My tent, illuminated from within set up at the summit of the volcano. The red glow behind is from the lava lake inside the crater and the blue is the darkening evening sky.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 10-22mm f3.5-4.5![There was a lot about the lava lake inside the volcano that was cool and amazing. One element I was not expecting, however were the glowing fracture lines on the lake crust and how they were in constant [slow] motion and were always changing.<br />
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Here's how they look in the daytime.<br />
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Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)<br />
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Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS](https://photos.smugmug.com/Africa/Rwanda/i-3JnfRBb/0/862fb02a/XL/DRC%7CNyiragongo-Lava%20Lake1-XL.jpg)
There was a lot about the lava lake inside the volcano that was cool and amazing. One element I was not expecting, however were the glowing fracture lines on the lake crust and how they were in constant [slow] motion and were always changing.
Here's how they look in the daytime.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
There was enough upwelling from deep inside the earth that parts of the lake were actively boiling. When viewed through the telephoto lens, I could see that the lava was somewhat tacky and as the molten material bubbled and burped it flung itself around in globs and streamers.
I've found bubbling lava to be absolutely mesmerizing to watch.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
A closer crop of the previous photograph showing a bit better the boiling material.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
As the sun started to set, the glow from the lake started to illuminate the streamers of toxic gas interesting purples and oranges.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
With full dark, you could see nothing but the bright convection points where the lava was actively boiling and the glowing fracture lines radiating out along the cooled lake crust.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
At night, the glowing lines on the lake crust made fantastic patterns when viewed through the telephoto lens.
As the crust was not static, there was some slight discernible movement when photographed. But instead of being distracting, I found that movement gave the patterns an element of dynamism and energy.
Image 1 in a series of 4.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
Lake crust patterns.
Image 3 in a series of 4.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
Lake crust patterns.
Image 4 in a series of 4.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS
My tent, illuminated from within set up on the summit of the volcano with the glowing lights of the city of Goma behind.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 10-22mm f3.5-4.5
Steam and vapors escape from within the volcano crater as Rwanda's Mt. Karisimbi silhouettes as the rising sun lightens the eastern sky.
Location: Nyiragongo volcano, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 24-105mm f4.0 IS
I love the look this young boy is giving me, along with his positioning in the photo. The original photo was pretty much all in focus, though - an effect (or lack there of) I found not terribly satisfying. I experimented with adding blur in PS and found it could do the job, albeit in a pretty artificial-looking manner. But because the effect was so blatently artificial, I thought it worked. Kinda. Thoughts?
Location: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 24-105mm f4.0 IS
These ubiquitous constructs, called Chukudu can be more or less made from local materials and carry all manner of items and goods. It wasn't until I crossed into Congo that I saw my first ones - they don't seem to exist in eastern or southern Africa.
Location: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Lens used: 24-105mm f4.0 IS
