Colima Volcano Is Nat Geo’s Travel Photo of the Year Michael Harthorne - Newser
go to original August 7, 2017

"The Power of Nature" led to photographer Sergio Tapiro being named National Geographic's 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year (Sergio Tapiro/World Press/)

In December 2015, photographer Sergio Tapiro spent 20 days lying in wait for Mexico's Colima Volcano to erupt, spending the nights in his truck or just a sleeping bag, National Geographic reports. Those long nights paid off for the photographer when he was named National Geographic's Travel Photographer of the Year last week.

Tapiro's winning photo shows an erupting Colima spewing ash into the starry night sky. A massive lightning bolt leaps between the ash cloud and the volcano. According to Quartz, the scientific reason behind the ash cloud's lightning bolt is still up for debate.

“This picture is a gift that nature has given to me,” Tapiro tells Nat Geo. “When I saw the camera display I was shocked - I didn’t believe it.”

Read the rest at Newser

Related: These Are the Stunning Photos That Won Nat Geo's Travel Photo Contest (Thrillist)

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