Lava from Kilauea flowing into the Pacific Ocean near Kalapana after sunset.
*Update: 26 acres of the lava flow including this view broke off and fell in...
Read more
Lava from Kilauea flowing into the Pacific Ocean near Kalapana after sunset.
*Update: 26 acres of the lava flow including this view broke off and fell in the ocean 2 weeks after I shot this.
Read less
*Update: 26 acres of the lava flow including this view broke off and fell in the ocean 2 weeks after I shot this.
Read less
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Awards
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Action Award
Chatter Award
Contest Finalist in World Wonderer Photo Contest
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Capture The Four Elements Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Nature And The Night Photo Contest
Honorable Mention in Our National Parks Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Our National Parks Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Vol 35
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krenny
Jan 16
Been trying to catch something like that since 1984 - keep missing it by a few weeks - nice shot
clinton_boyd_fleming
Jan 17
Thank you! It was amazing to sit there and see and hear it. I'm glad I could capture it.
SherrieMosher
Jan 23
Congratulations! It might seem like Dante's Inferno but it really has the feel of a Rembrandt painting to my eye.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Kalapana, Hawaii, USA.Time
I wanted to get to the shooting location while it was still daylight but close to sunset. Having never done this hike before, I didn’t estimate the time it would take me to get on location correctly. I ended up getting there just after the sun had already set. I shot for about 2.5 hours while I was there and this image was taken at 8:22 PM.Lighting
With no moon in the sky and no cities close by, it was a very dark and challenging environment to shoot in. In order to keep from blowing out the brightest parts of the image, I under-exposed a little and then pulled out the details and shadows in post-processing.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon 6D, with an EF 300mm f/2.8 L USM non IS lens. The camera and lens were mounted to a Manfrotto 190X tripod with the 496RC2 ball head. I was also using a Hähnel Captur Module Pro as a remote shutter release.Inspiration
The first time I visited Hawaii, I went out on a tour boat to view the lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean. While out on the boat, I noticed people hiking on the cooled areas of the lava flow and viewing the lava going into the water from above. I wanted to try that on my second visit so I could take longer exposures that were not possible from a boat.Editing
Post was done in Lightroom and Photoshop. I created a virtual copy of the original RAW file in Lightroom so I had two images to work with. I adjusted the first one for the lava and illuminated steam clouds. The second, I adjusted for the water in the foreground. I then edited them both as layers in Photoshop and blended them together.In my camera bag
I usually carry a Canon 6D with the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM as my goto lens. I like to shoot in low light environments so I carry some pretty fast lenses. The other lenses in my bag are the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L USM and the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for when I need to be a little more discreet. Lastly, I keep a Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite with me. Even if no flash is needed or wanted, I use the AF assist function with the flash disabled to help focus when shooting events in low light and using autofocus.Feedback
This area of Hawaii can be very beautiful but also very dangerous. Two weeks after this image was shot, 26 acres broke off and fell into the ocean, created 40 waves and sending debris all over. 5 tourists that ignored some of the safety barriers almost lost their lives and had to be rescued. The lava also releases deadly fumes and when mixing with seawater, it produces hydrochloric acid. If the wind shifts, it can be deadly. With that being said, listen to the warnings of the park rangers and posted signs. Using a fast telephoto lens on a tripod with either a timer or remote shutter release will provide the best results in such a low light and hostile environment. If you can’t do the hike (approximately 4 miles each way), there are various bicycles and ATVs that can be rented but you will still have to hike out to the viewing area one you get to the end of the gravel path. That is about an eighth of a mile on cooled, very uneven lava. You will need flashlights, drinking water and shoes with very tough soles on them.