Name: Mark James Ford
Picture title: Cast in Stone
Category: Intimate Landscape
Nationality: German / British
Occupation: Research chemist

Mark says:
‘Trekking across the baking lava of the Kalapana lava field in Hawaii, was an experience not to be forgotten. Incredible organic structures of black, blue, gold and bronze seemed to overwhelm the senses, but eventually the increasing presence of sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases, acted as a reminder that I was walking on an erupting volcano. Heat was rising from every crack in the rock, and before my very eyes the rocks would turn orange and suddenly begin to flow.

New land, rock and stone was being created just metres away from me. I had just seconds to capture this image of a lava flow setting into the form it would retain for millions of years. The glass-like rock was still glowing below the surface, but soon enough a new lava flow started centimetres from my feet and I was forced to retreat.’

Technical information:
SIGMA sd Quattro H
SIGMA APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro
ISO 100 
f/22
SFD-Mode (7 different exposures -3 EV to +3 EV automatically combined in-camera)
Accessories: Gitzo Mountaineer Tripod and Head
Post processing: Raw development in SIGMA Photo Pro. Basic adjustments made with Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop.

Website: markjamesford.photography
Instagram: markjamesford
Facebook: markjamesford.photography
Flickr: Mark James Ford
500px: Mark James Ford