for that ObPhoto angle. 🙂 I almost always consider a photo of somebody smoking to be tacky and unappealing. I'll always avoid shooting somebody while they are smoking. It does have a certain earthy quality to it, but I don't think it's necessary to use it. Oh well ...

Whiskey, cigarettes, jeans, Misissippi Delta Blues, baseball, Bogie and Bacall. These things are quintessentially American to a generation or two. Everybody's done it by now, but B&W grain and smoke curling upwards over a sidelit face go together.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks