- Open ocean horizon here
- Aloha Leigh, this is National Geographic cover material! - THROUGH_HAWAIIAN_EYES
Lava Blast and Electric Lightning Bolt Within a Lava Plume ~ Island of Hawaii
~ Lava Blast and Electric Lightning Bolt Within a Lava Plume #1 ~
Rare and surreal static electric lightning flashes through a massive column of steam, sulfur dioxide, glass particles, ash, rock and instantly created black sand – all generated from a huge volume of molten lava dumping out of a single lava tube that carried it from magma chambers under the flanks of Mauna Loa’s Kilauea volcano further upslope - here on the Big Island.
I first recorded this electric bolt phenomenon here with this photo
I have been asked if all these lava explosions and lightning flashes are loud. Oddly enough, even when I was nervously close to this event the night I took these photos, there was not a single sound to be heard! – That felt strange to me. In the past, when the lava flowing into the sea was tamer, we could hear the crackling and hissing as molten lava met ocean water… but I was not going to get that close to the exploding lava monster in these photos!
Digital downloads and prints of this lava shot and many others can also be found here
Thanks for you visits and comments~~~
Comments and faves
deegs, Trauts1971, CynShy, imagepeace, and 539 other people added this photo to their favorites.
SparkyLeigh (47 months ago | reply)
And another electric flash here:
deegs (47 months ago | reply)
Surreal pictures Sparky. These are so intense it's unbelievable. Your reports are marvellous and so informative. I am totally in awe of your images...both photographically and from understanding nature. Thanks for being there and ignoring the danger you face.
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davenyc2007 (47 months ago | reply)
that's sheer amazing!!!
The World Through My Eyes
Trauts1971 (47 months ago | reply)
Incredible.
The World Through My Eyes
Paul Tixier (47 months ago | reply)
outstanding pictures, great work Sparky
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refmo (47 months ago | reply)
incredible captures - wonderful work!!
NaturesFinest
This is really one of Natures Finest!!>
imagepeace (47 months ago | reply)
just amazing!
Foxicat (47 months ago | reply)
Absolutely stunning photos!
nonie vogue (47 months ago | reply)
awesome and amazing photos, Leigh. thanks for sharing them and your information.
Rdnekroses (47 months ago | reply)
Wow, this is one of the most amazing things I have seen!
picma (47 months ago | reply)
UNbelievable, Sparky! It must be so awesome to see this in person and you captured beautifully for the rest of us!
LightStamp (47 months ago | reply)
Wowsers that's pretty
jsr4 (47 months ago | reply)
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fascinating images you have taken! so very well done :)
$la$hnburn (47 months ago | reply)
wow. that's awesome!
how close to it are you while taking this? any idea what the lens focal length is, and do you mind posting?
maybe one day i'll actually get to see this for myself :)
Victor Shilo (47 months ago | reply)
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t-squared (47 months ago | reply)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nuuuuuuuuuuul (47 months ago | reply)
what a show, the colours are astounding
hard to imagine the silence...
gaz610 (47 months ago | reply)
Sensational. Just brilliant.
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Wolfy (47 months ago | reply)
Man, these are incredible. Hard to believe you can't hear anything.
SparkyLeigh (47 months ago | reply)
Thanks for your wonderful comments!
And RE: “how close to it are you while taking this? - any idea what the lens focal length is,”
Focal length 155mm & close enough to feel nervous ;)
bluesbandit1750 (47 months ago | reply)
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Graeme Webb (47 months ago | reply)
Fantastic. Love the colors, and I think you have really caught the pure violence of the event.
I saw this beautiful photo in
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shesnuckinfuts (47 months ago | reply)
Wow!! These are just amazing photos!! It must be such an awesome feeling to witness this happening!!
pilz8 (47 months ago | reply)
Incredible shots!!!!
fishlady_Montana (47 months ago | reply)
These pictures are absolutely stunning. How do you manage to get so close?
jah~ (47 months ago | reply)
That's the pinnacle of awesome. Words just don't do it. Speechless now...
Judy & Paul (47 months ago | reply)
What a pleasure to see these Leigh! You've captured Pe'le's glorious fires so well!
Judy
samuellebarron (47 months ago | reply)
Wow! The war of the worlds! Amazing light!
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silviaON (47 months ago | reply)
wow - what a capture again !!
Corydora (47 months ago | reply)
Wow, wow, WOW!!! Can't imagine what it must have been like to see this in person...what a privilege...
Many thanks for sharing these wonders with us :-)
rlw5663 (47 months ago | reply)
Thats a beauty, such wonderful lighting.
Marilynn Kelly (47 months ago | reply)
Amazing that there is really no sounds with such a spectacular looking explosion. Beautiful...be careful! :-)
sosidesc (47 months ago | reply)
you're doing a great job getting these fantastic images sparks!!!
scáth dubh [deleted] (47 months ago | reply)
wow.
joshua carlsen (47 months ago | reply)
this is just spectacular, thank you for sharing. i don't know if i've ever seen an electric surge in a lava cloud like this before.
Seoulwoman (47 months ago | reply)
This is a fantastic capture!!
Jaemes Sister (47 months ago | reply)
Another fabulous shot! Great work---
I'll be offline for a while starting Saturday---will be traveling to my new post in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and getting set up there---will check in later for more of your work.
terrygray (47 months ago | reply)
You are so lucky to see such a magnificent show from Mother Nature. Great photos!
Britta's world of photos (47 months ago | reply)
Wow, nature's light show - how really fascinating!
Jaemes Sister (47 months ago | reply)
Yes, it's great to come home---for a while---and it's exciting to leave on a new adventure---
You've been to Hawaii---you've found your home---some folks have no need to wander...
jaliker (47 months ago | reply)
Impresionante. Es increible la fuerza de la naturaleza. Cualquier día, se enfadará, y nos borrará de la tierra a toda la humanidad, por tontos. Felicidades por la fotografia.
coyrooster (47 months ago | reply)
For years Leigh has stood for lava, and now it stands for lightning lava. These recent pictures make a fabulous capstone to your longstanding ~~ hotstanding ~~ outstanding ~~ work in the field. Talk about decisive moments !!!!!!!
NetteBini (47 months ago | reply)
They're gorgeous, but my brain has to do a double-take to remember that this is Mother Nature's fireworks show. Incredible!!
Sarey* (47 months ago | reply)
This is like Last night of the proms but 1000 times better. A brilliant example of the orchestral manoeuvres of nature spewing out their vibrant fury.
I run out of words when it comes to complimenting your photos. It's like watching the news footage - you always get the very best captures. This is no exception - it's totally magical, I'm blown away!
lucky e (47 months ago | reply)
fantastic sights. great shots.
MysteryStevenson1 (47 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Anti Gravity, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
ilaiza (47 months ago | reply)
wowwwwww... no words!!!!!
wendyb1214 (47 months ago | reply)
Like many before me, i am speechless. This is such a powerful photo, it's absolutely surreal. You've combined outstanding journalism and beautiful art here.
jennyboduk (47 months ago | reply)
These photo's are so fantastic. They are beyond words. Just beautiful. Thank you.