Caves are voids filled with unusual, living things and amazing geological features. They are living galleries of art produced by biology, chemistry, and geology. Caves are are easily damaged or destroyed. A simple touch can break many formations. In some cases, simply breathing on the formation is sufficient to destroy it. A touch can also leave body oils that prevent water from depositing minerals, forever changing formation growth. Microbes living in caves have shown novel antibiotic and cancer-fighting capabilities, but they can be killed by the changed environment due simply to dropped food or even shed hair and skin cells. Caves can be damaged or destroyed by careless people or surface problems such as pollution.
Visiting or exploring caves is difficult. They contain tight squeezes, mud, and pits that must be climbed or descended. I live for the challenge of dragging pounds of camera and cave gear to a place in a cave, and then showing the viewer what I see. I use light and its absence to show the beauty and fragility of caves as well as the challenges associated with exploring them. Additionally, I want to aid in promoting cave conservation by showing what we have to lose without proper thought and care.
If you are interested in snottites, they have their own page.
