German photographer Martin Rietze has taken a series of terrifying, yet breathtaking photos of a volcano eruption that happened recently in Japan.
The photos show the Sakurajima volcano in Kyushu erupting with great destructive force—spewing a rain of lava and volcanic ash—as well as generating flashes of lightning through a thick cloud of smoke.
According to the Daily Mail, Rietze is part of a group of volcano-chasers who seek out volatile volcanoes—braving huge electric storms and molten lava just to get the perfect shots.
You can check out more of Rietze’s photos by clicking here.
[via Martin Rietze]