Elle Leontiev, The Barefoot Volcanologist (SINGLE SHOT 2026)

ENTRY DESCRIPTION ‘The Barefoot Volcanologist’ This photograph was taken on the ash plains of volcanic Mt Yasur on the remote island of Tanna, Vanuatu—a tiny nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Phillip stands barefoot atop a volcanic rock bomb, wearing a donated lava-protection suit gifted to him by European researchers. Behind him, Mt Yasur smoulders, sending a dense plume of gas and sulphur into the sky. I met Phillip during my trip to Tanna. He and his community live at the base of the volcano in handmade tree houses perched high in the branches of ancient banyan trees. Living so close to an active pyroclastic volcano means daily earthquakes—tremors that shape every part of their lives. Since childhood, Phillip has been captivated by the volcano. Through curiosity, courage, and lived experience, he has become a self-taught volcanologist respected by internationally recognised scientists, despite living in relative poverty. They call him the “Barefoot Volcanologist” for his habit of hiking the active crater without shoes. When he first showed me the lava suit, a treasured item he received during a visit to another volcanic island, Ambrym, he offered me the rare opportunity to photograph him wearing it. This portrait captures Phillip in his element—calm, grounded, and deeply connected to the volcano that has shaped his identity, his community, and his life’s purpose.

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