NATURE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
WINNER

Kilauea Volcano
Ocean Entry

Kalapana, Hawaii, USA
By C.J. Kale
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA

A lava flow erupted from Kilauea Volcano enters the sea and produces a cloud of steam and volcanic ash. Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern-most volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. While topographically Kilauea appears as only a bulge on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, Kilauea's magmatic system extends down about 30 miles into the earth.

“With my back to the erupting volcano several miles away, I captured this dramatic scene of the lava flowing away from me toward the ocean. This flow crossed what volcanologists call a lava bench before reaching the water and creating great amounts of steam. Lava benches can grow and enlarge the Big Island of Hawaii, but this one collapsed into the sea soon after I took the photo.” —CJK

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II; Sigma 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 EX lens at 72mm; 1/800 sec at ƒ/8; ISO 400; Gitzo GT-2531 tripod; Arca-Swiss mono ball Z head.