A topic that I take very serious (as every caver and underground photographer should) and which must not remind untreated here - the relationship of cave photography and cave conservation. There are two key factors cave photographers are confronted with:

• The directly destructive influence on caves by photographers.
  Every now and then one encounters traces of destruction in caves that can be addressed to cave photographers. This incidents may happen while searching for the "perfect" camera position, while trying to shot a somewhat hidden helectite, or while trying to place a flashgun at an "optimal" place. In addition carelessly littered flashbulbs and batteries are occasionally encountered. Here is a crucial need to admonish ones self-discipline: not every shot must be taken and not every flash position is really essential!!!
  
  
• Presenting spectacular underground images to an audience stimulates more people to go caving and thus indirectly contributes to the destruction of caves.
  This is certainly true. However, here is a need to differentiate. It cannot be stressed enough, that the presentation style and type of medium is controlling this input factor. It is a great difference if one puts an article entitled "Conquering the pits to hell in the south of France" (including directions how to do it) in a climbing magazine, or if you give a talk entitled "A delicate and fragile would underground" to an interested audience! If one succeeds to convey the fascination, the fragile nature and aesthetics of caves and speleothems, as well as a deep respect facing this underground phenomena, one greatly contributes to cave conservation!