Light Therapy

This cave is one of those places you’d never stumble upon unless you knew exactly where to look. Hidden deep in the Bahamian forest, completely inland, it’s a limestone cavern filled with still, cold water and near-total darkness. The only light inside comes from a few openings in the ceiling where sunlight cuts through the surface like spotlights. Without those beams, the cave would stay completely dark—home only to bats, tiny red shrimp that feed on their droppings, insects that fall into the water, and small blind cavefish that thrive without light. Shooting here is both beautiful and challenging. The bottom is covered in super-fine sediment, so even the slightest touch sends up a cloud of dust that ruins visibility for half an hour. Every movement has to be slow, controlled, and intentional. For this image I wanted to place the model right on the edge of the light beam—bright enough to reveal her form, but not enough to silhouette her completely. With the right timing, the light struck her body perfectly, and the glow reflecting from the cave floor lit her face just enough to bring out that calm, floating stillness. The surrounding beams framed her naturally, giving the image its ethereal, almost otherworldly look. This cave has become one of my favorite places to shoot. It’s not in the ocean, but it offers an environment unlike anywhere else—quiet, isolated, and full of magic when the light finally reaches inside.