Light Factory

"This ceiling is insane! - Jaime De La Puerta Salazar

Photo taken in Cénote Takbeluum with my good friend Elliot Smith modelling.

Tomorrow is , an event started over 50 years ago to remind us of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, and to encourage us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future. To see what's happening in your area for Earth Day, check out EarthDay.org.

“Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals”, the Warner Bros. Discovery documentary that I am so proud to have contributed to, will air in the United States tomorrow, April 22. I cannot wait to see it myself!



Salma Shaker
Production Company | Park Village
Director | Ian Derry
EP | Adam Booth | Ollie Allgrove
Producer | Jane Bramwell .the.director
Editor | Sam Hopkins
HoP | Angelica Riccardi
Line Producer | Jake Bishop
Production Assistants | Lyric Treacy |
DOP | Jean-Charles Granjon
1st AC |
Underwater Gaffer |
Sound Recordist |
Red Sea Location Fixer | .dahlawi
2nd unit (KSA) Underwater DOP |
2nd unit 1st AC | .roe92
2nd unit (MX) Underwater DOP |
2nd Unit Sound Recordist | .e_davies
Post Production | Park Village
Assembly Editor & GFX |
Sound + Music | Ambit
Grade | Cheat
Colourist | .c

Ladies and Gentlemen, the "wall of dicks". 🤪🙈

Touching the void.

Probably the most iconic stalagmite in Otoch Ha.

Wonder what was going through this little fella's head when I took the picture. 😅

🇹🇩

"Space and time are the framework within which the mind is constrained to construct its experience of reality." - Immanuel Kant

I am so stoked to have won this year’s “Technology Prize – Technology Around the Globe” in the "SPIE, International Day of Light Photo Contest”!

The SPIE competition helps raise awareness about the impact of light on various aspects of our world; it helps educate people about the importance of light-based technologies and their role in our daily lives.

As a cave diver and photographer, I enjoy showing these amazing places to people who don't have the opportunity to visit them. My photography playground for most of the year is the underwater caves of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. I came here 14 years ago from my native Germany, and I've experienced the pristine beauty of these caves, as well as the decline of the underwater system in recent years due to unsustainable tourism and pollution.

This photo was taken as part of a research project aimed at protecting and better understanding the Yucatán aquifer. Scientists from GeoSphere Austria, as part of their Project Flowcast, have been conducting studies of the submerged cave system in Quintana Roo, the newest state on the Yucatán Peninsula. During the first dive with the cave laser mapper, I knew we had to take a picture of this because it creates a play of light that has never been seen before, at least to my knowledge.

By far the most challenging part of getting this image was capturing the ring of light produced by the laser. This laser is not on all the time; it actually works like a strobe and only lights up for a fraction of a second. Coordinating my cave-diver model to press the button at the exact moment my lens is open was by far the most difficult part of this particular photo. That said, without doubt, I am most proud of the fact that I managed to capture the full ring of the blue laser! Taking pictures in the cave can be a challenge because you can't just take a snapshot: You have to place lights in the cave before you start shooting to give a perspective of size or depth to the picture. On top of that, you must never forget to dive safely, and always keep an eye on your equipment! After all, you are diving in a flooded cave. Adding another light source that is not constant takes this photo shoot to a whole new level. As a photographer, I enjoy playing with light and showing scenarios that the human eye can't capture. I love long-exposure photography – where normal lights suddenly become light trails – or the opposite – hyperspeed photography like capturing the moment of a popping water balloon.

What I like most, especially when photographing in water-filled caves, is the fact that I can basically “fly” underwater. This allows me to get angles for shots that would be nearly impossible in a dry cave, and very difficult indeed outside of caves.

See all the winners on the SPIE website, here: https://bit.ly/3Moyw54.

Last month I had the opportunity to shoot a surprise wedding proposal. Tulumierge Concierge Tulum organised everything and talented Bitter Sweet Violin took care of the mood.

Beautiful side passage of Cenote Chan Hol.
Diver: Codrut Ivan
Lighting: Jean-Charles Erba

A moment of reflection with Robbie Schmittner.

to last year's dive with John Volanthen, Rob Franklin Craig Holdstock and Robbie Schmittner

When can we do it again?

Peek a boo!

Continuing the conversation from the previous post, now we go even darker. 🖤

When I started taking pictures in caves I somehow thought that everything should be illuminated. Clearly, this picture shows that darker settings are as good too.

This machine can measure the electromagnetic conductivity in the ground. Like this we should be able to find cave from above. Pretty cool, right? 😏

Joint project by Robbie Schmittner, Amigos de Sian Ka´an and GeoSphere Austria.

It was so much fun to do this photo shoot for this joint project between Robbie Schmittner, Amigos de Sian Ka´an and GeoSphere Austria.

Robbie running the laser-mapper through a cave. The purpose of the project is to protect and understand the Yucatan aquifer better. Also this gives the opportunity to people who aren't cave divers to take a peek into a cave.

Camera: Canon Deutschland
Housing: UK-GERMANY
Lights: Bigblue Dive Lights

Mexico City's Museo Nacional de Antropología offers thousands of artifacts. This human skull is decorated with mineral stones on the teeth, which is an indicator for wealth and status in a society.

Somewhere in La Havana, Cuba...

Laura Pt diving in Cenote Xulo.

This November I had the opportunity to be part of the Xunnan-Ha Expedition supported by ROLEX for its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Six explorers (Maria Bollerup, Denmark; Ellen Cuylaerts, Belgium; Julia Gugelmeier, Germany; Rannvá Tórfríð Jørmundsson, Faroe Islands; Tamara Lelani May, Australia; Mel Trevino, Mexico) mentored by fellow cave diver and explorer (and my brother :)), Robbie Schmittner, explored two caves and laid 3,214 m of cave line in 8 days.

ROLEX has released the article about the expedition and it can be read in my BIO. The photos are a mix of mine, Tom St George's (underwater) and Evan Whitney (top side).

It’s been a learning experience, as is life, and I am grateful to have been part of it to imortalize their journey.

Last, but not least, I feel so lucky to have met such passionate people and professionals like the filming team led by Scott Carnahan: Maru Brito; Ana Overgaard; Paris Palacios; Juan Felipe Rayo; Ember Roth; Gabriel Gasca Rubi.

Thank you to everyone which took part in this first expedition, the first of, hopefully, many more.

Perpetual Planet - An expedition to the Yucatán cave systems Robbie Schmittner led a scientific expedition to the caves of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to find a solution to water pollution. More on Rolex.org.

One of the most interesting things about photography to me, is to capture a picture which the human eye can not see. Like this 6 second exposure, using steel wool. Thank you for the assistance. Can you believe this was 6 years ago?

It's always nice to dive with people again. Like last week's dives with Arthur Ronan Gauthier. We dove the first time together in 2017 and he came back for some more. I had a great time and I couldn't have imagined a better way to start the season. 😉

Where did you dive today?

Who can tell where this picture was taken?

A storm is coming...
Photo taken in the countryside of Romania, close to the Berca Mud Volcanos.

Playing with light in