When a volcano erupts, most people want to get as far away as possible, but some people like German engineer Martin Rietze, on the other hand, grab cameras and try to get as close as possible and stay alive at the same time! Martin Rietze waits just long enough to see flaming hot lava and ash explode out of the nearby crater - and gets the perfect shot. He is a freelance photographer whose photographs of volcanic eruptions are in high demand with newspapers and magazines all over the world. He is one of a small group of volcano chasers. When a dorm ant volcano becomes active, they book the first flight to be as near as possible to it, set up camp and wait, sometimes for as long as two weeks. The final results are definitely worth it! When the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted Martin was already on the scene for some of his most spectacular shots. Martin says that he’s had more accidents when mountain climbing than volcano chasing, but that doesn’t stop him from taking precautions because this is a job where safety is a priority. Goggles and a gas mask provide protection from poisonous gases, but gloves are just as important because fresh lava can be as sharp as a knife. Volcano chasing is quite risky. As Martin admits, “One has to know when it is safe to come near and when it is a matter of survival to stay away - sometimes many kilometres away!