The Daredevil Female Photographer Who Lowers Herself Into Active Volcanoes

The German photographer Ulla Lohmann takes studying volcanoes to the extreme: she lowers herself into active volcanoes to take pictures.

More info: Instagram

#heavenandhell: 600 Meters inside this #volcano , I felt how wonderful, powerful and destructive #nature is. A #livechangingexperience for me, which truly made me realize how fortunate I am to be living my dreams. Still waiting to live yours?!? #dontdreamitdoit #liveforthestory

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Sep 4, 2017 at 3:10am PDT

#adobefotonacht #bestjobintheworld #dontdreamitdoit

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Aug 24, 2017 at 11:18am PDT

After my camera got wet from acid rain, I dried it off- next to 1200 degree hot lava! #daretouseyourcamera #nomatterwhat #liveforthestory #canon #yasur #volcano #vanuatu

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Jun 17, 2017 at 4:50am PDT

Basti takes 360video inside the #volcano 50m away from the #deathly hot lava fountains to better understand and #explore the volcano. #canon5dmarkiv #canon #welivetoexplore #dontfeartheheat #doritos #picoftheday

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Aug 29, 2016 at 12:54am PDT

In this magic moment, everything came together. Environmentalist Dirk Steffens and Volcanologist Thomas Boyer stand deep inside the Yasur Volcano in Vanuatu as the lava bombs fly over their heads. Taken with the new #canon5dmarkiv for #terrax and # canon whilst #exploring and researching the volcano. #welivetoexplore !!!

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Aug 25, 2016 at 2:15pm PDT

Being 50m away from an active lava lake in Vanuatu makes me realizing how tiny we are as human beings and how powerful nature is, yet so fragile. We have to do everything we can to protect the wonders small and big around us. #can_you_spot_the_dragon #wonderfulplaces #naturelovers #exploreeverything #dontfeartheheat #natgeocreative #volcano #doritos #canon #natgeotravel

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Jun 27, 2016 at 10:04am PDT

To fly a drone above an active lava lake, you need to watch the thermals very carefully. Suddenly, hot gases will emerge and blow your drone away. Also, the acidity in the air destroy the mechanics over time. We usually have back up drones with us. #naturephotography#nature_perfection#fire#sparks#volcano#ash#lava#magma#natgeocreative#natgeotravel#drone#drones#explorer#exploring#canonexplorer#canon#redbull#redbullmediahouse#aerialphotography#lavalake#photooftheday#exploremore#natgeo#naturegram#adventures

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on May 7, 2016 at 12:15am PDT

The ash plume of Etna Volcano in Sicily is lit by the descending sun. I love the sense of scale – look at the two tiny photographers at the foot of the volcano! #expedition#wondersoftheworld#nature_perfection#volcano#canon#canonexplorer#natgeocreative#natgeotravel#natgeo#smoke#etna#exploring#explorer#glow#photographer#naturephotography#colours#ash

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on May 2, 2016 at 12:39pm PDT

Yasur Volcano in Tanna ignites. The eruption is so strong that volcanic lightning occurs.When rock fragments, ash and other particles in a volcanic plume collide, electrical charges are generated. I got goose bumps standing at the edge of the crater and photographing this beautiful display of the raw forces of nature and listening to the roaring of the volcano. Shot taken with 30 seconds exposure, at f4,5 with ISO 400. #fstopgear #explorer#nature_perfection #volcano #canon #wondersoftheworld #expedition #natgeocreative

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Apr 25, 2016 at 5:52am PDT

Ever dreamt of being close to a #volcano eruption? Better not having a photographer with you. :) When Tavurvur in #papuanewguinea exploded, I told my friend not to move, so I could capture the trails of the lava with a 30 second exposure. #natgeocreative #canon #wondersoftheworld #photographer #bestoftheday #explore

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Feb 24, 2016 at 3:11am PST

Another one of my favourite images is this one of the Tavuvur volcano in Papua New Guinea. To show the path of the 1200 degree hot lava bombs, I choose an exposure of 5 seconds. #natgeocreative #explore #bestoftheday #wondersoftheworld

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Feb 18, 2016 at 1:59am PST

15 years of dreaming, 5 years of trying, 5 weeks of waiting and finally 35 hours of good weather were needed to take this shot. What do you think-was it worthwhile?

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Oct 14, 2015 at 2:00pm PDT

Our #engagement happened inside an active #volcano in #vanuatu. This picture was taken by Basti with a tripod and remote control during this occasion. Do you think it's hot? ;) And today, it's already our 4th #weddinganniversary!

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Sep 23, 2015 at 11:36am PDT

The Nyiragongo Vulcano in Congo erupted in 2001 and burried the entire city of Goma. 120 000 people became homeless. #ash#natgeo#naturephotography#photographer#glow#colours#natgeocreative#explorer#expedition#exploring#fire#congo#nyiragongo#canon#canonexplorer#congo#dark#light#nature_perfection#sparks#smoke#smoking#nationalgeographic#natgeotravel

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on May 3, 2016 at 8:50am PDT

My ten favorite images as prints? Somebody who saw me in the Talking Show DAS! im NDR Fernsehen ordered them. I love his challenging question! I picked this image as one of them. It was taken during our Honeymoon at the Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano on the planet, in Chile. We often had bad weather, up to -20 ° C, and spent 4 weeks of in separate sleeping bags….Wouldn't you want to have a honeymoon like this? ;) This was the first night of an actual sunset, and the next day, the weather was good enough and we could summit…. :) What do you think?

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Feb 11, 2016 at 11:47pm PST

#selfietime : Not only the camera needs a clean up after being sandblasted by the ashes of the #yasur #volcano ! At least, my teeth are still clean…. ;) It was my worst night ever at Yasur- the storm was so strong, I had to sit down not to fall into the crater, the gases were so dense, I could not breeze and the ash particles being blown by the storm were hurting my face, not to talk about my eyes. Why do it? #becauseican!!! And because it was simply amazing volcanic activity. And also, because I like to spend moments like this alone with nature and the elements. #getyourbootsmuddy #liveyourstory #dontdreamitdoit

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Jun 20, 2017 at 1:13am PDT

What an adventerous week at Ambrym Island in Vanuatu it has been! Now, I am looking forward to the next adventures with #ngstudentexpeditions and #natgeotravel in #australia

A post shared by Ulla Lohmann (@ullalohmann) on Jul 9, 2014 at 7:56am PDT