Thirty million years ago, great slabs of the Earth's crust under the Atlantic Ocean fractured and crumpled up to create a vast underwater mountain range: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Colossal volcanoes followed, spewing up so much magma that, eventually, they poked up out of the sea to form the Canary Islands. Lanzarote, with more than 300 volcanoes, is Francisco's favourite. 'It has such a feeling of power, such a haunting beauty. The volcanic peaks, tubes and craters have been eroded by wind and rain to create a jagged landscape, full of surprising shapes and colours.' To create a sense of harmony, Francisco framed the lava spikes with a circle of star streaks around a constant North Star.
Spain
Francisco has worked as a photojournalist for more than 30 years, and has published over 100 articles on nature in titles such as National Geographic, International Wildlife, Terre Sauvage, BBC Wildlife Magazine and Geo. His images have been used to illustrate more than 20 books, and he has won over 200 international photography awards.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.
