Mt Merapi erupting, Java, Indonesia

Indonesian Greetings, Greetje. It is was a special opportunity taken as the dawn broke.

Warm regards,

Ian (currently in Tonga).

Indeed whoelius! Indeed it was a great opportunity. Morning was breaking. But soon it was all hidden in the equatorial haze.

Ian

• beautiful, interesting picture
• I like it
• greetings from Poland :)

Dear Margaritha and Marek,

Thank you both for your appreciation of both the drama and the form of this mountain. And thanks for your visit to my gallery. I enjoy the opportunities I have to create images of special places.

Warm regards,

Ian

That is an amazing capture! You got it in its best moment!

Thank you indeed, Liviu. Most of the time it was completely invisible though so close: the equatorial humid air combined with the volcanic dust shrouded it most of the time. But here at sunrise it stood stunningly sentinel.

Ian

A picture that catches the eye. Thank you for sharing this moment with us. Many people had no opportunity to see that. Greetings from Romania!

I am delighted to share this image, Monica, and I am grateful for your appreciative response.

Ian

Just sent this picture to a friend of mine Ian, he is organizing help for the victims of the outbreak of this volcano and I have proofread the papers for him ~ had to think of you dear one, you were there, right on the spot, such a short while ago and where are you now ~ take care ~ Maja ~~~~~

Dear Maja,

I am impressed by both your friend and by your response. Thank you. I trust he was successful in raising some support. Whenever lives and livelihoods are lost, the response of others to suffering is such an important quality of our humanity.

An eruption was anticipated even when I was there, so I was expecting it to intensify. The loss of life was mostly due to the hot gases descending the slopes.

Thank you as always for your thoughts and thoughtfulness.

Ian

Increible foto felicitaciones realmente me gusto. Saludos desde Argentina

Dear Patagoniatilly,

You remind me that there are such stunning volcanoes in Argentina too!! One day I would love to ride a boat in the Lakes Country in Patagonia among the volcanoes and lava flows!

But for the moment I am content to have been in Java among their peaks and craters.

Warm regards,

Ian

I was there 2 weeks before the eruption.....

I'd have to check my diary, but maybe we were in Yogya at the same time, Pauwels ferdi. This was taken not long before the eruption, early one morning before it was hidden from view by the ash, smoke and cloud.

Regards,

Ian

great photo ian, greetings from germany,Luggy and Favorit

Greetings Luggy. Thanks for your appreciation. Is Indonesia of particular interest to you?

Kind regards,

Ian

Well before eruption..

Yes indeed, f42nh, 6 months before and photographed from the sanctuary of my hotel room in Yogya.

Ian

Goodness! What timing!

Beautifully captured!!! Greetings from Argentina Like 21 Diego