Skip to content
PIC BY MIKE MEZEUL II/CATERS NEWS – (PICTURED: Lava flows on the the Kilauea Volcano with the Milky Way a meteor and the moon above) – This photographer managed to score a real one shot wonder by photographing lava, the Milky Way, the moon and a meteor all in the same photo. Mike Mezeul was in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii when he seized the chance to capture the combination of natures beauty. The fiery red of the lava in the foreground is in deep contrast to the purple and blue hues of the galaxy beyond. In further photos lava is pictured pouring into the sea, creating billows of steam like natures very own foundry. SEE CATERS COPY.

A Volcanic Eruption Photographed Against the Backdrop of the Milky Way, Moon, and an Iridium Flare

Christopher Jobson

While photographing the surface flow of a volcano several weeks ago in Hawaii, photographer Mike Mezeul managed to capture an extraordinary number of natural phenomena in this single shot. His original intent was to photograph just the volcano itself, but he soon realized the scene had a bit more potential.

“When I found this surface flow and saw the clouds had cleared out, I knew I needed to at least try to get the stars above with the lava,” he tells Colossal. “As twilight faded, I saw that the position of the moon—which was just a sliver—was to the right of the Milky Way so I figured what the heck, might as well try to get the Milky Way with the lava.” After only three shots another fortuitous event occurred: an iridium flare just happened to streak across the sky.

For the skeptics, Mezeul shares that he used a Nikon D810 with a Nikon 14-24mm lens, with the following settings: F2.8, ISO 2500, 25″ exposure. You can see more of his landscape work on Instagram. (via PetaPixel)

Related articles