@shonephoto

My forthcoming book, Hidden Worlds, is now all printed! It is the biggest book the publisher has ever produced at a whopping 200 pages of both coated and uncoated papers. On Monday it will be sent to the binders in London, where it will be turned into a book. We’re getting closer! After all these years, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thank-you so much to all the people who have already preordered a copy. There are still a few (14) Special or Collectors Editions available. To purchase a copy, please follow the link in my bio. 🙏🙏🙏#HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks

Wow, I have never seen my photograph of Sarawak Chamber printed so well. Sarawak Chamber is the largest-known cave chamber in the world by area. In the book there’s a short anecdote on how I made this photograph, blending five portrait images together to form one panorama. It was a very challenging and time consuming process. To preorder your copy, please follow the link in the bio. Thank-you. 🙏🙏🙏 #HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks

After years, decades in fact, of dreaming about publishing a beautiful book of my cave photography, today the first pages were printed. We’re still a long way from having a book in our hands, but it’s a start. A huge thanks to everyone who has already preordered a copy. Thank-you so much! There are still a few (14) Special or Collectors Editions available. To purchase a copy, please follow the link in my bio. 🙏🙏🙏 @kozubooks #KozuBooks #HiddenWorlds

I am super excited to announce that Academy Award®-Winning Directing Duo of Meru, Free Solo and The Rescue, Jimmy Chin & Chai Vasarhelyi, have kindly written the Foreword to my forthcoming book HIDDEN WORLDS. Fittingly, the Foreword will be accompanied by this pen and ink sketch I made at the turn of the millennium of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and basecamp. Huge thanks Jimmy and Chai and good luck with your future projects. This is a limited edition photography book. Preorder now to guarantee your copy. Follow link in bio. Thank-you. #HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks

Fernando Gázquez from the University of Almeria, Spain drills out a sample of powder from the gypsum sample taken from the entrance of the largest-known geode in the world inside the Rica Mine. This crystal was Uranium Thorium dated to be approximately 164,000 years old. #giantgeode #pulpigeode #gypsumcrystals #OnAssignment @natgeointhefield

Our hearts are full of gratitude to everyone who made the @vital.impacts humanitarian aid fundraiser a success. Thanks to your support, we sold over $800,000 of breathtaking prints. 100% of profits will go to @directrelief to provide critical humanitarian aid in Ukraine and around the world. Thank you @cansoninfinity @paperandinkstudio & @theprintspace and especially the photographers. @argonautphoto @acacia.johnson @amivitale @amysacka @amytoensing @andreabruce @andrea_frazzetta @babaktafreshi @benedicte_kurzen @brianskerry @brucedalephotography cameron.davidson.photo @carltonward @chiaragoia @christianziegler @ciriljazbec @daniele_volpe @dzalcman @daviddoubilet @dguttenfelder @davidliittschwager @davidemonteleonestudio @dina_litovsky @edkashi @elliotstudio @evgenia_arbugaeva @franslanting @fritzhoffmannschinawork @gabrielegalimbertiphoto @_giuseppenucci @gordonwiltsie @instadickie @gregkahn @iantehphotography @irablockphoto @ismailferdous @jaime_culebras @james_balog James Stanfield @jasperdoest @javier_aznar_photography @jtkerby @jimrichardsonng @jimmychin @joannapinneo @jodicobbphoto joemcnallyphoto @johnstanmeyer @joshuacogan @justmiel @kaigner @katieorlinsky @kengeiger @kennethgarrettphoto @kiliiiyuyan @klausnigge @laurakmorton @lucalocatelliphoto @ljohnphoto @maggiesteber @marcovernaschi @fishercreative @martinedstrom @mathiasdepardon @paleyphoto @_melaniewenger_pictures @melissafarlow/ @michaelgeorge @michaelmelford @yamashitaphoto @mishkusk @nadiashiracohen @nicholesobecki @nickcobbing @norbert_rosing_photography @paoloverzone @paulnicklen @pedromcbride Peter Ginter @prasen.yadav @randyolson @remibenali @renaeffendiphoto @shonephoto @rwmaddenphotog @hammond_robin @rubensalgadoescudero @sarahyltonphoto @roseleen @sarah_stacke @khandelwal_saumya @scottgoldsmithphoto @simoncroberts @sissebrimberg @smitashrm @spencerlowell_ @christmannphoto @stephenedwardferry @stevewinterphoto @steven_gnam @stuartpalley @susiepostrust @zacekfoto @habjouqa @thomas.nicolon @travisdovephoto @turjoychowdhury @vincentjmusi @williamodaniels Yva Momatiak & John Eastcott @zachkrahmer

Hidden away on one of the lower levels of the Mina Rica in south east Spain is a mined level where the walls are totally covered with beautiful, but delicate, gypsum. What fascinated me the most is that this gypsum has been forming since the miners created the tunnel — making it only c. 150 years old. It felt surreal and almost otherworldly being in a space where we were completely surrounded by bright white gypsum. #giantgeode #pulpigeode #gypsumcrystals #OnAssignment @natgeo

I am here at the Pulpi Geode in Southern Spain, where the Rica Mine is full of an assortment of rocks and minerals, all boasting their own vibrant colour. However, the stand-alone formation is gypsum, which is the same material that the crystals in the giant geode are made from. Here we see a beautiful, but extremely delicate gypsum flower clinging to the wall of one particular mine level. #giantgeode #pulpigeode #gypsumcrystal #OnAssignment @natgeo @geodapulpi

My latest assignment for National Geographic magazine has taken me to La Geoda de Pulpi on the coast of southern Spain. I am here with filmmaker Martin Hemingway-Moseley (@martin_hemingwaymoseley) to document the research of the giant gypsum crystals inside the worlds largest geode. Over the next week or so, we will explore and document this amazing subterranean jewel. Stay tuned. #giantgeode #pulpigeode #gypsumcrystal #OnAssignment @natgeo @geodapulpi

Before digital, I used film cameras of various sizes. We didn’t have the luxury of seeing the photograph appear on the back of the camera like we do today. To save time inside the cave trying to get the shot and risk losing too many volunteer assistants, I would draw a picture beforehand of how I imagined the photograph to look. I found it helped me mentally prepare for the challenge ahead, especially as I’d already seen the photograph in my dreams and on paper as a drawing. Then I’d go back into the cave and try and recreate my sketch in a photograph. Back then, Titan in Peak Cavern (England) was the ultimate challenge and these drawings and photographs are of Titan from 20+ years ago. Both these comparison drawings and photographs will feature inside my forthcoming book Hidden Worlds. This is a limited edition photography book. Preorder now to guarantee your copy. Follow link in bio. Thank-you. #HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks

Over 20 years ago, I began practicing photography using black and white @ilfordphoto FP4 & HP5 film. I was in a team of cave explorers digging and mining out a 50m deep surface shaft and driving a tunnel through solid limestone to intercept a giant cave in Derbyshire (England) called Titan. This gruelling process took it’s toll. For well over 4 years, I remember spending every Saturday and Sunday down this mine. I spent nights in hospital having a hernia repaired after wielding heavy compressed air drills and jack hammers. I’d practice photographing the darkness in this dig and in Titan. These photographs, along with the story, will feature inside my forthcoming book Hidden Worlds. This is a limited edition photography book. Preorder now to guarantee your copy. Follow link in bio. Thank-you. #HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks

Whilst away on an expedition somewhere truly remote, it can be very intense, especially working as a cave photographer. That’s why when I’m not thinking about where the next photograph will come from, I like to keep a diary and in it I often draw sketches, something I’ve practiced all my life. Several sketches from my expedition diaries will feature inside my forthcoming book Hidden Worlds. This is a limited edition photography book. Preorder now to guarantee your copy. Follow link in bio. Thank-you. #HiddenWorlds #KozuBooks @kozubooks