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Alexandre Hec's Image
Returning to Kīlauea, Alexandre found a new crater had formed as lava flowed into the ocean. Even 100 metres away, he was blasted with heat and noise ‘like a jet taking off’. Despite the rough sea, he achieved a dramatic image of glowing lava flying 30 metres into the air against the night sky.
Kīlauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and has been erupting constantly since 1983. As red-hot lava at more than 1,000 degrees Celsius flows into the sea, vast plumes of steam hiss up, condensing to produce salty, acidic mist. Gas bubbles explode through the molten rock, which freezes mid-air into glassy fragments.
Behind the lens
Alexandre Hec
France
Alexandre is a wildlife and landscape photographer. Open spaces and volcanoes are his favourite environments. He has always been fascinated by images of nature.
Image details
- Nikon D300
- 70-200mm f2.8 lens at 70mm
- 1/350 sec at f4
- Kīlauea, Hawaii, USA
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