Photo course with JP Bresser

After having tried for some time to capture the impressions of our cave dives on pictures without success, we spontaneously decided to take up JP Bresser's offer and let him introduce us to the world of underwater photography.

We were accommodated in the Moulin de Lantouy in the old mill house and shared the idyllic property exclusively with cave divers: course participants of a Cave 1 course with Tom Karch. and a group of cave diving Northern Lights. Since the cave diving scene is small, we met many old acquaintances there. For ourselves it was the first time we could enjoy the charm of this old mill.

Day 1: Ressel, photo actual state

The meeting point this morning was directly at the Ressel and the day started bright and early with an introduction of the participants and their equipment on the bank of the Cele. Then the concept of this workshop was introduced: For each day JP would formulate a different task that we should solve photographically. The three best photos of each photographer were then to be discussed together in the evening. The focus was set on something different for each day - in the beginning the optimization of the equipment should be in the foreground, towards the end more the improvement of the image composition. Whereby the topics flowed into each other and were discussed according to the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. In addition to the in-water sessions, there were 1 - 2 units scheduled each day in which we were taught the theory of the day's topic in a lively manner.

The task for the 1st day sounded simple: Make a picture with which you can explain the fascination of cave diving to a non cave diver. After a good hour of diving, the groups met again at the shore and after a break they went back into the water, this time with reversed roles; the photographers of the first dive became the models and vice versa. The second dive was followed by the occupancy of our accommodations, the compressor was fired up, the pictures downloaded. JP and AM had the chef's hat on that evening and conjured up extremely tasty duck breast with pasta and salad. After the opulent meal we met in the living room and everyone presented their three best pictures. This selection was discussed by all together and already here it became clear that the starting conditions for the course were very different: Igor and Matej had clearly shot the best pictures, we (Manu and Peter) and Cas were still struggling with the equipment.

Day 2: Ressel, Covershot

Since it had gotten quite late the previous evening, we started the day relaxed and after breakfast, the first thing we did in the house was optimize the equipment. It's really incredible how easy you can make your life with the right tricks!

After the equipment tinkering lesson, we again went to the Ressel, where all hell had broken loose in the meantime: There were certainly 10 vehicles on the side of the road. The task for the second day was: Take a cover shot that would fit on the cover of a diving magazine. JP explained to us what was important (e.g. enough space for title and headlines) and we could think about where we wanted to take our cover shot and brief the model accordingly.
Since we had agreed to pass on the chef's hats to a different nation each evening, Igor and Matej from Slovenia prepared dinner. Besides the delicious vegetable pasta, the dessert also remained in memory: a Slovenian cake speciality (name unfortunately forgotten): Extremely delicious, but: A moment on your lips, a lifetime on your hips... Pure sin! J

Day 3: Doux de Coly, diving team with scooters

Today we left earlier than the previous two days, as we had a longer drive ahead of us. JP had already organized a permit for diving in the Coly in advance and had also brought the key for the grid. After a good hour of driving and collecting lost sheep, we were able to comfortably prepare our equipment and set about implementing the day's task: Photographing and guiding 2 models with scooters. AM and JP made themselves available to us as models and brought their scooters into the water. We determined the order of the photo sessions of the individual photographers and coordinated the respective sessions with the models. Unfortunately, we both had to fight a bit with the camera on this day, so that only one picture came out at all, which is also not the ripper. As unfortunate as that was, we learned a lot about the camera that day in the evening at the kitchen table... J

That evening it was our turn to cook. We had promised Swabian cuisine and had already prepared everything for the Swabian potato salad the night before. In addition we had Maultaschen and, who liked it, onions on top. Even though the surprise was big at first, everyone wanted to try the "real" Swabian version of the dish: First potato salad in the soup plate, then the Maultaschen with the broth on top, plus onions and seasoned with vinegar to taste. Skepticism gave way to voracious silence. And the Swabian virus was planted... For dessert we had "organized" fresh figs, which we served together with goat cheese. The evening was again used for picture discussion and went into the night.

Day 4 Landenouse, divers at work

Since we had it from our accommodation only 7 minutes to the Landenouse, we could start a little more comfortably than the days before into the day. The task for the day was to photograph a diver at work. Thanks to Matej's and Igor's rope skills, the equipment was quickly in the pool and the teams were ready to go. Since the visibility was not very good, the task suited us very well. In the break between dives an advance team of a German cave diving group came by, but they decided against entering the Landenouse as well. Together with us 7 divers it would have become simply too full. Thanks for the consideration!

In the evening Cas and Sophie spoiled our palate with chicken and vegetable pan (NO HERINGS!). Finishing off the treats were the finest French cheese and fruit. The evening session after dinner was all about digital image editing through Photoshop. Again, it's amazing how much you can get out of it with a few mouse clicks and how fine the line is between good and too much.

Summary

The photo workshop at JP was absolutely worth the money, everyone agreed. We learned a lot as photography beginners. Since the learning curve was extremely steep, we saved quite a bit of time that would have been needed to learn from mistakes. Also the pictures of the "professionals" Igor and Matej have become quite a bit better.

Besides the content of the course, it was fun to see how incredibly quickly strangers became a group with a common goal: To improve photography. And also, once again, one of the main advantages of diving according to the DIR principle has become apparent: In principle, strangers can immediately complete cave dives with each other with complex tasks, since procedures and equipment are standardized and thus there is no unnecessary friction loss.

Vacation diving days 30.09. - 04.10.2009

The other workshop participants unfortunately had to go home again, we had a few days left for diving and taking pictures.

Day 5 Cabouy, Traverse Cabouy to Poumayssen

Together with JP and Annmarie we drove to Cabouy to do some scootering. The visibility was excellent, as we had been told several times. Our goal was the traverse Cabouy to Poumayssen (and back). The line situation was very good, we had it a bit more chaotic in memory. Noticeable were the many T's and jumps up to Poumayssen. During this Tg's Peter almost swallowed the bite nipple of his mouthpiece. But why do you have a spare mouthpiece with you? So g'schwind changed underwater. 

For a change we treated ourselves in the evening to a trip to Cajarc and found a nice restaurant in the old town directly on the market square to have dinner.

Day 6 Ressel, photos again

Much to our delight, JP had offered us to jump into the water with his camera and apply and deepen what we had learned so far. For us this was a very good repetition. And clearly ... we still have to practice a lot. The Ressel was best suited for this. This was the best way to compare our progress. We had set ourselves some goals: Again pictures with working equipment, with scooter, change between model and photographer, so that everyone has done everything. We were able to use the evening in our kitchen with last cooking together to show a few pictures and ask last questions. That's what I call a pleasant working atmosphere. With this we ended a very pleasant and stimulating week full of images in digital and emotional form.

Day 7 Ressel, Deep loop

On the last diving day of this French tour we had planned the Deep Loop in the Ressel. To get the best parking place we started very early in the morning. This week we made the experience that after 10:00 no parking place was available. But this time we were lucky, we were all alone with all our stuff. In peace we prepared everything. We set up the gyros, launched the scooters and threw what felt like 20 stages ;-) into the river.
The visibility was in the front part only 3-5m, from the shaft then about 7m and then in the deep part from the 3.T about 15-20m. We had already looked 2x at the deeper part in the Ressel this year. So far, however, always on the main line. At the 4th T we then turned into the loop. Interesting was the change of the rock formations, not as in the front part large plates with smoothly polished walls. Here, the rock looked like pitted and pitted with bizarre formations. Next time we must definitely take the photo camera.

Profile of our dive through the Deep Loop.Used gases in the rebreather: 15/55, 35/35, 50/25 and oxygen.

In the evening the smell of a curry wafted through the mill and we had enough diners at the table.

Day 8: Comb Negre without diving

The last day was used for scouting another cave. We made our way to Comb Negre. The entrance is at the river bank of the Dordogne. The way there goes through the river, so we first had to take off our shoes and socks and reached the cave entrance only wading knee-deep: From the river you can already see several small tube-shaped openings. The entrance is small and the cave consists of a string of diving and dry sections. One thing is clear: we'll have to pass by there with small equipment! 

The rest of the day was used for packing. A few good friends from Pirna had also arrived in the meantime. What a HELLO!!! In the evening we had a barbecue.

In this sense,

Your Cavebase

Gallery

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