Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

[Yvonne]

I had quite a trip yesterday morning when I went out to the lava flow by boat. Since the entire delta collapsed New Year's Eve just hours after I was out there, I needed to see the new action right away.
It was sort of epic with so many explosions going on, I've never seen it that way yet. And I've been out with a boat to the lava a lot of times the last few months.
When the entire Delta collapsed it took almost all of the new land with it, about 30 acres. Plus, the event triggered some 30ft shock waves that took the entire official lava viewing area. It was set up on an older cliff, but these cliffs are always unstable and can crumble into the ocean anytime.
It's one of the risks I take every night when hiking out to the flow and set up camera close up (it's way beyond the fenced off area, but with a bit of experience it's absolutely doable).
When I get on the boat I head out with Shane who owns Lava Ocean Tours for sunrise at 5:30 am in the winter, 4:30 am during the summer.
here are some of the shots from yesterday with tons of littoral explosions going on when hot lava interacts with cool sea water.

view of the new fire house: the tube opened up when the Delta collapsed and lava now enters the ocean under full pressure

Inferno: there is lava bubbling and spattering at the bottom

from these explosions it was constantly raining glass particles
The plume also creates its own weather and you can find thunder and lightning in there sometimes while everywhere else there wasn't a single cloud in the sky

More to come in a bit when I processed the tons of images I have taken throughout the past few weeks and months

 

[danger02ward]

Wow those are beautiful pictures! Have loved all of your lava photos!

 

[Dave]

Very jealous.

 

[Yvonne]

Very jealous.

I was thinking of you when I was out. Too bad you couldn't get the same good stuff.
I had a few really awesome days out, but also some that it didn't work out for me.
I guess a lot of days to head out and even more persistence is what you need to get a few good shots.
Heading back out tonight again before flying back home tomorrow evening.
This lava stuff gets really addictive

 

[Dave]

Not destroying your camera and telephoto lens on day one helps too. Glad you were there to capture it, it's really stellar.

 

[Yvonne]

Not destroying your camera and telephoto lens on day one helps too. Glad you were there to capture it, it's really stellar.

that's a big bummer!!! Sorry to hear that.
Almost like me: Bringing my underwater housing and strobe only to figure out on day one the strobe has an error I cannot fix and need to send it in. That sucked big, too. Beeing out on the reef and not able to take all the proper pictures was almost like torture.
Did you have a second camera with you?

 

[Dave]

Yes, I had my full-frame and wide angle. I managed to get the telephoto working again but sans autofocus.

 

[Yvonne]

Yes, I had my full-frame and wide angle. I managed to get the telephoto working again but sans autofocus.

Bummer!!!
I almost shredded my full frame camera plus expensive 70-200mm lens this morning. I was out at the lava pretty close to the ocean entry.
My trail runners are sometimes a bit too sticky and so I tripped. I sacrificed myself for my camera and my leg is now pretty beaten up and deeply cut. A few more battle scars to show off, but the camera is okay without a scratch.
At least it's the last day, so no whining about it as well as not getting into the water for snorkeling for a while.

 

[Ben]

wow

 

[Reef&Ruins]

Those are super shots!

 

[gnwatts]

Stunning images Yvonne