Travel

SEE MOTHER EARTH GIVING BIRTH: MICHAEL SHAINBLUM

by Michael Shainblum. “Creamsicle.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.

MICHAEL SHAINBLUM

Mother Earth continuously gives birth, as its molten core pushes through its crust, in the form of volcanoes, creating new land formations as it spews, then cools. Volcanoes have created more than 80% of the planet’s surface.

On May 3, 2018, several hours after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the Big Island of Hawaii, Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted big time, sending up plumes and rivers of red hot lava. While the news has been focusing mostly on the destruction caused by this fiery fountain, we are fascinated by the beauty pouring forth.

Photographer Michael Shainblum recently captured active volcanoes during his recent trip to Volcanoes National Park. The images are spectacular.

“Watching lava pour out of the cliff into the ocean was incredible enough,” he recalled. “To see a double rainbow form over the scene was unbelievable.” Some of Shainblum’s shots highlight thick clouds of smoke emanating from the eruption, giving them an otherworldly feel.

Molten lava pours into sea as volcano erupts under a double rainbow in Hawaii. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Kilauea is a shield-type volcano which rises 4,190 feet (1,227 meters) above sea level and makes up about 14% of the land area of the Big Island. The summit caldera contains a lava lake known as Halema`uma`u, which is said to be the home of the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele.

Clouds of smoke and steam billow out of erupting volcano as red-hot lava spews out and hits the ocean. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

The new eruption, which blasted through an area known as the Leilani Subdivision on the sprawling volcano’s southeast flank, created fissures along a 2.5 mile stretch, pouring lava across 116 acres, devouring 36 structures to date. It continues to spread.

The giant stream of Lava flowing down the cliff side, through a large plume of smoke and steam. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Shainblum’s photos focus on the immense power of the lava. “For this collection, I wanted to showcase this beauty in my own artistic way, through fine art landscape photography.”

Abstract Closeup of lava spewing from volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

But Shainblum captured it all in the shot, with minimal post processing, so that we can witness exactly what he witnessed when he was there. All of these images are single exposures, unless listed otherwise.

Kilauea has had more than 60 recorded eruptions in the current cycle, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and has been erupting on a continuous basis since 1983.

Close up of volcanic explosion at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Many volcanoes are nearly impossible to forecast, but the shape and slow-moving behavior of Hawaii’s volcanoes make them some of the easiest and safest to study. However, scientists still say they don’t know what caused Kīlauea’s recent change in activity nor do they know when it will end.

Molten lava pours out of volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Activity at the summit and along the rift zones can be observed online through webcams placed within the caldera, and information on Kilauea’s activity is updated daily on the USGS website. Check out Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: Kilauea, U.S. Geological Survey: 'Hotspots': Mantle Thermal Plumes, and USGS: Volcano Watch for more info and images.

Fiery inferno rages at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Read the full account of Shainblum’s journey on his blog. You can purchase a print from his volcano collection at his online shop.

All of Shainblum’s landscape, timelapse and aerial photographs are magical. See his breathtaking images of the Dolomites, as another example. His work has also been published in National Geographic, Wired Magazine, and on The Weather Channel.

Closeup of lava eruption and smoke pouring out of volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

Read more about Magnificent Mama’s all this week on BeautifulNow.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Helicopter flies over a rainbow that has formed over top of an erupting volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Michael Shainblum.

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Photographer Michael Shainblum stands with his camera and tripod looking out at sea.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Creamsicle.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Elemental Collide.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Steam Machine.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Glimpse of Scarlet.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Molten Textures.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Shattered.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Dancing in the Ash.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Fury.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Cloaked.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
Image: by Michael Shainblum. “Helicopter flies over a rainbow, capturing a glimpse of the lava below.” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
Image: “Michael Shainblum at work.” Courtesy of Michael Shainblum.