MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – (August 22, 2022) – Photography management and sales platform SmugMug just launched a new entry in their award-winning SmugMug Films series. Titled Where the Fire Is, the film features extreme nature photographer Mike Mezeul II as he attempts to document one of the world’s most active volcanoes—Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala.

As a self-described “extreme nature photographer,” Mezeul has built his life and career around daring to capture the shots that others won’t. From supercell storms to active volcanoes, his photography puts him in risky and sometimes downright dangerous positions in order to capture the power of nature at its most volatile.

Mezeul found photography at a young age, discovering an early love of the sky and all it had to offer. “As I began to capture the sky with my photography, I wanted to see and experience more of it,” he says. “Not just the pretty sunsets. I wanted to feel the power that was above my head.”

Soon he was right at home in front of some of the most powerful storms on earth, and braving danger became second nature. It was only a matter of time until volcanoes were calling his name. 

In his SmugMug Films debut, Mezeul packs up with a hardy crew of Guatemalan locals to document Volcán de Fuego, a volcano that has been regularly erupting since 2002. Combatting elevation, the weather, and unpredictable eruptions, he braves it all to capture images unlike any other.

“Besides having a deep and understanding knowledge of your subject, you’ve gotta be willing and able to put yourself and keep yourself in some of the most uncomfortable positions ever,” Mezeul says of his work. “When others are running and seeking shelter, your feet are firmly planted on the ground, and your mind and camera are ready to tell a story.”

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