Friday, June 24, 2011

Volcanicity

The ancient Hawaiians thought of the volcano as the manifestation of a goddess. Pele - the fire/volcano goddess - was a volatile, temperamental, yet irresistible woman, known for dramatic shifts in mood. She could be a raging, unpredictable, destructive force, but was also revered as a creator - of new land, and new life.


Over the past year, I have tried to seek Pele out, and she has rewarded my efforts by offering glimpses of her many moods and faces (the pictures below are a compilation from these encounters). As I have gotten to know Pele better, I have realized why the Hawaiians thought of her in the way that they did. I have also learned something that the Hawaiians do not seem to have stressed - that words and images do no justice to her beauty.




Cinder cone and lava field, Hale'akala



Cinder cones, Mauna Kea






Lava lake, Pu'u'o'o vent, Kilauea




Lava tube (aerial view), Kilauea




Into the Void, Hale'akala




Geothermal pool and travertine terraces, Yellowstone




Geyser runoff and thermal springs, Yellowstone







Volcanic olivine green sand, Mahana Beach

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