Gold Mine Exploration

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Ladder and timbering.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine: Part 2.

Some more light painting from inside a 150 year old gold mine. This is not Photoshopped - the lighting here was done prior to the exposure. I used some strategically-placed amber LED candles to light the timbering and also a LED blacklight (ultraviolet). 30 sec f/4 ISO 500 with a Canon EOS R and Canon 17-40mm f/4L lens. This is one of a few very productive mines in the area and dates back to the California Gold Rush. Total value produced by this and nearby mines was over $10,000,000 in today's dollars. While I created some weird scenes inside the gold mine, I didn't ride a 7 mile long snake to an ancient lake nor did I get lost in a roman wilderness of pain. (Some of you will get the reference. 😁)

Star Trails Behind a Large Old Wooden Ore Bin

This mine is in California and one operated primarily as a copper, lead and silver mine. Some gold was also extracted. It was in operation from the early to mid 1900's. In order to protect this location from looting and vandalism, I will not be providing the name or location of this mine. Shot with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens. 2 hours and 40 minutes total exposure time.

⛏ The Fainter Tail End of the Milky Way and Large Old Wooden Ore Bin ⛏

Most photographers - myself included - like to focus on the brighter core end of the milky way. Here's the less glamorous - but still visually pleasing - part of the galaxy. I hope you're not getting tired of seeing this structure. I find old buildings and structures like this to be quite fascinating. And to think that when it was built, it was constructed only for practical purposes. This mine is in California and one operated primarily as a copper, lead and silver mine. Some gold was also extracted. It was in operation from the early to mid 1900's. Shot with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens. This is actually a single frame from a star trails sequence I shot here.

⛏ Setting Milky Way and Large Old Wooden Ore Bin ⛏

This mine is in California and one operated primarily as a copper, lead and silver mine. Some gold was also extracted. It was in operation from the early to mid 1900's. In order to protect this location from looting and vandalism, I will not be providing the name or location of this mine. Shot with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens.

⛏ Star Trails Above the Great Western Mill Ruins ✨

Some star trails above the ruins of the Great Western Mill near the Red Cloud Mine in the Chuckwalla Mountains of southern California on September 11, 2020. This was a difficult photo to do since there was still a layer of wildfire smoke in the air. For some reason, the smoky haze eased up a around 11:30 PM. Shot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless and Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens. I used 4 LED candles to illuminate the door frame, window frames, and the exterior walls. This is a stack of 480 frames each shot at 18 sec f/2.8 ISO 2500. I briefly illuminated the exterior of the ruins and a portion of the mountain just before ending the exposure sequence. A rising crescent moon helped a bit, too. The deposit at the Red Cloud Mine consists of a typical gold- and sulfide-bearing hydrothermal quartz vein within metamorphic wall rock. The principal period of operation was 1885-1895 when most of the workings were driven and most of the production made. The shaft was deepened to 700 feet in 1893. A 22-stamp mill operated on the property in 1889.

⛏ Stargazing Above the Red Cloud Mine Mill Ruins 🌌

Self portrait at the ruins of a mill near the Red Cloud Mine in the Chuckwalla Mountains of southern California on September 11, 2020. This was a difficult shot to do since there was still a layer of wildfire smoke in the air. For some reason, the smoky haze eased up a bit before I shot this - just as some of the galaxy core was beginning to set below the horizon. Shot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless and Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens. I used 4 LED candles to illuminate the door frame, window frames, and the exterior walls. The deposit at the Red Cloud Mine consists of a typical gold- and sulfide-bearing hydrothermal quartz vein within metamorphic wall rock. The principal period of operation was 1885-1895 when most of the workings were driven and most of the production made. The shaft was deepened to 700 feet in 1893. A 22-stamp mill operated on the property in 1889.

⛏ Ore Bin Ruins Under a Nearly Full Moon ⛏

A giant decaying ore bin outside a mine in the Mojave Desert. Note the big metal wheel at the bottom. Last weekend I explored an amazing mine with a friend that's really into this sort of thing. We had to climb down over 560 feet of ladders and walk though long horizontal shafts inside the mine. The most challenging part was climbing back up and out at the end of the exploration. Before heading home, we took a few shots of the exterior structures. I shot this with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens. The moon provided a good amount of lighting, but I also used LED lights to light up the front, gear wheel, and ore chutes.

Great Combo: Beer and Dynamite

A couple of empty wooden cases of dynamite and an empty case of beer left deep (over 560 feet below ground) inside a mine in the Mojave Desert. As always, I left these artifacts in place for future explorers to enjoy. Atlas Powder Co. Wilmington, Delaware, USA HIGH EXPLOSIVES - DANGEROUS I.C.C. 14 Last weekend I explored an amazing mine with a friend that's really into this sort of thing. We had to climb down over 560 feet of ladders and walk though long horizontal shafts inside the mine. The most challenging part was climbing back up and out at the end of the exploration.

⛏ Rickety Room. There's Gold in Them Thar Hills ⛏

Amazing - and somewhat scary - timbering inside a fairly large "room" that's over 560 feet below ground in an abandoned California mine. All lighting effects were done on location using strategically placed and aimed LED lights. I like giving my mine photos the look of a Disneyland ride. :) This mine produced mostly gold and zinc. Although the temperatures in the desert above were around 120 F° (49 C°), it was around 75° F (24° C) deep inside this mine. I explored this amazing mine with a friend that's really into this sort of thing. We had to climb down over 560 feet of ladders and walk though long horizontal shafts to get here. The most challenging part was climbing back up and out at the end of the exploration. I shot this with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG fisheye lens. More photos from this exploration to come over the next few days.

⛏ California Gold Is Just Around the Bend ⛏

Well, not really. If I did find some gold here, I certainly wouldn't be advertising it. 😁 Ore cart tracks wrap around a curve into some nice tembering. Another image from my recent adventure 560 feet below ground in an abandoned California mine. This mine kind of reminds me of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland. Next time I hope to find the ore cart (it's on a lower level). This mine produced mostly gold and zinc. Although the temperatures in the desert above were around 120 F° (49 C°), it was around 75° F (24° C) deep inside this mine. I explored this amazing mine with a friend that's really into this sort of thing. We had to climb down over 560 feet of ladders and walk though long horizontal shafts to get here. The most challenging part was climbing back up and out at the end of the exploration. I shot this with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG fisheye lens. Even more photos from this exploration to come over the next few days.

⛏ We are Experiencing Technical Difficulties. Please Remain Seated in Your Ore Cart. The Ride Will Resume Operation Shortly ⛏

End of the line. Collapsed drift ahead took out the tracks and pipes with it. Another amazing - and scary - sight at 560 feet below ground in an abandoned California mine. This mine kind of reminds me of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland. Next time I hope to find the ore cart (it's on a lower level). This mine produced mostly gold and zinc. Although the temperatures in the desert above were around 120 F° (49 C°), it was around 75° F (24° C) deep inside this mine. I explored this amazing mine with a friend that's really into this sort of thing. We had to climb down over 560 feet of ladders and walk though long horizontal shafts to get here. The most challenging part was climbing back up and out at the end of the exploration. I shot this with a Canon EOS R and Sigma 15mm EX DG fisheye lens. Even more photos from this exploration to come over the next few days.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Flooded portal with breached gate.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Pipes.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Partial collapse.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Tall ladder going way up.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Ladder and timbering.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Ore chute.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Ore chute.

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Fuel or oxygen tank?

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Flooded Gold Mine Exploration. Fuel or oxygen tank?

While other photographers were shooting the rioting, I decided it was much safer to visit an abandoned mine the other night. This mine dates back to 1874 and is the biggest and most elaborate I've explored yet. Ore chutes, ladders, pipes, hoses, nice timbering, and more. I wore a pair of tall steel-toed rubber boots to walk through the rust-colored water. In some places I had to stay on the ore cart tracks to avoid deeper muck. As is always the case with my colorful light photos, the colored effects seen in these photos were done with colored LED lights on location and NOT via Photoshop. Fun fact: The shape of the green California highway signs mimics the spades carried by Forty-Niners into the foothills and sold by the opportunistic merchants who made the real fortunes of the California Gold Rush.

Miner 2020er. Light Painting Inside the Kentucky Mine.

Check out the timbering in here! The other day I explored the Kentucky Mine in the Julian, California area. The lighting effects seen here were done via LED lights and not Photoshop.

Miner 2020er. Light Painting Inside the Kentucky Mine.

Check out the timbering in here! The other day I explored the Kentucky Mine in the Julian, California area. The lighting effects seen here were done via LED lights and not Photoshop.

Miner 2020er. Light Painting Inside the Kentucky Mine.

Check out the timbering in here! The other day I explored the Kentucky Mine in the Julian, California area. The lighting effects seen here were done via LED lights and not Photoshop.

Miner 2020er. Light Painting Inside the Kentucky Mine.

Check out the timbering in here! The other day I explored the Kentucky Mine in the Julian, California area. The lighting effects seen here were done via LED lights and not Photoshop.

Miner 2020er. Light Painting Inside the Kentucky Mine.

Check out the timbering in here! The other day I explored the Kentucky Mine in the Julian, California area. The lighting effects seen here were done via LED lights and not Photoshop.

Dynamite Without a Laser Beam

Some pieces of an old dynamite crate found inside a 150 year old gold mine. An amazing find while exploring an old mine recently.