{"id":886658,"date":"2026-09-07T11:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/886658\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T11:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:16:15","slug":"i-spent-10-days-scouting-and-waiting-at-the-halemaumau-crater-before-the-kilauea-volcano-erupted-says-award-winning-nature-photographer-who-captured-a-white-tailed-tropicbird-rising-above-volcani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/886658\/","title":{"rendered":"“I spent 10 days scouting and waiting at the Halema’uma’u Crater before the K\u012blauea volcano erupted,” says award-winning nature photographer who captured a white-tailed tropicbird rising above volcanic gases and red lava"},"content":{"rendered":"

When professional nature photographer Liron Gertsman<\/a> heard about white-tailed tropicbirds nesting in the caldera walls of an active volcano, he packed his full-frame mirrorless camera<\/a>, telephoto lens<\/a>, and traveled to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i, United States. On the trip, he captured the now award-winning image of the tropicbird rising above volcanic gases and glowing red lava.<\/p>\n

Gertsman explains, “I spent 10 days scouting and waiting at the Halema’uma’u Crater before the K\u012blauea volcano erupted. White gases on the left of the photo are primarily water vapor and carbon dioxide; the blue gas on the top right is sulfur dioxide; the brown dust is volcanic ash; and red lava glows on the right. The birds nest in the crater’s cracks, safe from predators, and use the thermals generated from the volcano\u2019s heat to gain lift as they fly out to gather food. “<\/p>\n

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This spectacular shot has been honored as the winner in the Birds in Landscape category at the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards \u2013 a competition celebrating photographers who use their skills to highlight the beauty, challenges and threats facing birds across Chile, Colombia, Canada and the United States. You can explore all 2026 winning images here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Latest Videos FromDigital Camera World<\/p>\n

Birds in Landscapes Winner<\/p>\n

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\"Canon
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Review insight:<\/a> “As a stills camera, the Canon EOS R5 is still one of Canon’s finest products ever. It\u2019s the perfect amalgamation of the earlier EOS R\u2019s form, the EOS 5D\u2019s function, and the professional-grade autofocus of the EOS-1D X” (Image credit: James Artaius \/ Digital Camera World)<\/p>\n

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: White-tailed Tropicbird
Location: Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park, Hawai\u2018i, United States
Gear: Canon EOS R5<\/a> + Canon RF 100-500mm f\/4.5-7.1 L IS USM<\/a>
Exposure: 1\/2500 sec, f\/16, ISO 2500<\/p>\n

Bird Lore
Tropicbirds are beautiful, long-tailed seabirds that range throughout the world\u2019s oceans, mainly in the tropics. Seldom seen from mainland shores, they raise young on oceanic islands.<\/p>\n

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The White-tailed Tropicbird, the smallest and most widespread of three species, usually tucks its nest into a cavity among rocks.<\/p>\n

On many islands, these sites are most readily found among layers of volcanic rock \u2013 including, at times, around still-active volcanoes, leading to remarkable scenes.<\/p>\n

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Judge\u2019s Take (Sadie Hine)
“This was easily the most dramatic landscape we saw this year. I can clearly visualize this tropicbird weaving through this unforgiving environment.<\/p>\n

“This sense of movement \u2013 paired with a wide perspective and the powerful role of volcanic activity in shaping unique ecosystems \u2013 makes this image memorable.\u202f\u202f”<\/p>\n

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Looking for competitions to enter? Here are 10 global photo contests now open for entries from September 2026 to February 2027.<\/a><\/p>\n