Modern Photos

Edge of Fire : A Moment Only Modern Gear Could Capture

On August 23, 2024, I found myself in a helicopter, buffeted by wind and ash, flying toward an active volcanic eruption near Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. I had just returned from a week-long photography expedition when I heard the news — and instinctively knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sitting beside the pilot in a violently shaking cockpit, I relied on my Nikon Z8 paired with the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S — a setup that truly justified its price. In the unstable light, swirling ash clouds, and constant vibration, the Z8’s cutting-edge autofocus system tracked erupting lava through a haze that would have defeated older cameras. The in-body stabilization and lens sharpness enabled me to compose clean frames mid-flight despite the turbulence.

I pushed the ISO well into high territory to maintain shutter speed and freeze the volcanic chaos — shots that would have been unusable with older sensors. Back on the ground, I turned to DXO PureRaw, which used machine learning to recover every ounce of detail while eliminating high ISO noise, producing clean, detailed files that held up to printing and publishing.

This image would not have been possible even a few years ago. From tracking autofocus through haze to producing usable high ISO files and utilizing AI-assisted noise reduction, this photograph is a testament to how modern gear and software don’t just make photography easier — they make the once-impossible possible.