In the Belly of a Lava Tube

[GBO25]

Just inside the entrance to one of the many lava tubes in Undara National Park.




A guide lights the way out of another tube.




Like being in the digestive tract of a dinosaur...

[bodi]

Thanks for sharing. what caused them? If lava actually flowed thru them, why are they so large? Any info appreciated.

Thanks, Bodi

[GBO25]

Lava tubes form when lava flows down a valley and the top of the flow cools and solidifies. This insulates the flow below the hardened crust and that lava continues to flow until it drains out and leaves these hollow tubes. The tubes at Undara flowed for about 100km but many of them have collapsed over the thousands of years they've been there.

[Nicks Pics]

Very neat. That looks like a difficult exposure situation in those caves.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[GBO25]

Very neat. That looks like a difficult exposure situation in those caves.

Thanks Nick. Camera was in manual mode and I played around with ISO & aperture. Also shot in raw and adjusted exposure, shadows etc in post.
The most difficult thing to deal with was dust. I only had a gorillapod tripod so the camera was close to the cave floor or on a rock and there was dust everywhere. Ended up having to clean the sensor when I got home.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Graham, #3 is my pick

[bnnrcn]

Hi Graham I especially like #1 and #3. I would crop #1 from the bottom just to leave 1/4 of the dark part in the frame . IMO
this would give a better composition.

[NorthernFocus]

Interesting stuff. I like the first and third. The people in the first shot provide a sense of scale. I like the lighting in the third shot though it might have been preferable to place the far end of the tube off center in the right side of the frame, eliminating a bit of the brighter right side. Thanks for sharing.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks Nick. Camera was in manual mode and I played around with ISO & aperture. Also shot in raw and adjusted exposure, shadows etc in post.
The most difficult thing to deal with was dust. I only had a gorillapod tripod so the camera was close to the cave floor or on a rock and there was dust everywhere. Ended up having to clean the sensor when I got home.

being low gave a more photographic perspective.

[GBO25]

Hi Graham I especially like #1 and #3. I would crop #1 from the bottom just to leave 1/4 of the dark part in the frame . IMO
this would give a better composition.

Re #1 Binnur I think you're right, cropping up from the bottom will improve it. Thanks.

[IzzieK]

I was thinking the same thoughts as Binnur in the cropping but she beats me to comment on it. I also prefer #1 and #3 best. And also the info that you gave...Thanks for that. Beautiful place, Graham...worth the trip.