Lava Beds National Monument (Part 4) - Tulelake, CA

From 7/17/2013 to 8/2/2013, I took a road trip from the SF Bay Area to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Half of the trip was spent driving up the west coast. On my trip, I visited many famous places such as Seattle, Butchart Gardens, Mount Rainier, and much more. Obviously I got many coastal shots and many places that isn't as famous. The reason I am posting it now is because the high amount of photos I took equaled a high amount of processing time. I took a bit over 2000 photos on the trip. After stitching the panoramas, compositing the HDRs, and picking out photos from the repeats, I have a bit over 1000 photos to show you guys. The photos will be split into parts. I will link you to the previous and next parts on each post just like I did with my Death Valley National Park photos and my Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park photos. Hope you enjoy viewing this chain of posts!

Full Resolution Photos and Prints: If you want to see full resolution photos or buy prints of any of the photos you see, they are up on my portfolio for viewing. To view my best Lava Beds National Monument photos, use this link. To view all of my day 15 photos, use this link.

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Today I have part 4, the last part of Lava Beds National Monument. Lava Beds National Monument is part of a volcanic system and contains many empty lava tubes (caves) that you can go down and explore. In the park, only one of the caves (Mushpot Cave) is lit. The other caves are pitch dark and will require flashlights to go exploring. The temperature in the caves are very cold, a great place to go on a hot summer day! If you want to explore something you haven't seen before, this is a good place! Just make sure you have a good flashlight. Photographing in the caves was also a very hard. At night, you can work with light from the moon, which will be bright enough if you expose long enough. In the caves, all light have to be created by you! The following cave shots were shot using a very very strong flashlight and my Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT.

The Petroglyph Section is separate from the rest of Lava Beds National Monument. To get there, you will enter the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge which is where this photo was shot at. This is a photo from West Wildlife Overlook. In my opinion, one of the best photos I've ever shot. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 10 N 121 29 25 W   

Black and white process of the photo above.  

 Here is a panorama of the giant rock face of Petroglyph Section. If you look closely, you will see barbed wire fence under the rock face. On this rock wall, Native Americans carved writing into the soft stone which is why this area is protected under the National Monument. That barbed wire fence was not always there. The officials installed it after many degenerates decided to cave their own names and initials into the wall. So sad people would do this to history!
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 43 N 121 23 28 W   

Here are the original Native American writing.
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 46 N 121 23 26 W   

Over here, you can see where degenerates carved over the ancient petroglyphs. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 45 N 121 23 27 W   

Here is a portrait of the rock face. To help combat the destruction of history, the authorities has also installed quite a bit of motion sensing cameras (night vision is included) in the area. Really sad how people have to take this much precaution to stop the destruction of something historical. People who do these things deserves the death sentence. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 47 N 121 23 25 W   

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 45 N 121 23 26 W   

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 45 N 121 23 27 W    

More photos of the petryglyphs.
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 42 N 121 23 27 W   

A photo of the scenery near the rock face. The barbed wire fence is on the left.
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 42 N 121 23 28 W   

Almost done for the day, driving toward our hotel. Last few shots from Tulelake, CA. Photo shot along SR-120.
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 50 54 N 121 23 13 W   

Another photo from SR-120 in Tulelake, CA.
 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 51 51 N 121 23 07 W   

These are all the photos for today and for day 15 (Lava Beds National Monument). I hope you have enjoyed viewing them. Next time I will continue with more of the photos from Mount Shasta. Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

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Lava Beds National Monument (Part 3) - Tulelake, CA

From 7/17/2013 to 8/2/2013, I took a road trip from the SF Bay Area to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Half of the trip was spent driving up the west coast. On my trip, I visited many famous places such as Seattle, Butchart Gardens, Mount Rainier, and much more. Obviously I got many coastal shots and many places that isn't as famous. The reason I am posting it now is because the high amount of photos I took equaled a high amount of processing time. I took a bit over 2000 photos on the trip. After stitching the panoramas, compositing the HDRs, and picking out photos from the repeats, I have a bit over 1000 photos to show you guys. The photos will be split into parts. I will link you to the previous and next parts on each post just like I did with my Death Valley National Park photos and my Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park photos. Hope you enjoy viewing this chain of posts!

Full Resolution Photos and Prints: If you want to see full resolution photos or buy prints of any of the photos you see, they are up on my portfolio for viewing. To view my best Lava Beds National Monument photos, use this link. To view all of my day 15 photos, use this link.

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Today I have part 3 of Lava Beds National Monument. Lava Beds National Monument is part of a volcanic system and contains many empty lava tubes (caves) that you can go down and explore. In the park, only one of the caves (Mushpot Cave) is lit. The other caves are pitch dark and will require flashlights to go exploring. The temperature in the caves are very cold, a great place to go on a hot summer day! If you want to explore something you haven't seen before, this is a good place! Just make sure you have a good flashlight. Photographing in the caves was also a very hard. At night, you can work with light from the moon, which will be bright enough if you expose long enough. In the caves, all light have to be created by you! The following cave shots were shot using a very very strong flashlight and my Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT.

After Valentine Cave, I went to Indian Well Cave. It is named Indian Well Cave because Native Americans  used to go into the cave to collect water. Because the cave is relatively unaffected by outside temperature, there is water in this cave. I only went up to the entrance of the cave as this isn't a "paved" cave and will require caving experience to explore. 

After Indian Well Cave, I went to Sunshine Cave. I think it is named that because in several parts of the cave, there are holes where sunlight can shine through. Here is an HDR composition inside the cave.  

Here is another HDR composition from inside the cave. I didn't head any further down the cave.  

After that, I drove toward Merrill Cave and shot some scenery photos inside the park. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 43 56 N 121 32 02 W   

 Another scenery shot. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 43 41 N 121 32 59 W  

Merrill Cave turned out to be too dark for photos. So after that cave, I went to the nearby James's Giant Chocolate Factory (also a tourist destination). This is their giant chocolate falls.... No I am just joking. :) This is a photo from Merrill Cave and this is the cave top. Not sure why it is the color of chocolate. Munching on a piece would be a totally different experience. HAHA 

Stairway leading down tho the end of the trail into the Lava Tube. Climbing down these stairs was a bit scary, and I got squished a bit with my giant camera bag on my back, but I managed. The hand holds were also freezing cold. If you plan on visiting this cave, I recommend you got down these stairs backwards as they are pretty steep. 

 This is what the end of the trail looked like. 

The lava tube continues far but the trail ends here. The colors you see on the top is what I suspect to be the hydrophobic bacteria the park rangers told me about. 

Another zoomed in shot from the end of the trail. Part of me really wanted to go deeper and explore more. :) Also, don't let these long exposures fool you. The cave was a lot darker to the naked eye. I saw more from my photos than when I was there seeing the cave with my naked eyes. 

 More photos from inside Merrill Cave. 

By almost the end of the day, most of the smoke has cleared out from the Lava Beds National Monument area. I decided to head back to Devil's Homestead Flow for another photo before I head to the Petroglyph Section of the park. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 41 47 35 N 121 33 43 W   

Another shot from a different angle.  

Panorama of the Devil's Homestead Flow view point. 

These are all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing them. Next time I will continue with more of the photos from Lava Beds National Monument in Tulelake, CA. Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

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Lava Beds National Monument (Part 2) - Tulelake, CA

From 7/17/2013 to 8/2/2013, I took a road trip from the SF Bay Area to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Half of the trip was spent driving up the west coast. On my trip, I visited many famous places such as Seattle, Butchart Gardens, Mount Rainier, and much more. Obviously I got many coastal shots and many places that isn't as famous. The reason I am posting it now is because the high amount of photos I took equaled a high amount of processing time. I took a bit over 2000 photos on the trip. After stitching the panoramas, compositing the HDRs, and picking out photos from the repeats, I have a bit over 1000 photos to show you guys. The photos will be split into parts. I will link you to the previous and next parts on each post just like I did with my Death Valley National Park photos and my Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park photos. Hope you enjoy viewing this chain of posts!

Full Resolution Photos and Prints: If you want to see full resolution photos or buy prints of any of the photos you see, they are up on my portfolio for viewing. To view my best Lava Beds National Monument photos, use this link. To view all of my day 15 photos, use this link.

Next Post >>
<< Previous Post

Today I have part 2 of Lava Beds National Monument. Lava Beds National Monument is part of a volcanic system and contains many empty lava tubes (caves) that you can go down and explore. In the park, only one of the caves (Mushpot Cave) is lit. The other caves are pitch dark and will require flashlights to go exploring. The temperature in the caves are very cold, a great place to go on a hot summer day! If you want to explore something you haven't seen before, this is a good place! Just make sure you have a good flashlight. Photographing in the caves was also a very hard. At night, you can work with light from the moon, which will be bright enough if you expose long enough. In the caves, all light have to be created by you! The following cave shots were shot using a very very strong flashlight and my Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT.

After I finished up with Mushpot Cave, I headed to Skull Cave. The cave is named that because animal skulls were found in the cave. It is suggested Native Americans have lead animals into the caves as offering to God. 

Heading into the cave. I feel sorry for the people wearing shorts... It was quite warm outside, but it was freezing inside the cave! Remember, some of these caves have ice. The temperature is BELOW freezing. If you plan to visit, don't take this warning lightly! The outside temperature has no effect in the cave and the temperature drops off very very fast as you adventure in. 

Further into Skull Cave. As you can see it is already dark enough I need to use my flashlight to guide me. Not only is the flashlight required for any type of photography in the cave, you also need it to get around. Always make sure you bring a backup! As recommended in my previous post, it is recommended you borrow a back up flashlight from the visitor center. Your flash will have limited effect in the cave due to the physics. Your flashes power drops off exponentially not arithmetically. 

The stair well inside the cave. All the light in the shot was produced by me which is why there are harsh shadows. The railing inside the cave sure was cold. Not a lot of visitors made it to the end. Those tourists you see in the above photo turned back half way probably because it was too cold for them. 

A black and white process of the photo above. 

The ice floor in the cave. The area used to be open to the public but people tourists damaged it, so it is now fenced off. 

The cave formations. The orange light you see is from the flashlight I borrowed from the visitor center. As you can see it isn't very bright. I didn't notice it in my shot. 

Here is what the entrance of the cave looks like from inside the cave. 

Here is another shot of the cave from inside looking toward the entrance. 

HDR composition of of the entrance to the cave. 

Here is a photo of the entrance to the cave from outside.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 43 53 N 121 30 39 W  

Scenery near Skull Cave. As you can see this area seems to be a collapsed lava tube. A lot of rocks in the area but this deep void. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 43 52 N 121 30 39 W  

After Skull Cave, I headed to Valentine Cave. Here is some scenery near the cave. 

 Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 42 34 N 121 28 40 W  

Here is the entrance into Valentine Cave.  

The features of Valentine Cave is different than the ones I've shown you so far. You can tell that these formations was formed from the flow of lava. 

This is what the cave roof looks like. Looks like liquid doesn't it?

Here is another shot of the cave roof. 

Here is another photo from inside Valentine Cave.

Another few shots of the cave roof. This area of the cave roof was wet with hydrophobic bacteria (the gold color). 

The cave went in deeper, but this is where I stopped as the cave roof has gotten too low and to keep going, you have to squat down and crawl. I wasn't about to get that dirty. XD You can tell how the lava flowed in this cave from the ground. 

These are all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing them. Next time I will continue with more of the photos from Lava Beds National Monument in Tulelake, CA. Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Next Post >>

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Lava Beds National Monument (Part 1) - Tulelake, CA

From 7/17/2013 to 8/2/2013, I took a road trip from the SF Bay Area to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Half of the trip was spent driving up the west coast. On my trip, I visited many famous places such as Seattle, Butchart Gardens, Mount Rainier, and much more. Obviously I got many coastal shots and many places that isn't as famous. The reason I am posting it now is because the high amount of photos I took equaled a high amount of processing time. I took a bit over 2000 photos on the trip. After stitching the panoramas, compositing the HDRs, and picking out photos from the repeats, I have a bit over 1000 photos to show you guys. The photos will be split into parts. I will link you to the previous and next parts on each post just like I did with my Death Valley National Park photos and my Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park photos. Hope you enjoy viewing this chain of posts!

Full Resolution Photos and Prints: If you want to see full resolution photos or buy prints of any of the photos you see, they are up on my portfolio for viewing. To view my best Lava Beds National Monument photos, use this link. To view all of my day 15 photos, use this link.

Next Post >>
<< Previous Post

Today I have part 1 of Lava Beds National Monument with one photo from Tulelake, CA. Lava Beds National Monument is part of a volcanic system and contains many empty lava tubes (caves) that you can go down and explore. In the park, only one of the caves (Mushpot Cave) is lit. The other caves are pitch dark and will require flashlights to go exploring. The temperature in the caves are very cold, a great place to go on a hot summer day! If you want to explore something you haven't seen before, this is a good place! Just make sure you have a good flashlight. Photographing in the caves was also a very hard. At night, you can work with light from the moon, which will be bright enough if you expose long enough. In the caves, all light have to be created by you! The following cave shots were shot using a very very strong flashlight and my Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT.

Tulelake, CA borders Merril, OR. This is a photo of a farm and barn in Tulelake. I shot this along the border. As you can see the forest fires I told you about had engulfed the whole area with smoke. Our original plan was Shasta Lake, but decided against it because I know the smoke won't affect the caves at all.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 59 55 N 121 33 48 W   

Black and white process of the photo above. 

Now at the entrance to Lava Beds National Monument.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 49 50 N 121 33 22 W

Shot a photo of the scenery at the entrance.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 49 51 N 121 33 22 W   

Black and white process of the photo above. 

First stop is the Devil's Homestead Flow, a giant lava field. I shot a few photos at this view point. The smoke from the surrounding forest fires is very heavy. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 47 35 N 121 33 43 W   

Black and white process of the photo above.

A zoomed in shot of the scenery. 

Black and white process of the photo above. 

A panorama of the view point area. 

A photo of another lava field in the park.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 46 36 N 121 33 55 W 

HDR of the scenery in the park. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 44 35 N 121 32 41 W  

A photo of some obsidian near Mushpot Cave. If you are planning to visit the park, I suggest you drop by the visitor center before visiting any cave. I also recommend you borrow a flashlight from the visitor center. The flashlights are free for you to borrow. While their flashlights are dim and not too useful in the caves (so bring your own good one), the park rangers will have a record of you at the ranger station, so in case you get lost or injured in one of the caves, they'll know to look for you. In my opinion, their flashlights are crap, but I got one anyways so I know someone will come looking for me if I don't make it out. All flashlights have to be returned by the time the visitor center closes. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 42 49 N 121 30 32 W  

Another lava tube near the entrance to Mushpot Cave. You can see where the lava has flowed out before. 

Approximate GPS location (type into Google) according to the Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver: 41 42 49 N 121 30 31 W

Mushpot Cave is the one nearest to the visitor center and as I have mentioned at the beginning, is the only cave in the park that has lights. The other caves are pitch dark. This cave is also have the shortest walk and great for little kids. If you are tall, please note some areas of the caves are low, so watch your head!

Black and white process of the photo above. 

I shifted the angle slightly and did another shot. 

Black and white process of the photo above.

The cave formations and the lights the park has set up for easy viewing. 

Here is a photo from the end of the trail in the Mushpot Cave. If you plan on doing photography, please be careful where you are flashing your flash! I photo bombed myself without realizing it. LOL 

Facing back at the trail from the end of the trail. 

Black and white process of the photo above. 

These are all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing them. Next time I will continue with more of the photos from Lava Beds National Monument in Tulelake, CA. Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

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