Belize: Rio Frio Cave

[Mike Buckley]

It takes more than the usual amount of effort for tourists to get to Caracol, the most important Mayan archaeological site in Belize. Many people who visit it also visit the Rio Frio Cave, which is just a few minutes away from the main road leading to Caracol.

When preparing to capture the first photo, I had a rather underwhelming image in my viewfinder that I wanted mostly as a memory of the extraordinary three growths extending downward from the trees growing above the cave. That was when the man walked into the scene, looked up at those three growths and made the image more than just a reminder of a pleasant memory.

The second photo of the cave's interior is a composite manually blended from three image files exposed in increments of 1/2 stop.

EDIT: I added two photos of the cave later in the thread.

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[Suzan J]

What good timing that the fellow decided to pose for your shot and give it perspective and scale. The B and W is perfect.

[Rita]

I really like the 3 things and the man in #1. Also feel that b&w is a great effect for showing up the 3 things. Out of curiosity are those things a kind of vine, roots, or ???

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John, Suzan and Rita!

Out of curiosity are those things a kind of vine, roots, or ???

Yes, though I don't know whether they are vines or roots.

[mugge]

Mike, I am trying to visualize #1 without the man. It would just be a picture that needed an explanation to work. On a more serious note, I believe you are enjoying yourselves too much. Not right!!
Cheers Ole

[Rainforest]

Cool cave. What a dramatic entrance and the fellow is the icing on the cake. You might consider cloning the dark shadow that arrows at his throat. Wonderful detail in the second shot.

[Wavelength]

WOW fro #1!!!
WOW for #2 too, but i would like a bit more brighten up, even though original situation must be something like this only!!!

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!

You might consider cloning the dark shadow that arrows at his throat.

Thanks for mentioning that, Susan. I got rid of it and the things "growing" out of his head in my original image file.

On a more serious note, I believe you are enjoying yourselves too much. Not right!!

I'll try to behave in the future, but don't expect any promises.

[JohnRostron]

Out of curiosity are those things a kind of vine, roots, or ???

My first impression was that they were stalactites, but looking closely I could see plant-like texture in them, so the root explanation seems more likely. I admit that I would not have expected roots to be so perfectly vertical nor so large.

John

[Mike Buckley]

Those three things are typical of what I saw throughout Belize extending from the lower branches of trees to the ground, though I never took the time to learn whether they are roots or vines. The cave opening is about 65 feet high (about 20 meters), so that gives you an idea of their total length.

I learned last night while doing some research that the cave is about 1/4 mile long and has an opening on the other end about the same size as the opening shown in my photo. There is sufficient light to walk from one end to the other without the need for a handheld light. Unfortunately, my wife and I didn't have the time to explore anything other than this opening of the cave because we were on an important schedule.

[bnnrcn]

Great composition in #1 Mike #2 is nice too.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Binnur!

For another perspective, my wife's captures post-processed by me are shown below.