by Jeff Bentz

It was Friday, September 14, 2017.

We were staying at the Volcano House Hotel inside Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. My objective for this trip was to photograph flowing lava from the Kilauea Volcano; but I only had three days.

That morning, we rented e-bikes in Kalapana to take a 4-mile ride to a lava field viewing area. We arrived at the viewing area before dawn to see the lava flow as the sun came up. Unfortunately, there was no lava to see. This was a little disappointing. However, we did see smoke out in the distance where lava was flowing into the ocean. There were a few boats in the water that seemed relatively close to the lava activity. I immediately decided that I needed to be on one of those boats the next day, if possible. As soon as I had cell service, I made a reservation for the recommended predawn trip the following day.

Early the next morning, I reached Pohoiki Boat Ramp near Puna before sunrise with great anticipation. The 2-hour tour included a 50-minute boat ride to the point of entry with about 30 minutes to photograph the lava flow. We boarded a 20 – 25- foot boat with a crew of two and five passengers. The white vessel, dusted with red Hawaiian dirt, featured a small canopy and twin 115hp motors.

As we got under way, the captain gave us a safety talk. It was a short one; stay seated, respect the ocean, and respect Madame Pele( the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire).

The water was choppy on the ride to our destination. I have to say, I was a little damp from the morning mist and the spray from the boat ride, but my camera equipment was tucked away and dry. As the sky became a little lighter, you could start to see the toxic plumes of white smoke billowing into the air out in the distance.

As we arrived at the point of entry, it was still dark, but the sun was starting to peek above the horizon behind us. I could feel the raw power of the forces that were at work. All my senses were on high alert. The captain approached an area where there was a short lava shelf that was slowly pumping molten lava into the sea. There were 3-foot waves rolling onto the beach and seawall. The captain had us situated so that the bow of the boat was facing away from the shoreline allowing the passengers a better view of the scene. Effectively using his twin outboards, he kept us just on the outside of the breaking waves about 30 yards away from the lava. Only by special permit were boats allowed to get closer than 300 meters. Our tour company had that permit and we were much closer.

It was a visually stunning and humbling experience. Bright orange streams of liquid rock pouring and hissing into the boiling sea. The smell of the sulfur infused plumes of white steam drifted with the wind highlighted by the glow of the orange lava below. The water temperature near the boat exceeded 110 degrees and you could feel the intense heat radiating off the seawall. Red-hot glowing lava rocks floated by the boat hissing at you. All the while the captain is maneuvering to keep us just outside the break.

As I am taking this in, I have my camera in hand with a 70- 200mm zoom lens trying to work the scene. However, the sun has not come up enough to provide good light and the boat is bobbing and rocking as the waves roll in. Steam and mist need to be constantly cleaned from the front of the lens. As I tried to focus my camera on the shoreline, plumes of steam drift in front of the camera making it difficult to focus.

Although conditions were difficult, I succeeded in capturing a few quality images.

But having both the visual image, and front row seat to witness and experience the power of mother nature recreating herself was the most rewarding aspect.

The Big Island is constantly adding square feet.

About a year later,“ The Hot Spot,” a permitted 49-passenger tour boat located 500 yards offshore, was hit when a steam explosion launched a lava bomb onto its roof. The incident injured 23 people. While the lava boat tour offers an unforgettable experience, it does involve some risk.

You can see some of my photography work during Morgan Hill Open Studios on October 25 & 26. I will be at the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center.

Visit: morgan hill open studios to learn more and view the artist directory and see all locations throughout the south bay area.

Jeff Bentz is a travel and landscape photographer in Gilroy, CA. Follow him on Instagram: @ jeff _ bentz _ photography View his portfolio: jeffbentzphotography. com

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