Kelly Smallwood

Kelly is a caver from Tennessee. She has been caving for 13 years. However, she did not join the NSS until 4 years or so into her caving. She is now a lifetime member and Fellow of the NSS. When she started with photography, she used a typical point and shoot camera. On a photography trip Tumbling Rock Cave, a SCCi Preserve in Alabama in 2005, Kelly was inspired by Nathan Williams who taught her a few tricks that day. After this, she purchased her first DSLR and some flashes and self-taught from there. She’s always preferred FUJI cameras but she’s not to technical. She works very simple in caves. Her work has been on two covers of the NSS News, and she has won a few Merit Awards as well as Honorable Mentions Awards in the NSS Salons. Kelly designed newsletter covers for TAG Caver and has won awards for that as well.

She tells new cave photographers “be prepared that anything you take underground can be destroyed by a cave environment. If you purchase high-dollar cameras or flashes, consider an insurance policy.” Depending on the type of trip she is going on, she will carry a camera with her and two Vivitar 283 flashes. Her pack generally weighs at least 10 extra pounds with flashes, camera, and batteries. She uses a Pelican case to protect her camera (The Pelican cases will depended on the size of your camera). Then, she uses a Darren Drum to store her flashes. “A three liter its good for one flash with food and other small gear. The six liter is good for 3-4 flashes, batteries, and food.” To keep your camera clean from mud, dust, and the elements that take place in the cave while shooting, she recommends to always bring a small towel to help keep the camera clean. Also, since she has ruined her cameras plenty of time underground and loves the Fuji cameras, she buys the same camera used on Amazon at a discounted price. That way you will not have to constantly learn a new camera. Other than her photography, she is very active with her grotto. She has been the Chair for her grotto and the SERA region. Kelly and her husband have done a lot of cave surveying, which they love to do on top of photography. #WLeaders #ewls #CavePhotography #womencavers

Find Kelly’s work here:

Flickr

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www.ewls.org