Oregon Cave flowstone feature, frozen waterfall or cascading mineral formation

A tall column of cascading flowstone in Oregon Cave National Monument. The interior of a solution cave forms as water containing carbonic acid drips through the ground and dissolves the limestone or marble. Then continued dripping water leaves behind the calcium carbonate mineral as the water evaporates. The mineral builds up over several centuries to create features like this flowstone that looks like a frozen waterfall.

The original wall of a cave is referred to as speleogen, while the mineral deposits added later are called speleothems. So, this flowstone is an example of speleothem formation.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs with hot water spilling over the edge of the terrace

View of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park from the trail with hot water flowing from underground and spilling over the edge of a terrace that's constantly building up from the minerals, calcium carbonate, the water deposits. Steam rises from the water as it emerges from underground. The minerals form where the stream of water drips down, leaving an "icicle" of minerals. A couple of the chunks of mineral having broken off in the past and you can see the "icicles" point upward near the left-center of the screen. Another chunk is lying on its side with orange bacterial growth at the center.

This feature is in a state constant, gradual change and can engulf trees, and even parts of the terrace that are older, or the flow can shift and leave a section of the terrace dry and subject to erosion. This picture was taken with an ISO of 100, f/8, and 1/800 sec. The shutter speed helped to capture the drops of water spilling over the edge of the upper terrace.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Sequoia-Kings Canyon's Crystal Cave showing cave drapery

This image was taken while on a tour of Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park. Caves of this type form underground by water that has become weakly acidic by absorbing carbon dioxide, then dissolving away limestone or marble to create a cavity in the earth. The original rocks of the cave wall are collectively called speleogen. This type of cave is called a solution cave, due to the way it forms. After forming, the water continues dissolving minerals underground and dripping down through the cave. When the drops dry up, the calcium carbonate mineral is left behind, forming the cave features most people associate with caves. These formations are normally white, but may be tinged with orange or reddish streaks if the minerals have iron mixed in. These features that form after the cave walls, speleogen, are called speleothems. These particular kinds of speleothems are called cave draperies.

Photographically, the white calcium carbonate makes for a challenge since it can end up washed out by the flash. Having the light bright, but diffused, helps create an even lighting across the surface of the features instead of having a bright spot where the light from the flash ends up being too concentrated. A simple technique for achieving this effect is to move farther away from the features and use the telephoto zoom lens in combination with the flash, which is how this image was made. Not only will the light be softer, but cave drapery and other bright cave features to the side will reflect the light soften the shadows.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Moaning Cavern flowstone feature, The Igloo.

Moaning Cavern is a solution cave found in California's Sierra Nevada foothills. It has a metal spiral stairway leading into the largest cave room in the state. This room is large enough to fit the Statue of Liberty inside! Flowstone refers to the features that result from water flowing in laden with minerals, which then evaporates and leaves the minerals behind to accumulate over thousands of years. The Igloo shown in the photo, had water drip onto it, then run down the sides, causing the feature called cave drapery below the top of the igloo-like part of the feature. The name of the cave came from the sound that air flowing out of its natural entrance used to make. Unfortunately the lights are on long enough that algae is starting to grow on the flowstone.

Cave features can be difficult to photograph since the photographer usually has to provide all the lighting and then position it well. This feature was lit for the tourists to see, so that made it easier to photograph from a distance. You can also see some of the features above it were also lighted.We're hoping to make a video and photo book highlighting all the cave types in California. Interesting that most people don't associate California with caves, but the state could have more than any other state, plus the five main types of caves are represented here, as well.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!