A daring photographer braved toxic smoke and perilous wildfires to capture these stunning aerial images and video of Iceland’s latest powerful volcanic eruption.

When Elliot McGucken heard that the Litli-Hrútur volcano was likely to erupt he booked a flight from his home in Los Angeles, California, to witness the stunning lava flows.

And as these breathtaking images show, Elliot and his drone got incredibly close to the action, capturing scenes which bear the hallmarks of a nightmarish hellscape.

With lava bursting from deep cracks in the ancient rocks, and hot lava spitting and flowing down the mountain on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, the trip was not for the faint-hearted. But the intrepid landscape photographer knew that he couldn’t miss the opportunity to use his skills to capture the awesome power of nature at its angriest,

He said: “The loud, whooshing sound of the lava fountain was as amazing as the sight of it.

“I work with zoom lenses and drones with zoom lenses, so as to keep a safe distance, and still the sounds and sight of the lava flowing was awe-inspiring. I also took some of the shots from a helicopter where we had removed the window so as to see more clearly.”

Legend has it that the Norse god Loki was tied up under the earth, from where he caused earthquakes.

The Litli-Hrútur volcano began erupting on the Reykjanes Peninsula about twenty miles south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on July 10, and shows no signs of abating any time soon.

Elliot added: “Twice I was turned around or diverted from the 20km round-trip-hike out to the fissure. And then, once I got the green light, I remained alert and aware of the changing situation including the shifting lava flow, winds, smoke, and gasses.

“In addition to the toxic gases from the volcano, there is also smoke from an ongoing moss wildfire which is continually being ignited by the lava, and again I saw folks being turned around on a distant path where the smoke was blowing.

“One must keep in mind that a volcano is not a theme park--it was not designed with human safety in mind. And what folks need to realise is that any risky behaviour puts others at risk, including those who may come to rescue them should things go sideways. And there is no guarantee a rescue would even be possible.”

When the volcano began erupting locals were not alarmed, as the area had been subject to earthquakes measuring between four and five on the Richter Scale for around a week.

Authorities have reported that the lava flow from Litli-Hrútur was initially stronger than from the two previous eruptions in the area, but that flow has now levelled out to a similar rate.

Since Elliot achieved his amazing images this week, the route he took has now been closed due to authorities battling a huge fire which was ignited by the lava.

Speaking about protecting his equipment from the intense heat, Elliot said: “Thankfully, the drone comes with excellent zoom lenses, so I took advantage of those.

“I had heard some stories of melted and lost drones. Also, I tried not to hover directly above the lava, where the heat would be the greatest. After three thirty-minute flights, my drone was fine.“

A daring photographer braved toxic smoke and perilous wildfires to capture these stunning aerial images and video of Iceland’s latest powerful volcanic eruption.

When Elliot McGucken heard that the Litli-Hrútur volcano was likely to erupt he booked a flight from his home in Los Angeles, California to witness the stunning lava flows.

And as these breathtaking images show, Elliot and his drone got incredibly close to the action, capturing scenes which bear the hallmarks of a nightmarish hellscape.

With lava bursting from deep cracks in the ancient rocks, and hot lava spitting and flowing down the mountain on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, the trip was not for the faint hearted. But the intrepid landscape photographer knew that he couldn’t miss the opportunity to use his skills to capture the awesome power of nature at its angriest,

He said: “The loud, whooshing sound of the lava fountain was as amazing as the sight of it.

“I work with zoom lenses and drones with zoom lenses, so as to keep a safe distance, and still the sounds and sight of the lava flowing was awe-inspiring. I also took some of the shots from a helicopter where we had removed the window so as to see more clearly.”

Legend has it that the Norse god Loki was tied up under the earth, from where he caused earthquakes.

The Litli-Hrútur volcano began erupting on the Reykjanes Peninsula about twenty miles south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on July 10, and shows no signs of abating any time soon.

Elliot added: “Twice I was turned around or diverted from the 20km round-trip-hike out to the fissure. And then, once I got the green light, I remained alert and aware of the changing situation including the shifting lava flow, winds, smoke, and gasses.

“In addition to the toxic gases from the volcano, there is also smoke from an ongoing moss wildfire which is continually being ignited by the lava, and again I saw folks being turned around on a distant path where the smoke was blowing.

“One must keep in mind that a volcano is not a theme park--it was not designed with human safety in mind. And what folks need to realise is that any risky behavior puts others at risk, including those who may come to rescue them should things go sideways. And there is no guarantee a rescue would even be possible.”

When the volcano began erupting locals were not alarmed, as the area had been subject to earthquakes measuring between four and five on the Richter Scale for around a week.

Authorities have reported that the lava flow from Litli-Hrútur was initially stronger than from the two previous eruptions in the area, but that flow has now levelled out to a similar rate.

Since Elliot achieved his amazing images this week, the route he took has now been closed due to authorities battling a huge fire which was ignited by the lava.

Speaking about protecting his equipment from the intense heat, Elliot said: “Thankfully, the drone comes with excellent zoom lenses, so I took advantage of those.

“I had heard some stories of melted and lost drones. Also, I tried not to hover directly above the lava, where the heat would be the greatest. After three thirty-minute flights, my drone was fine.“