I received to shoot the Litli-Hrútur volcano eruption virtually by chance. I simply occurred to be within the space, because the saying goes. That mentioned, I believe that luck counts, and I wish to share my expertise with you.
I flew to Iceland for a volcano-agnostic pictures gig – taking pictures for a trend model from the States. However figuring out I used to be going to be in Iceland, I knew I needed to take advantage of it and keep longer. I imply, flying all the way in which to Iceland for simply two days? No method!
Wanting on the odds
After my work, I received to discover Iceland a bit extra, after which I hopped over to the Faroe Islands for a five-day journey. I’d been eager to go there for ages, and it’s simply as implausible as Iceland, actually.
Whereas I used to be exploring these breathtaking locations, I saved seeing posts on Fb that there could be a volcanic eruption in Iceland quickly. A bit scary, proper? However in Iceland, volcanic eruptions aren’t that uncommon. There have been eruptions in each 2021 and 2022. The tough bit is that nobody can predict when or the place precisely an eruption will occur.
As my time within the Faroe Islands was winding down, I used to be continuously checking for updates on the potential eruption. On my final day there, I had a troublesome choice to make: keep within the Faroe Islands for 2 extra days or return to Iceland and look forward to the eruption. I made a decision to return to Iceland, wait it out for a few days, and, if nothing occurred, head again house.
The day after I arrived again in Iceland, it occurred! The second I related to the web, I noticed a Fb replace that the volcano had began erupting. It felt like future! I used to be tremendous fortunate to have some associates from Israel additionally touring in Iceland with a automobile. They picked me up from Reykjavík, the capital metropolis, and we drove straight to the volcano.
Photographing Litli-Hrútur
The journey to the eruption website wasn’t straightforward, although. It was a ten km hike every method, and there wasn’t a lot details about methods to get there as a result of the eruption had simply occurred. However we managed to determine it out and made it to the mountain round midnight. Seeing the lava erupting was surreal. It’s laborious to place into phrases the enormity and the sensation of standing so near a brand-new volcano.
I wasted no time and began taking photos immediately. I used my drone to seize photos from each angle I might consider. There have been about 20 different folks there, and we have been all in awe of the spectacle.
However this wonderful expertise wasn’t with out its risks. The lava was spreading, and the degrees of poisonous gases have been rising. Some scientists have been there to observe the state of affairs, they usually warned us that these gases might hurt your physique over time, though you may’t scent them. Finally, the authorities requested us to depart as a result of it was getting too harmful. We headed again to the automobile, drained however thrilled with the expertise.
After a day of relaxation and enhancing my photographs in Reykjavík, I went again to the eruption website when it was opened to the general public. This time, there have been lots of of individuals, and the eruption seemed utterly completely different. I stayed there from the afternoon till the following morning, taking photos and observing how the panorama modified because the solar set and rose once more.
My gear
The gear I used included my important digital camera, the Sony A7IV (here), a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (here), a Tamron 17-35 f2.8 (here), Sony 70-200 f4 (here), and a DJI Mavic Air 2S drone (DJI Mavic Air 2S drone).
Conclusion
Though this was a once-in-a-lifetime expertise, it was additionally fairly harmful. The volcano and the flowing lava are unpredictable and might change kind continuously. It’s important to keep alert and ensure you’re secure always. Sadly, some folks have been careless and received too near the erupting lava, which led to the location being closed to guests shortly after I left.
Concerning the creator
Idan Arad is a journey and way of life photographer based mostly in Tel Aviv, Israel. His work spans over 24 nations, together with Namibia, Mongolia, India, Tanzania, and Norway. You’ll be able to see extra of Idan’s work and journey workshops on his website, Youtube, and Instagram account.