The images were captured by photojournalist Kirk Lee Aeder, 54, at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The collection includes incredible aerial shots of the Pu'uo crater and the Pacific island's beautiful lava fields. “My favourite thing about photographing Kilauea is simply the feeling, almost indescribable, of shooting an active volcano, often times at very close distances, in awe of mother nature”, Kirk said. “It makes you realise how insignificant we are as humans next to such a powerful force of nature, it's very inspiring. In spite of all of man's technological advancements over the course of history, volcanoes return us to our origins and beginnings”.

Fluorescent smoke emanates from the Kilauea volcano, in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)

Smoke pluming from the sea as lava from the Kilauea volcano flows into it, in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)

Lava from the Kilauea volcano flows into the sea at sunset, in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)

Smoke pluming from the sea as lava from the Kilauea volcano flows into it, in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)

A shot of Pu'uo crater, the main source of lava from Kilauea, taken from a helicopter in Kilaura, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)

An aerial shot of smoke pluming from the sea as lava from the Kilauea volcano flows into it, in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kirk Aeder/Barcroft Media)