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Author Topic: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia  (Read 2652 times)

shadowblade

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Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« on: January 07, 2013, 04:48:51 am »

Erta Ale is a six hundred metre-high shield volcano in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression, part of the great African Rift Valley which stretches from Syria to Mozambique, where the Horn of Africa is drifting away from the rest of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula drifting further north. It is, in effect, a mid-oceanic ridge on land - much of the surrounding area lies almost a hundred metres below sea level. It has two craters, the southern one of which contains one of the world's only permanent lava lakes and erupted with lava flows most recently in 2010.

Getting there is a bit of a challenge - the base camp is four days' journey by road out from Addis Ababa, sometimes over trackless deserts and around a maze of ancient lava flows. There, you begin a 12km hike to the rim of the caldera before setting up camp, hiring camels to carry your gear. Additionally, the volcano is only a few kilometres from Dallol - one of the lowest points on Earth, where three diverging crustal plates meet, and possibly the hottest place on Earth, based on average year-round temperature.

But it's a photographer's paradise:

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shadowblade

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2013, 04:49:57 am »

1) Out of the Fiery Furnace

Moonlight and clouds of water vapour combine with volcanic ash and gases to produce a striking display of colours, as well as acid rain.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, stitched panorama.

2) The Witching Hour

A full moon rises during twilight at Erta Ale, as the volcano belches out yet another gout of red-hot gas and ash.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

3) The Crucible

Sunrise over Erta Ale volcano.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, TS-E 17mm f/4L, shifted panorama.
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Chairman Bill

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2013, 04:50:30 am »

Wow. Some beauts there & I can imagine you've got a few more stowed away somewhere

Tony Jay

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2013, 05:08:39 am »

Welcome back Shadowblade.
I know that some pleasurable viewing is at hand - these three beauts being just the first three!

I'll be salivating.

Tony Jay
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shadowblade

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2013, 05:18:08 am »

I'll br posting a few more of Ethiopia shortly - I don't have much to do other than process photos while lying here in hospital recovering from injuries and infections sustained during the trip!
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Tony Jay

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2013, 05:24:40 am »

I hope that you are alright.
Photography is not supposed to be life threatening!
My other half does tell me often that I will do anything to get the shot but so far I don't think I have done myself any permanent harm.
Hopefully you neither.

Tony Jay
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francois

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2013, 05:47:58 am »

Volcano photography has always fascinated me and you performed beautifully.

Bravo
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Francois

shadowblade

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2013, 05:50:16 am »

The injuries weren't from the volcano, or any other photographic subjects - they were from a pothole in the ground on the way back to camp elsewhere in Ethiopia!
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sdwilsonsct

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2013, 08:26:52 am »

Wow! Especially #2, nice juxtaposition.
Get well soon.

Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2013, 09:22:44 am »

Simply wonderful photos. Being a geologist, I admire them even more!

Tony Jay

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2013, 03:16:19 pm »

The injuries weren't from the volcano, or any other photographic subjects - they were from a pothole in the ground on the way back to camp elsewhere in Ethiopia!

Nonetheless get well soon.
We would rather have you out there shooting instead of lying in a hospital bed!

Tony Jay
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2013, 08:49:11 pm »

Fantastic set. Do get well soon.
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-Eric Myrvaagnes (visit my website: http://myrvaagnes.com)

davidh202

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Re: Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2013, 09:54:54 pm »

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