Geothermal and Volcanic Beauty

This feels epic, almost painterly. The photo is intense and and it creates a strong emotional impact which is what drew me to it in the first place. The ridge lines on the left form strong leading lines to the eruption. The foreground rocks add depth and scale. A winning image. Thank you for the submission.

Perhaps not a typical choice for the top 10, but I can't help being drawn to this chocolate river. It embodies the theme of the contest and adds a different narrative. The warm neutral tones are eye catching and the droplets really make the image "pop".

This is a strong. intimate study of lava in motion. I love the way instead of using epic scale it delivers impact through texture and contrast. The glowing fissures against the cooler crust create a powerful visual.The central lava vein acts as a natural focal point. It draws you in to the image. Thank you for the submission.

I have had a soft spot for this image since I first saw the submission. This photo is ethereal and almost abstract. I love the way it looks more like fine art than a documentary landscape. I have enjoyed revisiting this image over the judging period. Thank you.

This is the type of image I had in mind when I created the contest. The Red and black is inherently dramatic and primal when well done as this photo is well done. The lack of empty black space has ensured the impact of the lava wasn't weakened. Thank you for the entry.