Astrophotographer rappels 330ft (100m) into "otherworldly" cave to shoot award-winning photo – and he got the whole thing on camera
New Zealand-based photographer Tom Rae snagged first place at the Capture the Dark 2026 photo contest – but I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the composition or the story behind it
In an astonishing display of skill and bravery, renowned astrophotographer Tom Rae rappelled 330 feet (100 meters) into a remote cave system on the North Island of New Zealand to capture an award-winning photograph. The breathtaking image, titled "Creatures of the Night," features the illuminated walls of the cave adorned by glow worms beneath the celestial glow of the Southern Cross constellation.
Shot with a Nikon Z8 camera, a Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens, a Sigma 28mm f/1.4 Art lens, and an iOptron SkyGuider Pro star tracker, the photo secured first place in the Creatures of the Night category at the Capture the Dark photo contest, organized by the nonprofit DarkSky International, which champions the reduction of light pollution.
Rae's extraordinary feat of photography involved entering an otherworldly environment teeming with delicate ecosystems and glow worms, while enduring challenging nighttime conditions. High humidity, subtle illumination from the glow worms, and lengthy exposures pushed his technical abilities to their limits. In an Instagram post highlighting his achievement, Rae described the cave as a living, ethereal wonder, shaped over millions of years into a landscape uniquely suited for capturing breathtaking celestial scenes.
The astrophotographer's approach to creating this captivating image was not without its challenges. The cave's dense humidity and the subtle glow of the creatures within demanded exceptional technical prowess from Rae. However, he ultimately triumphed over this "extreme challenge" by crafting a series of composite panoramas featuring tracked skies, resulting in a winning photograph that showcases the seamless fusion of nature's wonders and human ingenuity.
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