The Elements

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 30, 2016654 views10 comments

I have barely touched my camera in the past 6 months, and my participation here has been equally abysmal. Sorry for the latter. The good news is that during the holidays, I was able to spend a few days on Hawaii (Big Island), putting an end to the misery. Obviously shooting some lava was high on the list. This was shot after dark at the ocean entry side of the lava flow from Pu'u 'O'o crater (Kilauea volcano), and shows some lava streams and the glowing steam plume created by the contact with the sea.

Ever since I was a child (Pu'u 'O'o started spewing lava the same year I was born and hasn't stopped since) I wanted to one day see this spectacle, and Frans Lanting's "Life - a Journey Through Time" only added to that, so I was quite thrilled to finally see this with my own eyes. I can only recommend it, it's a fantastic sight.

Nikon D610, 70-300 AF-S VR, tripod, patience. ;)

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on December 30, 2016 at 2:26 AM

Fantastic, awesome and other superlatives. View the large version. Hopefully we will be seeing more. Have been to big Island several times; even to trail head, but never ventured out. Long hike. Not sure if my body can take it.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Basil Greber on December 30, 2016 at 2:50 AM

Thank you Jim!

For those interested in going - currently the hike from the east side (Kalapana) is shorter than from the national park side. It took us a bit more than an hour on a gravel road (walking fast; it's about 4 miles or so - many people rent bikes on the spot and ride on them) and then a few more minutes scrambling over the lava field down to the place where we could best see the ocean entry site. That said, we were glad we went on an overcast day, in plain sun this could be rather rough. Good luck & enjoy! :)

Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments

Comment posted by Mark James Ford on December 30, 2016 at 3:00 AM

Hi Basil, a wonderful shot - you really have captured the essence of the scene. And for me: A new place added to the list enlightened

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Registered on January 16, 2015, 60 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 30, 2016 at 2:07 PM

Hi Basil,

Glad to see an image post from you. Don't feel too bad, I've taken my own hiatus a few times now too.

Fantastic nature image. No doubt an exhilarating experience to be there, I'm sure. (having never been.)

Hard to find any flaws or suggestions for improvement. Nature at one of it's most powerful states and you've captured this beautifully.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on December 30, 2016 at 2:57 PM

Wow, awesome capture! Very unique and well crafted. No nits.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 30, 2016 at 5:19 PM

Wow! Just a beautiful photo. Good for you to see this spectacular event. It is on my list as well.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on December 30, 2016 at 10:07 PM

Yow that looks hot!! Excellent job of bringing through the intensity of this!
I chuckled that you included "patience" in your list of equipment!!

We went to the Big Island and a couple other islands many years ago.....back in the early 90's when we were fancy free, if memory serves. Fabulous scenery there.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on December 31, 2016 at 12:58 PM

This is beautiful! I like the strong tonal contrast in the scene - the deep shadows evoke a sense of mystery while at the same time intensifying the sense of heat from the bright highlights in the lava. The composition is also nicely done with the counterpoint between the deep shadows in the lower right corner and the glowing steam in the upper left corner - both of which frame the lava flow perfectly.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 2, 2017 at 8:48 PM

Powerful shot Basil, I hope to see this kind of thing some day soon. The dead space on the right balances the image. Brave soul!

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on January 7, 2017 at 1:52 PM

Love the larger version!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments