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“Cathedral”
Description:
Sunbeams illuminate the basalt walls of Skylight Cave as they pass through openings in the lava tube ceiling. This Central Oregon attraction near Sisters is known for its summer light beams, volcanic geology, and distinctive cave formations created by ancient Cascade Range lava flows.
Story:
Sunlight struck the wall on the right as it pierced through the cave, searing through the cold. It moved slowly — molasses on a spoon. The gently sloping walls, shaped by a lava tube millions of years ago, made the place feel like a cathedral. I wanted to sink into the moment, to breathe slowly and watch time drift across stone in beams of light. But this is no quiet sanctuary.
Skylight Cave is a popular adventure — especially in summer. It’s closed most of the year, from September 20th to May 1st, for snow and for the bats that rest here through the colder months. And it’s only in summer when the light beams appear. To see them, you have to arrive in the morning, which creates a small, competitive window that draws a sizeable crowd.
I arrived about 90 minutes before shooting and was beaten there by one person — a stranger named Seth. We became fast friends almost instantly, bonding over our shared sense of adventure and respect for nature. We explored the cave together and waited for the light. For several minutes — then more — it was just us. When the beams struck the wall, it was just us. When they reached the edge of the floor, still just us.
Only when the light began sliding across the ground did others arrive. A group of about seven entered the cave — loud, excited, posing beneath the beams one by one. Seth and I got a kick out of watching them, but I could feel myself growing nervous. The angle of the light was shifting. I might have to ask them to stand back, I thought. Thankfully, they tired themselves out and left before anything needed to be said.
Finally it was my turn.
I started shooting a series of exposures to choose from later. Each took several seconds, with the longest lasting 25 seconds — the photograph you see here. During those 25 seconds, another group entered the cave, walking straight toward us. Oh no. I didn’t want their headlamps to ruin the shot, and I didn’t want to take more time than necessary. But I wasn’t about to let this moment slip away.
So I politely asked if they could wait and keep their lights off while I finished the exposure, which they kindly did.
Hallelujah.
-BAP
Location:
Skylight Cave, Oregon
(near Sisters off Highway 20)
44° 20' 55.1" N, 121° 42' 55.3" W
Google Map Link
Time: 10:16 PDT (mid-morning)
Date: June 30th, 2022
Camera & Settings:
Single photograph
Nikon D810, NIKKOR 14-24 mm f/2.8G, Tripod
ISO 64, 19 mm, f/11, 25.0 sec
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🖼️ View artwork details & shipping
📸 Request a free wall preview
“Cathedral”
Description:
Sunbeams illuminate the basalt walls of Skylight Cave as they pass through openings in the lava tube ceiling. This Central Oregon attraction near Sisters is known for its summer light beams, volcanic geology, and distinctive cave formations created by ancient Cascade Range lava flows.
Story:
Sunlight struck the wall on the right as it pierced through the cave, searing through the cold. It moved slowly — molasses on a spoon. The gently sloping walls, shaped by a lava tube millions of years ago, made the place feel like a cathedral. I wanted to sink into the moment, to breathe slowly and watch time drift across stone in beams of light. But this is no quiet sanctuary.
Skylight Cave is a popular adventure — especially in summer. It’s closed most of the year, from September 20th to May 1st, for snow and for the bats that rest here through the colder months. And it’s only in summer when the light beams appear. To see them, you have to arrive in the morning, which creates a small, competitive window that draws a sizeable crowd.
I arrived about 90 minutes before shooting and was beaten there by one person — a stranger named Seth. We became fast friends almost instantly, bonding over our shared sense of adventure and respect for nature. We explored the cave together and waited for the light. For several minutes — then more — it was just us. When the beams struck the wall, it was just us. When they reached the edge of the floor, still just us.
Only when the light began sliding across the ground did others arrive. A group of about seven entered the cave — loud, excited, posing beneath the beams one by one. Seth and I got a kick out of watching them, but I could feel myself growing nervous. The angle of the light was shifting. I might have to ask them to stand back, I thought. Thankfully, they tired themselves out and left before anything needed to be said.
Finally it was my turn.
I started shooting a series of exposures to choose from later. Each took several seconds, with the longest lasting 25 seconds — the photograph you see here. During those 25 seconds, another group entered the cave, walking straight toward us. Oh no. I didn’t want their headlamps to ruin the shot, and I didn’t want to take more time than necessary. But I wasn’t about to let this moment slip away.
So I politely asked if they could wait and keep their lights off while I finished the exposure, which they kindly did.
Hallelujah.
-BAP
Location:
Skylight Cave, Oregon
(near Sisters off Highway 20)
44° 20' 55.1" N, 121° 42' 55.3" W
Google Map Link
Time: 10:16 PDT (mid-morning)
Date: June 30th, 2022
Camera & Settings:
Single photograph
Nikon D810, NIKKOR 14-24 mm f/2.8G, Tripod
ISO 64, 19 mm, f/11, 25.0 sec
Entrance to Skylight Cave. The metal ladder is installed and removed by the US Forest Service. (iPhone11)
