Photographer melted his drone to capture lava flows. It was worth it
Nov 4, 2017
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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Photographing volcanoes can be dangerous, but it’s certainly an experience to remember. Israel-based photographer Erez Marom traveled to Hawaii to try it for himself, and he captured the magnificent view of hot lava flows. But there was a price to pay – and he paid with his gear.
He used a drone to get some aerial shots. But at one point, he got too close and the hot lava melted the plastic. Fortunately, Erez still managed to save the photos, and he kindly shared them with DIYP. And although his drone is destroyed – it was definitely worth it.
As Erez writes, when he and his friend arrived in Hawaii they first came to the Big Island, where they shot the lava flows of Kilauea volcano. They hiked 8 kilometers to reach the red-hot flowing lava. They were lucky – it was just outside the national park, so Erez could use his drone and get some aerial shots of this magnificent sight.
After an hour of shooting, new lava rivers burst out of the mountainside. The red, hot flow was diverging and converging down the slopes, creating unique, abstract shapes. Erez says this truly mesmerized them, and they spent about 3 hours shooting. They managed to capture the sight in daytime, sunset and twilight.
Since he was so drawn in by the nature’s spectacle, it took him a while to realize something strange was going on. He started to notice that the right side of the drone images was getting darker. Still, he went on shooting. This spectacle wasn’t something you see every day. But when he got back to the apartment, he was surprised by the condition of his drone. The plastic inside it had melted while he was shooting close to the lava.
Despite the destroyed drone, Erez says it was worth it. Seeing his beautiful, abstract shots of the lava flows, I must say I definitely agree with him. Take a look at more photos below and see for yourself.
Now, in addition to taking aerial shots and melting the drone, Erez had a few more shooting alternatives. He shot the lava flows from a helicopter and from a boat, too, and shared the photos with DIYP. So if you enjoyed the drone photos, here are some more from other perspectives. You’ll love them, too.
Boat
Helicopter
About the Artist
Erez Marom is an Israel-born and based photographer, who has been traveling, taking photos and teaching all over the world. His first photographic passion was macro, but then he fell in love with landscape photography which changed his life forever. If you’d like to see more of his work, make sure to check out his website, Facebook, and Instagram.
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Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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29 responses to “Photographer melted his drone to capture lava flows. It was worth it”
Awesome.
That is awesome!
That’s some good Lava porn right there.
SO jealous — would love to know how close was too close fo the drone?
Hard to assess but I’d say about 10 meters.
Thanks, good to know!
OMG!!! GORGEOUS SHOTS…
Amazing!!!!!!!
http://Www.pistachophotography.com
Superb. Now, that’s a good use of a drone indeed !
better than me losing my drone to ordin on its first foreign trip to Iceland.
Go ‘Canes
If this was taken at volcano national park on the big island, then this footage is illegal. Please follow the few drone laws as do have to prevent further regulation of them. If this was taken at Volcano National park, id remove it as it promotes illegal activity.
Thanks for your concern. Perhaps it would be best to invest more time in reading what’s written as opposed to complaining. The images are 100% legal and were taken outside the boundary of the NP.
Oh I did not see that the laval flow was “just outside” the park, how convenient. I do have a hard time believing that since you hike through Volcano National park for about 3 miles before reaching the lava flows. People live just outside the park so I sure hope this slow flowing lava hasn’t traveled 3 miles in 1 month.
See, I don’t really care if you believe me or not. The park is packed with rangers, I find it hard to believe someone would be ale to use a drone next to the flows and not get caught and fines several thousands of Dollars. I was hiking with a certified guide, as I’d never know how to get to the flows by myself.
How easy it is to accuse instead of thinking.
The park is packed with rangers? Weird I was there for three months only ever saw two rangers actually on the mountain. They were almost always standing usually just before the delta ( that’s the end of the long road you walk down before turning left to see the lava flow into the ocean) because it is blocked off. Hey I’m just mostly jealous I wish it was “just outside” NP boundaries when I was There a month ago! Also many people just go in the morning before rangers arrive to get drone footage.. it is however illegal. Just don’t want to see Hawaii get even more strict on drone laws. They already don’t let you fly in state parks without a permit….
There were rangers there when I was flying. “just outside” was added by DIY Photography and wasn’t in my original description.
I’m done corresponding with someone who’s falsely accusing me without reason or the slightest proof. Jealous? Go back and try harder.
Yeah I’m jealous! Simply amazing shots. I will definitely try harder, always do. So you were with a guide, and rangers? Talk about VIP man. Well those rangers were awfully nice to let you fly your drone in the national park. oops like diy photography I know it’s illegal so we will say just outside.
…
Cool photos. Illegal though. Those Lava flows are NOT just outside the Park. Follow the rules instead of trying to ruin flying for everyone.
These flows are very much outside the park and 100% legal. You do realize the flows are dynamic and change over time? Try to think before falsely accusing without the slightest proof.
Hi Erez, These are amazing images ! Would it be okey if you can share where you happened to spot them ? thanks !
Shoot, well now I want to play Minecraft again
I witnessed a lava flow in Iceland in 1970 when Hekla erupted and it is my favorite adventure memory. The sound of the cooling lava will always remain with me. Amazing. These wonderful photos were certainly worth the loss of a drone.
Totally worth it.
Since it didn’t cost me anything.
Great shots Erez. I was there last month and did the doors-off helicopter flight (still paying it off!). I also booked the lava boat tour but it was cancelled and no other operator was going out at that time :-( I loved the shots I got but you must have been using a serious zoom/cropping hard to get some of these shots. I was using a 70-200mm + 1.4TC. Accurate exposure was tough. Dehaze slider made an amazing difference of the crater shots through the smoke/steam etc. Will definitely be going back! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/450bb796c1a35be52f07f80316b71e2ead71ed5a9341f0a1c68dae3d3995b2ec.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfda79850a1a7c4bb00daf6a39396b9bc3c1549973d9a021c4648e5da65fb396.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfda79850a1a7c4bb00daf6a39396b9bc3c1549973d9a021c4648e5da65fb396.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f82466dc94c0443e0717ee60b7a11e05141f7b293f4746ed91940a868a9d00ad.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cdf1a9855fc9535955ac745db89182846e4bd344cc0466d0c79e4b8f43d2e270.jpg
Hi David,
Thank you. We were hovering a few meters above the lava so it wasn’t as hard as you describe, nor did it require a super tele-zoom. I took the heli shots with a 70-300mm. When shooting from the ground I could get as close as I wanted, but had to shoot quickly since it was insanely hot.
Tough luck about the boat. I was terrified since I suffer from severe motion sickness but luckily it was a quiet ride (still took 4 pills haha just in case haha).
I guess we got freakishly lucky throughout this trip, which is good since I flew about 22 net in every direction!
Extraordinary. The drone did not die in vain!
These are amazing. Wow.. totally worth It!
Great Job! I like the amazing photography of volcano.