Photography: Commissioned: New York Times Assignments: NYTimes-assignments9

Mick Cooke holds an opal he has purchased for a friend. Mick sits around the table of his brothers Pete's home or 'man cave. Mick has lived in the remote opal mining town for the past 20 years while his brother Pete only permanently relocated to Lightning Ridge three years ago. The brothers both show entrepreneurial abilities in the way they find business opportunitieis in the small town. Pete's 'man cave' contains a colourful array of items including two Harley Davidson motrobikes and an old sports car. Conor Ashleigh for New York Times

Mick Cooke holds an opal he has purchased for a friend. Mick sits around the table of his brothers Pete's home or 'man cave. Mick has lived in the remote opal mining town for the past 20 years while his brother Pete only permanently relocated to Lightning Ridge three years ago. The brothers both show entrepreneurial abilities in the way they find business opportunitieis in the small town. Pete's 'man cave' contains a colourful array of items including two Harley Davidson motrobikes and an old sports car. Conor Ashleigh for New York Times