PORTFOLIO
Telling tales in lava
We might be mesmerized by the passionate red hues, dramatic explosions and intense heat that are to be seen at lava flows, but Bruce Behnke has been drawn to the contemplative beauty of cooled lava.
"The twists and turns and topography are a visually fascinating record of what happened," he said. "I am captivated by the colors, shapes and patterns of lava fields up close, images not usually associated with the flow of molten rock. The iridescence is amazing. ... Some (patterns are) beautiful, some scary! The branches and tree tops poking through are the only reminders of what was (there) before."
Behnke took various treks out to the Big Island from 2005 to 2007 to capture these set of shots, near Kalapana and within Volcanoes National Park near the Naulu Trail.
The professional photographer said his work takes him around the globe, but whether he's on assignment or not, "I'm always doing photography. No matter where I go, I always find interesting things."
See more of Behnke's work at pacificrimphotography.com.