High school geology taught us that a number of islands were formed by volcanic activity and we’ve seen some TV programs that present overhead shots, taken from a helicopter, showing us the beauty of that process; lava slowly flowing into the ocean, steam rising up, folding into the waves, as the ocean waters cool the magma.

I like to swim. I’m not terribly good at it, but put me in some water that doesn’t numb my limbs with little to no riptide and I’m happy to float around for quite a while. While I may like warm water, 110 degrees is a bit too much. I wouldn’t be going for a swim or out to shoot some photos with Nick Selway and C. J. Kale.

These two take photographing lava to a new level. Equipped with their cameras, they swim out to where the action is. Risking exposure to high temperatures, swimming in areas where there is a risk of drowning on a good day, they take part in this natural occurrence while it happens. I don’t know them, but I hope they don’t die bringing us these pictures, as stunning as they are.

- via 22 Words