Kelly Hill Caves

Globalphotos

Kelly Hill Caves

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

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My first cave shot !!

The name of Kelly Hill Caves is a result of the story, how it was discovered. In 1880 a local stockman called Kelsy, riding on his horse Kelly, was chasing sheep that had strayed from his property. Unfortunately both of them fell into one of the big sink holes in the area. Kelsy managed to climb out, but he had to leave Kelly at the bottom of the sink hole. He returned soon with help to rescue the horse, but it was gone. Now oral tradition knows at least three versions of the end of this story, which makes the whole story a bit weird. The realistic version has it, the farmer may have gone back to the wrong hole. The optimistic version tells, the horse was later pulled to safety. And the mysterious end talks about Kelly the horse wandering off into the labyrinth of caves never to be seen again. Its skeleton may still be somewhere in the caves waiting to be discovered.

The tourist history of the cave started with the local Harold Bell who explored the caves of the area and soon made the first guided tours with candlelight. He was appointed caretaker of the caves one year after the discovery and wrote a book about the cave the same year. At his time the chambers of the cave were numbered to allow visitors to find their way back. The numbers can still be seen at the ceiling.
The cave contains numerous speleothems, straws, stalactites and stalagmites, but most impressive are the various helictites

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Kelly Hill Caves by Globalphotos
Kelly Hill Caves by Globalphotos
  • Catherine Veal

    Catherine Veal

    this is just fabulous Varinia.x

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you very much Catherine :)

  • Alf Caruana

    Alf Caruana

    magnificient work!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Why thank you so much Alf :))

  • cherylc1

    cherylc1

    OH WOW!!!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you and for the fav :))

  • John Dekker

    John Dekker

    beautifully captured Varinia….lovely shot

  • Globalphotos replied

    Glad you like it, thanks so much John :))

  • BornToRoam

    BornToRoam

    Wow, amazing details, lovely shot

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you very much, the fav is appreciated too :))

  • NautilusBlue

    NautilusBlue

    Beautiful shot!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you so much !!

  • Marilyn Harris

    Marilyn Harris

    Fabulous cave shot!! :o)

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you so very much and for the fav :-))

  • roybarry

    roybarry

    Speleological perfection!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Oooo a man that knows geology !! Thanks Roy :-))

  • roybarry

    roybarry

    Indeed I do!!

    Anything you need to know about anticlines and synclines- i’m your boy!

  • Globalphotos replied

    I know my rocks, minerals,geomorphology etc…... blame uni :)) Hence my endless rock shots in here LOL

  • Squealia

    Squealia

    Lovely stalagmites

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you :)

  • Steve Chapple

    Steve Chapple

    Stunning lighting and perspective. Do they allow tripods in that one. most don’t now days.

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Steve, think it depends who you speak to…...most caves os don’t allow you to shoot at all, we are lucky here in OZ.

  • roybarry

    roybarry

    well, in that case I guess we have loads in common!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Seems so :)

  • JennyDean

    JennyDean

    Beautiful capture.

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you so much Jenny :)) Was experimenting

  • Geoff Coleman - Landscapes

    Geoff Coleman...

    Just beautiful Varinia – really hard to get the lighting right in caves and this works superbly. Interesting story as well – poor horse.

  • Globalphotos replied

    Well it’s especially hard with all the flashes from tourist’s point and shoots going off LOL Kept wandering off to be alone…... and yes poor horse, would have been awful ! Thanks so much Geoff :-))

  • Curtiss Simpson

    Curtiss Simpson

    For your first one its a beaut. Lovely display of light color and texture and a great story that complement’s the image. Beautiful work Varinia !

  • Globalphotos replied

    Why thank you so much, all the caves I have previously entered didn’t allow photography, this was a first, lovely comment, thank you :-)

  • Sharon Johnstone

    Sharon Johnstone

    Absolutely stunning Globalphotos!!!!!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you so much Sharon, happy you like this :))

  • Keith Reesor

    Keith Reesor

    Stunning capture Varinia!! One of those items I have on my list of things to do, explore a cave!! :>)

  • Globalphotos replied

    I love caves, totally fascinating , happy you like this ,thank you :))

  • Per E. Gunnarsen

    Per E. Gunnarsen

    WoW..stunning capture and I love the colours!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you very much Per :-))

  • kjgordon

    kjgordon

    striking….............

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you :))

  • Cheryl Lunde

    Cheryl Lunde

    Well done, can’t believe you have never shot caves before, you must be a natural!!!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much, was happy with the result considering my experience shooting in caves was nil :))

  • Heather Rivet IPA

    Heather Rivet...

    wow

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks Heather :)

  • Al Bourassa

    Al Bourassa

    Gorgeous photo. Love the accompanying story.

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Al :))

  • Mariann Kovats

    Mariann Kovats

    Gorgeous shot! Great colors!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you Mariann :))

  • Tom Gomez

    Tom Gomez

    Superb Varinia, well done …

  • Globalphotos replied

    Glad you like it, thanks Tom :)

  • Joanne Bradley

    Joanne Bradley

    What a magnificent capture Varinia!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks Joanne, very much appreciated :)

  • David Iori

    David Iori

    A beautiful capture of an amazing creation Varinia

  • Globalphotos replied

    Lovely comment, thanks Dave :))

  • webbie

    webbie

    Gorgeous , love the story too…:)

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Webbie :))

  • billyboy

    billyboy

    Varinia, I’m such a sucker for cave shots, and this one’s stunning. I like the way you managed so many different formations in this one shot, and that you made the most of your lighting so as to avoid throwing the structure in the lower foreground into total blackness. It’s so difficult to get the balance of light correct in caves, and you nailed it. Pretty cool for a first try, yeah? Interesting story too!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Was pretty happy with this one, only took 3 shots in there because there were too many flashes from other cameras. Was the only one with a tripod, the lovely fellow guiding us let me hang back to avoid the others. First attempt and now I want to discover more :)) Unfortunately a lot of the caves I have visited previously didn’t allow cams in at all. This was great, thanks so much for your comment :))

  • Ravenor

    Ravenor

    Fascinating Varinia, Spectacular!!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Ray, always appreciate your comments :))

  • Phil Thomson IPA

    Phil Thomson IPA

    Excellent image with beautiful lighting and fantastic detail, Varinia !!! A very interesting historical narrative too !!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks you very much Phil, can just imagine what the first explorers thought when they discovered these amazing caverns by candlelight :)

  • Helene Kippert

    Helene Kippert

    Stunning v!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Helene and for the fav :))

  • Steven Agius

    Steven Agius

    Wow stunning !

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Steven, glad you like this :))

  • Shadowdreamer

    Shadowdreamer

    Stunning is right, wow

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thank you so much :-))

  • Mark Ramstead

    Mark Ramstead

    Caves are a blast to shoot in! Good job!

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks so much Mark, they sure are :))

  • moonlight

    moonlight

    wow

  • Globalphotos replied

    Thanks !!

  • Barbara Morrison

    Barbara Morrison

    Great shot! I love caverns, such a completely different world!

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