2 I MAKE CASH FROM… SHOOTING VOLCANOES
Mike Mezeul II
Mike has always been fascinated by the power and beauty within nature, and is renowned for his amazing work on tornadoes and supercells, so shooting volcanoes was just the next step…
1 Use the right kit for the shoot
Due to their characteristics, each volcano is a bit different; some are more explosive and others are a bit more ‘kind’. The biggest challenge is balancing the dynamic range in the scene, especially towards the twilight and night-time hours. Lava is extremely bright and it can be difficult at times to control the highlights within the frame, especially in explosive volcanoes like Fuego and Pacaya. I am currently shooting my volcano work on the Nikon Z 9, Nikon Z 7II, Nikkor Z 14-24mm, Nikkor Z 25-75mm, Nikkor Z 70-200mm and Nikkor Z 100-400mm.
2 Think about the composition
Have a vision before even setting up the camera. Have an understanding for what you want, how to achieve the shot and what the conditions need to be. All of that plays a huge role in the success of my images. For many of my projects, I storyboard out my bucket list of images in a series of sketches. These also have notes with them as to what focal length I’d prefer using, as well as the time of day I’d like to shoot.
3 Perseverance is key
Don’t get frustrated; it takes time and persistence. Do your best to get your work in front of as many people as possible, shoot unique scenes and let your passion flow through your work. If you’re doing all this then people will eventually notice and doors will open.
Find out more about Mike’s 2023 workshops and portfolio at: www.mikemezphotography.com; Insta: @MikeMezPhoto