About the Image(s)

Discovered in the late 19th century these caves represent a plethora of prehistoric cave art estimated to be 15,000 years old. The actual cave itself is adorned with these images covering the walls and ceiling. The colors were obtained using raw materials were available in the environment and the animals are mostly herbivores with strangely, few images of predators. One can’t visit the actual cave as it is again closed off due to deterioration of the old paintings because of human visitation that caused fungus develop on the paintings that consequently had to be removed with great difficulty. To prevent further deterioration, the cave is closed. Now, one visits an exact reproduction of the cave, but pictures are prohibited even with phones because the images are light-sensitive, and even the light from the phone window can be detrimental even to the reproduced images and because groups have to keep moving, so there is no time to dally to snap a picture or two. After the tour, one enters a large hall with yet further reproductions of the cave art in the actual positions, where pictures are permitted. So, this image is of a reproduction of a reproduction. Even though, still exciting.

Gear: SONY a-7 IV, FE 24-240 mm lens opened to 37 mm
Data: ISO 1,600, f 4, 1/40 sec.
Metering: Pattern
White balance: Auto
EV = -.3
Dave: November 13, 2024