Cave lighting

[TDSims]

Newbie here
I'm trying to get a little advice on lighting in a cave. For my last caving trip just for the fun of it I purchased a waterproof video camera and mounted it above my light on my helmet. It was a very wet cave comprised of about half wading through water and the other half swimming through water. My headlamp is about 600 lumens at full intensity but I was very disappointed with the results as it was too much of a spotlight and didn't disperse well. The only decent video was with a lot of other cavers lights in a small area.

I'm going on another trip in a couple of weeks but this one will be dry and easy (think a troup of advanced scouts) and I wanted to give a video another shot but need to know the best portable lighting to take. I will be able to have a free hand so I can carry an additional light but I just don't have any idea what will work best for lighting the passage ahead of me. I'll have to do a little scrambling so nothing too awful big.
Thanks

[brewercm]

What about an led light panel for video.

[surlynkid]

HID video light from halcyon, but you better stay under tthe water.

Halcyon Home | Halcyon Dive Systems

[photosteve]

You could try to diffuse your light using a diffuser. You don’t have to buy one you could look at all the diy diffusers and modify one for your camera. Good Luck and post some video.


Steve

[Dobick]

for that matter -- try out a white plastic grocery bag and see what the diffusion results are like. That way you can keep the existing light that you have, put the bag in your pocket, and when you are ready to shoot, pull it out and place it in front of your light

Might be that the solution is already at hand, but you won't know how doable it is until you play with it some

[TDSims]

Originally Posted by photosteve

You could try to diffuse your light using a diffuser. You don’t have to buy one you could look at all the diy diffusers and modify one for your camera. Good Luck and post some video.


Steve

I already have a diffuser for my light and without it the light is even more of a spotlight but the problem is that it is still just too narrow to show anything around it. There really aren't any surfaces in the cave that reflect any light so what I probably need is something that throws light in a 180 degree area. I've seen fluoresent light bars that look like they would work but I don't think they are strong enough and I don't know how well fouoresent lighting would show up on video. LED seems the way to go because the lighter battery versus light output is great but I haven't seen anything portable that would throw out 180 degrees. I have a number of high powered bike lights but they are just like my cave headlamp in that they are all spot.

This evening I'll try to post a couple of examples of my last trip.

Thanks for the replys.

[TDSims]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

HID video light from halcyon, but you better stay under tthe water.

Halcyon Home | Halcyon Dive Systems

Actually these lights were part of the reason for the trip in the first place. We were doing what is called a tank haul where a group of cavers carry equipment back to a sump so that divers can go down and see how far the cave extends.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by TDSims

Actually these lights were part of the reason for the trip in the first place. We were doing what is called a tank haul where a group of cavers carry equipment back to a sump so that divers can go down and see how far the cave extends.

sherpas

i like sherpas

NSS #33616

NSS-CDS full cave certified 1992

[TDSims]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

sherpas

i like sherpas

NSS #33616

NSS-CDS full cave certified 1992

Mules... sherpas... what's the difference?

This last tank haul was at Spring Branch which is near Honey Creek.

I kinda figured you knew what the setup was but the description was actually for others.

[surlynkid]

Cool. I hope it goes. Good luck.

[Ricks Canvas]

I needed to light a pool, that had no lighting and was looking for a portable, good under water light source. I found these, tho they are a bit pricy, it might be a great way to light up the water in the cave, and provide enough reflected ambient light for the cave.....

Nova Floating Pool Light

This handy rechargeable light will illuminate your pool with up to 8 hours of glowing light. Just turn on the unit’s switch and drop it in. Nova™ floats on the surface of your pool and will safely light up to a 20’x40’ in-ground pool. Nova™ works in all types of pools, as well as lakes and ponds. This amazing unit lights your pool without the expense and hassle of aftermarket lighting systems.

Forth Item down on the page...... Floating Swimming Pool Lights, floating pool candles

Hope this helps.....
Rick's Canvas Home Page

[TDSims]

Good idea and that actually might work on an upcoming trip in some deeper water. I found an LED light stick that helps and I tried it last weekend with limited results.

This is the video taken back at the beginning of December.

http://youtu.be/25_QrZ_v0C8

There was more but unfortunately I had some mud on the lens that obscured a lot of the video and some of it was too dark to tell much of what was happening.

[brewercm]

That made me think of those fishing llights that flat, but then you'd have to deal with a battery too. We have one of those types of pool lights but it changes colors. It actually works pretty good.

[Ricks Canvas]

TDSims.... Here is a article I saw some time ago that you really ought to take a look at. "Stephen Alvarez Lighting Underground" I think you will find it worth your time. Article.... Stephen Alvarez Lighting Underground | PocketWizard Blog | Radio Triggers for Photographers

Video....

Earth From Below on Vimeo

Earth From Below on Vimeo