Fire Mountain

Marum, Vanuatu.

At times, sound recording can be downright uncomfortable. I've worked in everything from mosquito-infested rainforests to finger-numbing Siberian winters. 

Last summer, I spent 3 weeks on the idyllic South Pacific islands of Vanuatu for a new BBC series, Kate Humble: Into The Volcano. Part of the trip involved camping on the rim of an active volcano. Climbing up wasn’t too bad, but the real challenge came after we arrived at the summit. When we weren’t enveloped in clouds of sulphurous gas, or showered by acid rain, we were blasted with needle-sharp shards of volcanic glass called Pele’s hair. Our filming kit rapidly corroded in the harsh environment, and brand new climbing equipment deteriorated within days. And yet, despite all the obstacles the volcano threw at us, it remains one of the most mesmerizing places I’ve ever visited. At night, the glow of the active lava lake illuminated the gas cloud above and the constant roar of the lava boiling away was just spellbinding. 

This photo shows presenter Kate Humble & climbing expert Tim Fogg descending into the fiery cauldron, accompanied by the most terrifying sound; a deafening cacophony of jet-engine, waterfall, avalanche and thunderstorm. Truly out of this world.

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