Lost in the New Zealand woods after dark, I made this unique photo

I am posting the single photograph of which I am the most proud. I believe this is a unique and novel photo of something that I have never seen captured before and it shares an experience I will never forget.

I had entered a random NZ forest one night after pulling over to see some stars and take sunset/twilight photography. As the sun was still fading , I followed a small creek into the woods on foot. The forest was alive with the sound of birds and who knows what other kinds of creatures. I was completely in unknown territory with no phone service, and no GPS. After a good 30 minute walk, I stumbled upon a small waterfall.

By this time, the wildlife noises had lessened and I could feel a nice eerie, yet calming silence yielding to the peaceful sounds of the falling water. It was pitch dark. With sneakers over wet rocks I carefully made my way behind the waterfall and was met with a most beautiful sight. The rocky wall was aglow with hundreds of tiny luminescent worms! Like a night sky, the hidden and serene world behind this waterfall amazed me. I lifted my camera to my eye.

I had no flash or tripod. I set the camera on a rock and framed the photo as best I could with the viewfinder. I set the ISO as low as possible for a long exposure shot. I released the shutter, painted the wall with my flashlight, and the result is below. Nearly every photo of glow worms in NZ have been taken in water-filled caves. The underside of a waterfall must mimic those environmental conditions. I hope you enjoy this photo and thanks for reading/viewing!

Please click the image to see it full-size on a dark background for best contrast and visibility.