Rising from the center of Réunion Island, this massive and highly active shield volcano offers some of the most dramatic landscape photography in the Indian Ocean. The stark, otherworldly lava fields, collapsed calderas, and steaming vents create a scene unlike almost anywhere else on earth. From the Pas de Bellecombe viewpoint, you get a sweeping wide-angle look down into the Enclos Fouqué caldera, best captured in the soft light of early morning before clouds roll in, which they often do by mid-morning. If conditions allow and the volcano is not in active eruption, hiking down into the caldera puts you among hardened lava formations that reward macro and wide perspectives equally. A 16-35mm lens handles the scale well, while a longer focal length picks out texture in the lava flows. Check eruption status before visiting, as access to the caldera is regularly restricted for safety. (Réunion National Park, Réunion Island, France)
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