15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Ray of Zeus

On New Year’s Eve in 2016, a sea cliff collapsed near Kalapana on Big Island, Hawaii. A dramatic stream of lava, called a fire hose, started to shoot out of the cliff. Before the sunrise, I captured this dramatic picture, where the lava cascaded into the ocean, creating steam and lava bombs. The lava stream stopped in March 2017.

This photo is a finalist in the Natural World category of our 15th Annual Photo Contest. See all 60 finalists here.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Kalapana, Hawaii, United States of America
Copyright: © florent mamelle
Awards
Photo of the Day: 02.27.18
Editor's Pick
Finalist