The cave was pitch black – so to create this magical underwater shot, the photographer had to use all his camera expertise...

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The image 'Dream Gate' was shot in a flooded cave in Mexico – here's how the photographer mastered the challenging light and surroundings

A diver explores an illuminated underwater cave, surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites with blue lighting
It was the alien nature of the setting that enthralled Polách and inspired his imagination, driving him to capture an image that accurately depicted the scene (Image credit: Petr Polách)

Underwater photography is in many ways the definition of a niche genre. It is amazing how much of an adjustment is needed when shooting in this unfamiliar medium. A special set of skills is required to work effectively in aquatic environments – both practical and technical.

Photographer Petr Polách is an experienced shooter and diver, but needed to call on all his photographic expertise when shooting his impactful image titled Dream Gate. He explains, "This image was taken while diving in the cave system in Yucatán, Mexico, specifically in the flooded cave Dream Gate’s downstream section."

"Flooded caves are characterized by an unfavorable situation for a photographer – absolute darkness," Polách explains. Fortunately, he had a solution...

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The story behind still

Polách explains, "The world of flooded caves, in which the diver swims in a state of weightlessness among the beautiful stalactite decorations, completely captivated me and forced me to capture this beauty in photographs.

"I wanted to capture the size of the cave space, so in the foreground is a large stalactite, followed by a diver, and in the background a blue cave space with small stalactites.

"The colors in this cave made it possible to emphasise the space with complementary colors – orange and azure blue. I wanted to share this beauty with people who have no chance to visit this world," he says.

But how did he manage to lighten up the pitch-black cave? "The solution is to use external underwater flashes. For this photo, I used a total of five flashes – three external and two on the case."

Tech details – 'Dream Gate'

The Sony A7R II is a 42-MP full-frame camera with phase-detect AF and 4K video, launched in 2015 (Image credit: Sony)

Gear info
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: FE 16-35mm f/4 G
Accessories: Five flashes (three external + two on the case)

Exposure details
1/80 sec, f/9, ISO 3200

In post-processing, Polách only made minor adjustments, focusing on color, contrast, brightness, and saturation to emphasize the natural impact of the scene.

To see more of Polách's work, visit his website.

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Kim Bunermann
Kim Bunermann
Staff Writer

Kim is a photographer, editor and writer with work published internationally. She holds a Master's degree in Photography and Media and was formerly Technique Editor at Digital Photographer, focusing on the art and science of photography. Blending technical expertise with visual insight, Kim explores photography's time-honored yet ever-evolving role in culture. Through her features, tutorials, and gear reviews, she aims to encourage readers to explore the medium more deeply and embrace its full creative potential.

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