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Deeper and down: From underground cathedrals of rock to giant chambers of ice, stunning pictures of one man's cave odyssey
By Nick Enoch
PUBLISHED: 14:59 GMT, 9 January 2013 | UPDATED: 15:12 GMT, 9 January 2013
While many of us would think twice before exploring the dark, dangerous caverns of the Earth's crust, for one fearless man, it is the perfect environment - and his greatest love.
These stunning images of ice formations, mystic lakes and beautiful 'halls' deep underground were taken by Peter Gedei.
The Slovenian photographer started caving 25 years ago and has carried a camera with him on every trip.
Kostanjevika jama cave in Slovenia is one of the stunning scenes photographed by Peter Gedei
Mr Gedei lives and works in Ljubljana and has been a member of Speleo Club Zeleznicar since 1987. Pictured, Slovenia's Martinska jama cave. Rich with limestone formations, it contains a few small lakes with crystal clear water
The Slovenian photographer started caving 25 years ago and has carried a camera with him on every trip. Pictured, a cavern in Southern France near Olargues
Tackling the Ice Cave in Visevnik, Slovenia in 2010
Mr Gedei, 43, said: 'Most of the photographs were taken in Slovenian caves, but some shots are from French caves, where I attended the first international meeting of cave photographers.
'Slovenia has, in a small area, over 10,000 registered caves of all levels of difficulty and of different depths and lengths, which is, for me, more than enough for cave photography.
'I take cave photography as a great photographic challenge, as well as a sports activity and exploration.
Cavers attempt to follow a river in the Ljubljanica TauTona cave system in Slovenia
The Bestazovca cave, where the first cave paintings were found in Slovenia
Cavers explore Grotta Noe, near Trieste, Italy
'In the cave, there is eternal darkness, 100 per cent humidity, low temperatures and varied passages,' said the photographer. Above, the Ice Cave
'All my pictures were taken during weekends or extensive explorations.'
Among the sites he has explored is Kacna jama, one of the most famous Slovenian caves.
Its specialty is the abyss in the entrance, which measures 190m in depth, and then becomes a hall.
In the 19th century, caving workers equipped the abyss with stairs that go all the way down to the bottom.
He added: 'Safe cave visitation requires good physical fitness and excellent knowledge of roping techniques.
'Of course, experience is more than welcome here. In my 25-year caving career, I have had plenty.
'In the cave, there is eternal darkness, 100 per cent humidity, low temperatures and varied passages.
'There can be abysses, meanders, narrow and large halls.
'Some caves contain a lot of decoration, others look like tunnels, and others are deep and huge in dimension.
'Each has its own speciality, so the caves are very different from each other.
'The challenge of lighting these kinds of spaces is different with every cave.'
Mr Gedei lives and works in Ljubljana and has been a member of Speleo Club Zeleznicar since 1987.
The very still waters of the ice cave in Stojna, Slovenia, 2011
Admiring the spectacular view in Kostanjevika jama, Slovenia, in June 2004
A caver inside the Cehi II cave on the Italian-Slovenian border, November 2012
Braving the dark in Kostanjevika jama, Slovenia, in April 1999
Peter Gedei said: 'I take cave photography as a great photographic challenge, as well as a sports activity and exploration.' Above, the Bestazovca cave in 2009