SHOW CAVES

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project © Austin Irving - Red Arches, Crystal Lake Cave, Dubuque, Iowa, USA, 2020 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond © Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project View all images ↓
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SHOW CAVES is a collection of large format analog photographs that explores the anthropocentric tendencies of modern tourism seen in domestic and international show caves

SHOW CAVES is a collection of large format analog photographs that explores the anthropocentric tendencies of modern tourism seen in domestic and international show caves.  Show Caves are natural caves managed by government or commercial organizations that have been modified to accommodate tourism. The objective of this body of work is to highlight the tension that exists between the natural beauty of caves and the renovations people make in order to transform these spaces into tourist attractions. These caverns have been curated to cater to both the physical needs of sightseers as well as to our collective expectation of the fantasy of a cave. Elaborate lighting, elevators, poured cement trails, even bathrooms and souvenir stands have been added so that ancient geological wonders can be accessible and marketable to a money-giving public. Are these additions acts of vandalism disrupting a delicate eco-system for the sake of commercial profit? Or do these human interventions draw attention to the preservation of caves and make hard-to-access natural wonders readily available for appreciation?

The images included in this series were made with a Toyo Field camera on 4x5 color negative on location in Singapore, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Greece, New Mexico, Texas, Iowa, Virginia, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, New York, and Tennessee.

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Interior with Penguin Trash Cans, Dau Go Cave, Halong Bay, Vietnam, 2009 –4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Red Arches, Crystal Lake Cave, Dubuque, Iowa, USA, 2020 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Red Arches, Crystal Lake Cave, Dubuque, Iowa, USA, 2020 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Number Three Card, Cave of Diktaion Andron, Crete, Greece, 2022 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Jesse James’ Hideout No. 1, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Elevator Room, Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA, 2010 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Light Source, Timpanogos National Cave, American Fork, Utah, USA, 2021 – 4×5 Color Negative – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Employee Entrance, Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA, 2013 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Air Lock, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Air Lock, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Cave Pool, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Cave Pool, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Display No. 2, Colossal Cave, Vail, Arizona, USA, 2013 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Display No. 2, Colossal Cave, Vail, Arizona, USA, 2013 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Chapel Benches, Niagara Cave, Harmony, Minnesota, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Chapel Benches, Niagara Cave, Harmony, Minnesota, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Disco Ball, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Disco Ball, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Security Camera, Cave of Diktaion Andron, Crete, Greece, 2022 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Security Camera, Cave of Diktaion Andron, Crete, Greece, 2022 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Guardrail, Timpanogos National Cave, American Fork, Utah, USA, 2021 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Headlamp Trail, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Headlamp Trail, Meramec Caverns, Sullivan, Missouri, USA, 2019 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Rainbow Lake, Shenandoah Caverns, Quicksburg, Virginia, USA, 2010 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Phone, Shenandoah Caverns, Quicksburg, Virginia, USA, 2010 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Phone, Shenandoah Caverns, Quicksburg, Virginia, USA, 2010 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Light Source, Borra Cave, Andhra Pradesh, India, 2017 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Light Source, Borra Cave, Andhra Pradesh, India, 2017 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Image from the SHOW CAVES photography project
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Tee Shirt Stand No. 1, Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA, 2010 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond

© Austin Irving - Cave Pool, Secret Caverns, Howes Cave, New York, USA, 2018 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond
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Cave Pool, Secret Caverns, Howes Cave, New York, USA, 2018 – 4×5 Color Negative – Archival Lightjet Print on Dibond