Issue 297: Behind the cover

I’ve mentioned before that cave photography is a team sport. On expedition this is taken to a whole new level. The fact that I have no idea what we will find around the next corner means I pack for every eventuality. The environment is harsh, the walk is often long, hot and arduous. Because of this I tend to break the kit into smaller packages and beg/bribe team members to help me carry the gear. The payoff for all this hard work is the chance to record passage that has never before been seen by human eyes and to set foot in places less travelled than the surface of the moon. Expedition caving can be an intense experience, throwing you together in a manner completely unlike sport caving. The friendships I have been privileged to make on expedition have stood the test of time and I hope the photographs will too.

Mark Burkey