<< Previous Next >>

Metro Submergence


Metro Submergence
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1221 W: 146 N: 2825] (8928)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-17
Categories: Rain Forest
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/8 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Caves and cave life., Pictured Symbolic Qualities of Sun [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-08-20 2:33
Viewed: 388
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Recently I was fortunate enough to visit the Metro cave system on the Nile River near Charleston,south of Westport.
The cave is called the Metro because many of the upper level passages have the distinctive rounded shape of caves that have been formed below the water table.
When a cave is formed by water filling it to the roof forming a tube like passage,we call this a phreatic tube.
A vertical cleft like passage formed by water running along the floor only is called a vadose passage.
When a flooded tube later drains and the floor continues to be eroded, a distictive 'keyhole' type passage results.
The Metro systen consists of around 8 kilometres of passage, most of which are large phreatic passages, some decorated with calcite speleothems such as stalactites,stalagmites,shawls and columns.
Stalactites are formed by water seeping through from the surface which has become a weak carbonic acid by passing through humus and soil. It dissolves the limestone (calcium carbonate) as it passes throug,and as it enters the cave,releases carbon dioxide into the cave atmoshphere,causing the dissolved calcium to recrystallize as calcite.
Typically,stalactites begin as small rings around a central hole,which grow into thin hollow straws.
These sometimes become blocked,or water will trickle down the outside causing more calcite to build up.
Stalagmites are formed below where the water drips,and the two may join to form a column or pillar.
There are many other types of spelothem,such as gypsum flowers,made of calcium sulphate,or thin needle or spear like crystals of aragonite and selenite.

I chose to post a photo with a person in it this time just to give an idea of the scale.
Later on I will post a few more photgraphs taken in this beautiful cave.
Hope you like this one.
Cheers
Steve
Kathleen, anel, eqshannon, elizabeth, meyerd has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To elizabeth: person for scaleLordPotty 2 08-25 00:18
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Steve.
Extremly hard to keep detail throughout the whole photo in these situations but you have managed it well. You show us some detail inside the mouth of the cave and without a huge blow-out outside, we can still see the bush and ferns clearly with only slight blow-out in the sky. Gives the feeling of being in there looking out.
Lovely shot.
Kathleen

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 0 N: 2132] (9006)
  • [2008-08-20 5:06]

Hello Steve,
Amazing view of this huge cave. Most beautiful sight which you show us from a very interesting point of view. I had to look for the person, I didn't notice the man at first sight. It really gives the scale of the cave. Very interesting note too.
Un grand merci
Anne

What a good idea and being the almost gymnast your are (I've seen ya in the ocean ya know)...you could get around inside there and be patient enough to make sure you got it right, but then looking at the preview screen in a condition like this helped out too..Most times one cannot really know from the preview screen on a camera...but here you had optimum condition...Very cool Steve...
Bob

Nice shot steve and you are braver than me. You would never see me in a cave or enclosed spaces like that lol. I agree with the comment about being able to see outside the cave without it being too glarey and bright. Was it the time of day, position of the sun? The colours are really nice too.

Cheers
Nicki

Hi Steve

OK, I give up... where's the person?

Nice shot; a difficult lighting situation handled well. Kathleen's comments sum it up nicely.

Cheers
Elizabeth

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 64 N: 1200] (3757)
  • [2008-08-26 11:33]

Steve,
I'm really impressed by this landscape with the cave and the dense vegetation with tree ferns on the outside. You did a fantastic job. Good you have this person in the picture, its awesome. Great picture, Steve.
Best regards
Dietrich

Hi Steve,
It took me a while to locate the person which makes the size even more impressive. The cave is really huge! I love the vegetation in this photo and the large boulders in the FG.
TFS,
Niek

P.S. good control on the exposure.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF