"Mt Pinatubo Eruption" Photo

Photographer’s Note

This was the day before the night I thought I was going to die,drinking 1.5 bottle's of barcardi rum in a
bar lit by candle light with staff asking are we going to die, was I scared, you had better believe it.

In the twentieth century, this (1991) eruption was second in size only to an eruption in Katmai, Alaska, in 1912. Ten times larger than the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, Pinatubo's eruption threatened the lives of a million people. A giant ash cloud rose 35 kilometers into the sky and hot blasts seared the countryside, but a more serious disaster was averted by timely, accurate warnings. Philippine authorities were able to evacuate 60,000 people from the slopes and valleys, and the American military evacuated 18,000 personnel and their dependents from Clark Air Base below the mountain -- thus saving many thousands of lives and an estimated billion dollars in property and making this the most successful case of volcanic hazards mitigation in history.

Taken with a canon sureshot and print scanned on my new canon printer/scanner,would love to have had my
now trusty Sony F707 for a bit of quality in the shot
but the old canon was all I had back then.

Albrecht, bibiweb, jhm, leo61, DuFrank, voyagenation, erdna, alford, vincent24, spence, pablominto, fayeulle, PixelTerror, sleon, papagolf21, LEA, feather, ChrisJ, tomaszmarcinek, Serendipity, neruda, MLINES, cimcim, IgorDeleze, robob, snowfalken, arturo, vinicio, touristdidi, Ulishna, danyy, Emiel_Skyfreak, danos, Emile, tomauer, leiju, scrubs has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Albrecht (11026) 2006-08-27 6:25

Hi IAn
An impressive sight;beautiful clouds comming from the eruption but dangerous too.....
- take care, Albrecht -

bibiweb (8) 2006-08-27 7:09

Hi Ian,
Not an outstanding quality, but defintely an impressive shot and surely quite a memorable one for you too! The presence of the bus at the bottom not only adds a pleasant red touch to the compo but also gives an idea of the size of this ash cloud. Your note is also very interesting.
Regards,
Brigitte

jhm (82421) 2006-08-27 7:11

Hi Ian,

What a picture this for fifteen years old image, splendid picture with a gigantic smoke column, what impressive picture, splendid of colours, you did very well take this moment!

Very well done,
John

leo61 (43398) 2006-08-27 7:16

Hi Ian!
Verry impressive shot and good quality for a 15 years old scanned image.Interesting diferent colors at the strange formed smoke column.
Regards,Leo

Buin (37572) 2006-08-27 7:19

Hallo Ian!
A incredible picture! At first, thank you for showing this!
The shown scenery is really threatening and the clouds are breathtaking. Good that you had the cold-bloodedness to take this picture! One of the most impressive at TE!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

DuFrank (150) 2006-08-27 8:49

I can't imaging how you must feel like to be a witness of such massive and life-threatening event. The photograph gives a pretty good idea of the scale of the event. I did a workshop on your image to get rid of the magenta/red distortion, but found out you don't allow workshops on this image. If you still want it just send me an email.

mrcrow (3989) 2006-08-27 9:38

well one cant critisice here for the street furniture..your note brings things into perspective..a question of life or death
thats a pretty damn good scan of a print btw
the power of the pyroclastic sources can be seen
you were more than lucky!
cheers
geof

voyagenation (1168) 2006-08-27 11:57

Hi Ian, an amazing shot for a decisive moment. I have quite forgotten how the images of
our Pinatubo eruption looks like. I myself recall that I was watching the beauty pageant
of Miss Philippines in PICC and after I came out, it was like snowing in Manila, people didn't
know what was happening all over the streets.

It was totally unbelievable driving over Manila with ashes falling on your windshield
and opening the wipers. I saw tons of snow (ashes) fall on Olongapo rooftops as shown
in the news the next day.

Pinatubo buried Central Luzon's rice graneries of Pampanga, Zambales, Pangasinan and
Nueva Ecija. Thus, making most of Pampanga a wasteland for at least the next ten years.

Kudos Ian, this is a great capture!

Mabuhay!
Raul

erdna (5348) 2006-08-27 12:41

This incredible and beautiful capture. You were there! This would have scared me to death too! I visited the site around it a year after and I have photos of the towns around it buried in ashes. This is a terrific shot!

Andre'

alford (3897) 2006-08-27 15:15

Hi Ian! Excellent catch! This is history you've recorded. I just graduated from high school when this happened :) I hope you were able to capture more shots aside from this! Just to capture the eruption itself is already priceless! rgds!

Fis2 (45725) 2006-08-27 15:15

Witaj Ian!
Intyeresting photo. Curious document. I like the frame and colours. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

vincent24 (9038) 2006-08-27 15:49

Hello Ian,
Very impressive!the clouds of cender look like a BIG MONSTER!!the street lamps gives a perspective and and idea of the scale...the quality's not so bad,what a souvenir for you...one and half bottle of rhum! :-//
regards,
vincent

spence (1679) 2006-08-27 19:07

Hi Ian. What an amazing shot - nature is awesome, no doubt about it. What an extraordinary experience for you. As for your shot, I really like the inclusion of the foreground detail which puts this event in a context, and especially the bus which provides a sense of "fleeing" from the danger. Glad you took this one BEFORE drinking your one and a half bottles of rum:)

[2]

Graal (57821) 2006-08-28 2:57

Hi Ian,
amazing and unusual document. Fantastic view, Good composition and colours. I like it. Well done photo.
Rgs, Aleksander

fayeulle (26543) 2006-08-28 3:11

Hi Ian
Very impressive shot. I would like to see this by myself (now, because you are alive !).
Just incredible.
Cheers (carry with barcardi...)
JP

pablominto (40578) 2006-08-28 3:27

Hello Ian,
This is an amazing photograph!
A bit faded in the colours but I don't mind so much, since the composition is fine and the action is well framed...
Above all you were there and being able to record this awesome event!
Great photojournalistic work!
Regards,
Pablo -

:-) BRB OK-

PixelTerror (86060) 2006-08-28 4:22

Hi Ian,
It must have looked quite impressive, looking at the cloud center I can imagine it, was there strong noise as well ?
scan is good, maybe you were at the widest already, otherwise you could have framed a bit wider to avoid cutting the bus on the bottom that is a nice add to this image.
Have a nice day,
jean-Yves

binita (464) 2006-08-28 5:18

good shot. the smoke is really terrifying.

partha (13657) 2006-08-28 5:32

Its awsome. I have not seen such a wonderful sky.It looks like a volcano.
Well done.
Partha

sleon (9352) 2006-08-28 11:36

Hi Ian
This must have been an impressive sight and an earth-moving experience! I would have been very frightened, and presumably there was a lot of noise and smell too? A great addition to TE.
Regards,Susanna

papagolf21 (56305) 2006-08-28 14:45

Bonsoir Ian,
Une photo qui sort de l'ordinaire, c'est le moins que l'on puisse dire. Image magnifique et terrifiante à la fois. Vous avez su saisir au moment opportun cette terrible éruption.
La qualité générale de la composition est superbe.
Félicitations.
Amitiés.
Philippe
P.S : J'ai regardé avec beaucoup d'intérêt votre album, vous avez du talent, Ian.

LEA (4821) 2006-08-28 15:31

Hi Ian,
Impressive and threatening view of this vulcano.
Good that you had the cold-bloodedness to take this picture!
Thanks for sharing

yesterday (9787) 2006-08-28 15:44

Once in a life time shot, excellent and beautiful cloud, great light in photo, good nature shot.

feather (49858) 2006-08-29 5:55

Make no apologies about the quality; this is what TE is about. This is an amazing photo of a sight that not many of us get to see. The shapes of the ash clouds are incredible. Very good work.
Kath

kabe (1998) 2006-08-29 15:26 [Comment]

Show Comment

capthaddock (28640) 2006-08-31 9:55

Hi Ian - WOOW, spectacular and potentially deadly, so lucky to have witnessed it and lived to tell the tale, thanks for posting this, one of the most eye popping shots I've seen lately.

verge (1239) 2006-09-01 2:17

wow! amazing catch of the pinatubo eruption, the cloud is like a dancing lady, well done....rgds

fmfelman (118) 2006-10-16 22:58

Beautiful capture of an amazing moment in history. I lived on Clark when I was working in the Philippines from 1999 - 2001 and although we did a trek up the lahar fields, I never made it up to the crater lake. This photo is one I've seen online in the past, but your commentary and details make it a much more worthwhile photo for me. The point at which you captured the erruption is fantastic! Great shot!

ChrisJ (70165) 2006-11-04 10:34

Hi Ian

Incredible! It looks even more fearsome than Hiroshima in August 1945!

gramma (3519) 2006-11-11 12:37

Hello Ian,

Very impressive and terrifying photography ! Thanks for sharing.

Christophe

Serendipity (1045) 2007-01-25 8:38

Hi Ian,
c'est une image très impressionnante que tu nous fais partager ici. Je pense que c'est l'expérience qu'aimerait vivre tout reporter-photographe. Grandiose et terrifiant à la fois ! TFS.
Regards.
Marc

neruda (4626) 2007-02-14 13:04

Hi Ian,
Great take a shot, it is like monster.
Congrats.

Jeweller (4) 2007-02-17 8:02

Great shot and excellent story. Thanks for sharing.

qpochet (1378) 2007-02-17 8:08

Hi Ian,

Impressive view of that eruption. Wonderful dust or ash clouds that make us feel the your position was not really "peaceful". Excellent note as well. A decisive moment for sure.
Well done!
Quentin.

placombe (7187) 2007-02-23 16:19

Hello Ian
Fantastic and scary at once, this historic photo could be used as well in a geography course in the future thanks to your alertness and your camera.
Pierre Lacombe
Canada

MLINES (10872) 2007-02-23 16:29

Hi Ian. Very dramatic moment to capture. Your story makes it even better putting the facts about your personal experiences. I flew past a while after this and the pilot said we had to divert from the usual cours to avoid this tall cloud you mention.Good clarity and perfect POV. Amazing and TFS. Murray.

cimcim (3706) 2007-02-27 5:05

Hi Ian,
Unbeliveable photo! I can imagine how you scared!
Photo quality is very good for 15 years before.
TFS
Aycin

colinb (1534) 2007-03-03 20:21

This is just amazing. A really astounding capture considering the circumstances. Thanks for sharing!

edal (6569) 2007-03-04 15:39

Hi Ian!
Thank you for sharing this great phenomenon capture from your archives! In addition to the greatness of the sight, I can only add that the quality of the shot and the scan are amaisingly good!
Anton

IgorDeleze (9247) 2007-03-05 3:49

Hello,
Terrible shot!
A really impresive picture!
Greetings.
Igor

robob (3640) 2007-03-11 13:02

Hello Ian,
C’est une image incroyable et spectaculaire. J’image que l’on doit prendre ses jambes à son cou en apercevant une telle menace ! Félicitations !
Amicalement,
Robert

snowfalken (1108) 2007-03-13 9:26

Hello Ian,

It's so difficult to chose a photo from your gallery to critique! They're all so beautiful! I chose this one, not for its quality but for the great impact it certainly has. You captured a very impressive phenomenon! I bet there weren't many people spending their time taking pictures during those times.
The composition is very good! You used a low horizon line to have plenty of space above for showing this monster. I just wish the street was visible even in the foreground.
I wouldn't worry about the quality of the shot since you captured excellent details in the ash cloud and this is the most important object in the picture. Anyways, this is something you don't see every day, not even on TE! Great job, even if using a point-and-shoot camera. The photographer takes the picture not the camera. :-) Thank you!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

arturo (31) 2007-03-20 16:43

Hi Ian,

this is for sure not an image one comes across every day...this is a giant...worth every drop of bacardi rum...as your note clearly says you should consider yourself lucky to be alive;-)...cheers, arturo

vinicio (22370) 2007-04-11 7:58

Amazing and terrifying view Ian, great image indeed, compliments, the scenery is like apocalypse, thanks of this image.
Ciao
Vinicio

archimatica (13262) 2007-06-08 8:04

Hi Ian.
What an amazing shot!
A incredible picture.
Regards
Renzo

Orion90 (75) 2007-06-28 16:27

no doubt you would be scared
it must have been on incredible sight seeing such a thing in your lifetime
but its good you had your camera, now people will slightly be able to understand what you feared.
amazing shot none the less

touristdidi (8561) 2007-06-28 17:01 [Comment]

Show Comment

Gierlinski (940) 2007-08-29 6:56

Hi Ian,
Volcanology is one of my true interests. I would like to work on the hazard monitoring one day...
Now this is a fantastic example of a plinian eruption.
Great lens -like clouds are formed (altocumulus lenticularis) due to a upward air-mass movement.
SPECTACULAR.

Plinian eruption
Plinian eruptions are large explosive events that form enormous dark columns of tephra and gas high into the stratosphere (>11 km). Such eruptions are named for Pliny the Younger, who carefully described the disastrous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This eruption generated a huge column of tephra into the sky, pyroclastic flows and surges, and extensive ash fall. Many thousands of people evacuated areas around the volcano, but about 2,000 were killed, including Pliny the Older. (after http://volcanoes.usgs.gov, 2007)

Thank you for sharing. One of the best here...
Kind regards,
Michal

barrufeto_77 (25783) 2007-09-19 0:33

Hi Ian.

Amazing moment!!! It's great how you caught the eruption.

Well done!

Ulishna (2246) 2007-09-19 0:37

Hello Ian,
wonderful and rare photo!
Very impressive moment.
Julia

danyy (68672) 2007-09-19 2:05

Bonjour Ian,
cela c'est de la photo, etre là au bon moment et prendre les risques pour immortaliser un tel événement.
Je ne peux que te féliciter pour cela.
Et en plus la photo est parfaite sur le plan technique.
Un travail époustoufflant.
Best regards.
Daniel.

Tibo (1842) 2007-09-19 8:35

Hi Ian... the shot is wonderful and the event quite... supernatural!! I am not sure weather I would be calm enough to make such a compo facing the event... Great Job!!Tibo

Stepan (27175) 2007-09-20 22:51

Wow, that's impressive.
The first thought I had was : how can you breathe ?
I just see here chaos and fury... Must be a strong experience. Thanks for sharing that.
Stéphane

jpphoto (465) 2007-12-18 4:20

très impressionnant le nuage superbe A+ jpphoto

Emiel_Skyfreak (2976) 2008-02-08 5:31

A very good photo journalistic capture. Reading the note was interesting and I can fully come into the facts, even that you we're scared as hell! The eruption seems as gigantic as it was on this photo, what a clouds..looks like a serious disaster. Just a bit right from the absolute center, an odd shaped cloud, this one looks like a discus/corona which can also be seen on the blast of atomic bombs. Look for some photo's of that on the internet and you'll see what I mean. Looks terrifying. Very good old catch, thanks for digitalising it!
Regards.

danos (32364) 2008-07-30 3:20

Hello Ian,
great snapshot of Mt Pinatubo eruption with this extraordinary cloud over it.Great moment for you to be there to shot this scene and to share it with us.Splendid!

Regards,Danos

Emile (19947) 2008-07-31 9:40

Hola Ian.
Very impressive shot with the amazing eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, very well captured.
A scary shot and you in the middle of all this. Good scanning work.
Well done.
Best regards.

blankar (797) 2008-09-18 14:11

Really nice sharpness, specially under the circumstances.

pally3100 (3073) 2008-11-01 0:50

Hello Wirraway (the name come from wwll australian aviation if i remember well)
very interesting picture where we fell the power of the nature near in form of an atomic explosion but in more... more powerful again . Thanks for the sharing
Friendly Henri Belgium

zahoor_salmi (2413) 2008-12-19 20:47

Excellent catch! This is history you've recorded.