'The exposures varied [depending] on the cave and how close I could get. Five minutes for the close ups and 30 minutes or one hour for some of the wider ones,' Mr Michael wrote on his Facebook page.


A stunning new photo series has captured the mesmerising beauty inside some of New Zealand's magical glow-worm caves
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A stunning new photo series has captured the mesmerising beauty inside some of New Zealand's magical glow-worm caves

Photographer Joseph Michael's Luminosity project was shot in 30 million year old rock limestone formations on the country's north island
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Photographer Joseph Michael's Luminosity project was shot in 30 million year old rock limestone formations on the country's north island

Mr Michael captured the stunning tranquil scene by using long-exposure photography on his Nikon D810
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Mr Michael captured the stunning tranquil scene by using long-exposure photography on his Nikon D810

The result is a fascinating range of hypnotic close-up photographs, some of which more closely resemble outer-space scenery
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The result is a fascinating range of hypnotic close-up photographs, some of which more closely resemble outer-space scenery

Others are mysterious and mesmerising landscape shots in which the glowing lights can be seen shimmering in the water below
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Others are mysterious and mesmerising landscape shots in which the glowing lights can be seen shimmering in the water below

'The exposures varied [depending] on the cave and how close I could get,' Mr Michael wrote on his Facebook page
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'The exposures varied [depending] on the cave and how close I could get,' Mr Michael wrote on his Facebook page

'Five minutes for the close ups and 30 minutes or one hour for some of the wider ones,' he added, meaning he spent hours in each cave
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'Five minutes for the close ups and 30 minutes or one hour for some of the wider ones,' he added, meaning he spent hours in each cave

'Being inside the caves is an incredible experience — one of nature's miracles,' Mr Michael told the ABC
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'Being inside the caves is an incredible experience — one of nature's miracles,' Mr Michael told the ABC

The luminous glow worms, called Arachnocampa luminosa, are unique to New Zealand and light up to catch prey and attract mates
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The luminous glow worms, called Arachnocampa luminosa, are unique to New Zealand and light up to catch prey and attract mates

Glowing, sticky lines of mucous and silk, sometimes as long as 50cm, are lowered to catch organisms for the larvae to feast on
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Glowing, sticky lines of mucous and silk, sometimes as long as 50cm, are lowered to catch organisms for the larvae to feast on

One larvae can create up to Up to 70 glowing lines - which vary from one to 50cm in length - at one time
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One larvae can create up to Up to 70 glowing lines - which vary from one to 50cm in length - at one time

Mr Michael is an Auckland based photographer whose recent projects have involved photographing icebergs and scenery in Antarctica
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Mr Michael is an Auckland based photographer whose recent projects have involved photographing icebergs and scenery in Antarctica