Witnessing TONS of Lava Plummet Into the Ocean on Hawai'i Island

in #photography8 years ago (edited)

"The Firehose"

Steemit Exclusive Post with Photos I haven't published yet!

From January to March lava had been falling out of a lava tube by the tons. It started after the molten rock had reached the ocean in summer of 2016 and formed a delta. That entire delta collapsed into the ocean, around new years eve, taking part of the older cliff with it, revealing the open lava tube with all of it's force.

20170128-untitled-216-7.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

For size reference, take into account the lava tour boat in this next image. Many illegal lava tour boats would approach the lava getting ridiculously close to these forces of nature. Roads are narrow here in the jungle of Hawai'i and if you see that silver boat with four engines, coming at you, right after a turn, you might be shocked by it's size and the speed they drive towing the vessel.

DES-20170216-The-Big-Island-of-Hawaii@Lava-Fire-Hose-049.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

Eventhough I love these photos they just don't replicate what I felt when I was peering over the edge of the cliff. Like clockwork the lava would create explosion after explosion sending debris back up to the top of the cliff. You could feel the earth shaking under you feet with every blow.

DES-20170119-The-Big-Island-of-Hawaii@Pele's-Firestorm-078.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

I would get up at 4 AM in the morning to hike out to the lava when the stars and milky way were out bright. Sometimes the moon would be down for the entire trip. If anything this next photo might be able to convey a sense of the heat you'd feel when the wind would move in the other direction where you'd get a whiff of the dangerous gasses.

DES-20170216-The-Big-Island-of-Hawaii@Lava-Fire-Hose-005.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

This next photo is my favorite exposure I have ever received through any lens and sensor which I've named:

Namakaokaha'i (Nāmaka) stands up to Pele-honua-mea (Pele)

"In Hawaiian mythology, Nāmaka appears as a sea goddess or a water spirit in the Pele cycle. She is an older sister of Pele-honua-mea. She is the daughter of Ku-waha-ilo and Haumea, whose other children are Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, the Kama brothers, and the bird Halulu. Aukelenuiaiku becomes Namaka's husband in Kahiki, but then later the husband of Pele, and because of this Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, Malulani, and Kaʻōhelo migrate to Hawaii."
From Wikipedia

Namakaokaha`i stands up to Pele.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

In this photograph you can imagine the form of a female in the explosion stemming from where the lava meets the ocean and the energy it creates when the two forces combine, falling rocks make up long hair and you can see the profile of a face as it's looking at the opening of where the lava meets the air.

The 3 month "fire hose" has come to an end and the lava is now forming another delta. In time, will Pele grant us another rare phenomenon like what is depicted in the image that usually only lasts a day?

DES-20160802-The-Big-Island-of-Hawaii@Puna-109.jpg
Photo © Dynamic Eye Studios

If you would like a physical print of one of these photographs on canvas or as an aluminum metal print let me know, I ship world wide! Send me your STEEM!

Prices for Metal Prints in dollars are:

4 x 5 Ratio Prices

40” x 50” $6,8117.00
30” x 40” $2,885.00
24” x 30” $1,787.00
20” x 24” $1,258.00
16” x 20” $875.00
11” x 14” $472.00
8” x 10” $317.00

2 x 3 Ratio Prices

40” x 60” $7,698.00
30” x 45” $4,392.00
24” x 36” $2,571.00
20” x 30” $1,574.00
16” x 24” $1,168.00
12” x 18” $658.00
8” x 12” $356.00

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.23
TRX 0.26
JST 0.040
BTC 98493.61
ETH 3483.79
USDT 1.00
SBD 3.28