Running the rim of an active volcano 2.
Running the rim of an active volcano 2.
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Awards
Runner Up in Moments In Time Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Moments In Time Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in People In Motion Photo Contest
Winner in The Unexpected Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Diagonal Compositions Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Running Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Isolated Photo Contest
Winner in People and Mountains Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in 80 Stays Around the World Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol3
Amateur Winner People In Large Areas Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in People In Large Areas Photo Contest
People's Choice in Volcanos Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken on the rim of an active volcano on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. We were on the eastern side of the rim and looking across towards the setting sun.Time
The image was captured about 5-10 minutes after sunset.Lighting
The plume of gas and ash from the volcano was blowing across to the right of frame, somewhat muting the effect of the afterglow of the sunset. Off to the horizon were some clouds which also dampened the coloring of the after glow.Equipment
I used a Sony A57 with a Minolta 80-200G. Image was taken hand held. (read the tripod note below :)Inspiration
The trip to the volcano was on my bucket list. I had no idea what I would be able to capture and were job smacked when we reached the rim. The ground was shaking and lava was exploding out of the 2 main pools at the base. I saw some people making their way around and then caught this guy jogging fairly fast.Editing
A little playing with the shadows, to bring out the detail in the structure of the wall of the volcanoIn my camera bag
Sony Alpha and E series bodies and an array of old and new lenses. A few tripods with a couple of filter sets and shutter remotes. I bag up what I think I'll need for the location and type of shooting I think I'll do. I always get surprised with what catches my eye and hate being without the gear to try to capture something well.Feedback
I did as much homework as I could to understand what the place would be like. I was blown away when we got to the rim and looked over into the depths. What I read and watched did it little justice. It was amazing. The place was so dynamic and changing every eruption. The local village guide we had would not let us venture too close to the rim (its all unstable ash) or too far around, into the plume (its heavy in sulfur) so we were somewhat restricted, but safe. Walking away with the memories and the images was our guides priorities, and ours when he told us that some of the lava chunks could be the size of a small car. We still got the full experience. GREAT ADVICE - Listen to your guide. I had a second camera (A77) set up with a wide angle lens mounted on a tripod, capturing the overall seen and the A57 for trying to capture some of the finer details. In the 1 1/2 hours we were there, I had clocked up over 1000 shots from both cameras. Its been a few years since this image was taken and what I have learned from all the image takers across the web is that we should try to capture 1 or 2 images to display the scene. I think I would shoot differently today, maybe a little slower but still think I'd end up with hundreds of shots. It was such a dynamically changing place. As for the A77 on the tripod. Well, I got so many blurry shots. Note to self - tripods don't work so well when the ground under them is shaking. It's an active volcano after all :)