I snapped these photos (see below) of Chiang Dao cave while on a very enjoyable Chiang Mai hill tribe tour. Chiang Dao cave is a cave system comprising a series of large caverns. Inside the cave, there are examples of Thai and Burmese Buddhas. The Burmese Buddhas, which were left in the cave after the Thais drove the Burmese invaders out, are quite somber-looking. The Thai Buddhas, in marked contrast, appear to be happy and contented.
How to photograph Chiang Dao Cave: The only lighting inside Chiang Dao Cave is artificial fluorescent lighting. It is very effective and highlights the cave’s features, but it is quite dark. Unless you are going to use a tripod, you will need a decent camera that can take photos at around ISO 1600. I was hand-holding the camera for these photos and using shutter speeds around 1/8th to 1/16ths of a second. It is possible to use your mobile phone camera, and the photos look good on a mobile screen, but when viewed on a monitor or TV, you will most likely notice a lot of grain.
