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Fire and Flight
Photographer: Liron Gertsman
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1/2500 • f/16 • ISO 2500 • Canon R5 • 254mm • Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
In August 2025, I visited Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawai’i, with the goal of photographing birds against the backdrop of an erupting volcano. Timing a volcanic eruption is never easy. After 10 days of scouting and waiting, the volcano finally came alive on my birthday- August 22nd. In the background of this image, multiple volcanic phenomena are visible: the white plumes on the left are mostly water vapor and carbon dioxide, the blue gases at the top right are sulfur dioxide, and the brown clouds are volcanic ash. Most striking of all, the glowing lava fountain can be seen. The White-tailed Tropicbirds nest in cracks along the crater walls, perfectly protected from predators. They use the thermals generated by the volcano’s heat to gain lift as they fly to and from the ocean to gather food, returning safely to their nests in this extreme yet beautiful environment.
