Photo evening down the local mines

[Jase]

Hi

I was thinking of next tuesday (27th) and/or the 3rd and/or the 5th.
I have asked the caving club to borrow some kit for those two weeks. If they agree then we are good.

Times I can do are next week any time after 6:30. The week after anytime after 4:30
Meet point will be quarry road. Head down the a22, as you approach the M25 turn left on to quarry road. Drive past the pond and vineyard. The road will turn right with a dirt road going straght on up a hill in to the woods. Park on the dirt path at that junction.

Is that ok?

[Rose]

I could potentially do next Tuesday as I've actually got the day off (although I'm going shooting in the morning..)

[Mike Farley]

Next Tuesday is the only date I can do over the next fortnight. There is a caveat as I trying to get over an unpleasant cold which is wreaking havoc on my plans for this weekend, although I hope to be fit again by the beginning of next week.

Jase, do you have any advice about suitable photographic equipment and techniques for underground photography?

[Jase]

there are two ways I light paint.
1 bring lots of torches. This is quick and easy but is not good with a large group of photographers as we endup painting each others shots.
2 set up strobs/slaves. Much longer to set up and refine but works better with more photographers.

Basically bring a trypod and lots of torches. Please dont bring anything you doint want to get drity/dusty. I have a whole range of underwater or cheap ebay stuff we can use

I would recomend a old rucksack to carry stuff around in. And lots of small bags for individual things in the rucksack. You are not protecting things from water or shock. You are protecting things from dirt.

Hope that helps.

[Jase]

Shall we go for tuesday?

Meet time of 7ish at quary road. Underground for about 7:30ish and out before 10?
I still have to borrow kit from my caving club and collect it. They will want a £5 donation.

Im also free next week if people cant make this tuesday

Jase

[Jase]

Shall we go for tuesday?

Meet time of 7ish at quary road. Underground for about 7:30ish and out before 10?
I still have to borrow kit from my caving club and collect it. They will want a £5 donation.

Im also free next week if people cant make this tuesday

Jase

[Jase]

Also this is an informal trip. Ccc and wcms insurance does not cover us.
So all at your own risk. Etc etc.
Jase

[Rose]

Hubby used to use his Olympus RC35 for caving but I've never actually taken a camera underground before. I have an underwater compact which is sealed, and I could bring my Panasonic Lumix. Presumably not a good idea to bring the 5D ? Will pack a tripod, some torches, I can probably bring a helmet but am sure our old caving batteries are well past it.

[Mike Farley]

Shall we go for tuesday?

Meet time of 7ish at quary road. Underground for about 7:30ish and out before 10?
I still have to borrow kit from my caving club and collect it. They will want a £5 donation.

Im also free next week if people cant make this tuesday

Jase

I am good for Tuesday.

Do you mean "Quarry Rd, Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8DQ"? Is the entrance to the mine obvious? It looks like a long road on Google Maps.

[Jase]

I will be picking helmets and lamps tomorrow so we are good to go on tuesday.

meet location will be quarry road.
head down the A22 and quarry road is on the left after the layby and before J6 with the M25.
once on quarry road it will turn left and head north. drive past the pond and vineyard. past the houses on the left.
the road will turn right and there will be a dirt road going straight on up a hill in to the woods. park on this dirt road.
I will most likely already be there.
meet time 7 to 7:30. I will give a safety briefing and then we will head in to he mine. its not a long walk. we must be out of the mine by 10.

you will need camera, trypod, lights/torches, strobes and some thing to fire them.
there will be no set plan for the evening. I can take us to photogenic areas but we can stop any time to photograph things. as long as we are out by 10 we can go as fast or slow as you like.

the mines have recently (and still are) flooded in some areas. if we go near there, the ground will be muddy. other then that you will get more dusty then dirty. but take lots of bags so if something does get dirty/dusty it does not transfer it to other kit. I use an old rucksack and a load of carrier bags for that. I carry the trypod.
clothing you will need is anything you don't mind getting dusty/dirty. so outdoor stuff or a boiler suit.

there are some low sections we will need to pass to get to the interesting sections. the hardest bit of mine is the entrance.

thats all I can think off.
jase