Lava Pouring Into The Ocean Is So Mesmerizing

What is it about this video of lava dripping into the ocean that is so satisfying? Is it the liquid interplay of water and molten rock? Is it the idea of the earth growing before our very eyes? The vicarious thrill of being only inches away from something so elemental and dangerous? I don’t know. I do know that I could watch this video of lava pouring into the ocean on a continuous loop all day, getting lost in the continuous drip-drip-drip of liquid fire into a roiling ocean. Join me. Let’s zen out.

Kawika Singson, a photographer based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, got up-close and personal with the lava flowing from the Hawaiian coastline. Singson must have been shooting very close to the lava in order to get such detailed footage, an impressive feat considering that Hawaiian lava typically hangs out at a blistering heat of around 1100 degrees Celsius (2012 degrees Fahrenheit). This is not Singson’s first encounter with Hawaii’s active volcanoes. In 2013, the daredevil photographer made headlines when striking pictures of him shooting near a volcano with his shoes and tripod on fire went viral. Although the fire was eventually proved to be a stunt, Singson argues that the risks he takes in his quest for close-ups of volcanic activity are real. If this new video is anything to go by, I believe him.