Icelandic man bares all next to erupting volcano

When the heat is on, shedding a few layers might feel like the most natural response.

However, few would dare to do so in front of a crowd of onlookers, especially with a volcano erupting behind them.

Yet adventure guide Sveinn Snorri Sighvatsson became an internet sensation for doing just that during a visit to the Geldingadalur volcano in Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula.

The spontaneous striptease occurred as spectators gathered at the erupting site to witness the stunning volcanic display, which began last Friday.

Sighvatsson, a guide with tour company I Am Iceland, was asked to model Pit Viper sunglasses as a favor. He decided to kick things up a notch for maximum visibility.

'My friends and I were joking about nude photos in the lava field,' Sighvatsson tells Dinogo Travel. 'One of my friends is a photographer and mentioned these sunglasses, so I said, 'Get your camera ready, I'm stripping down.''

The photographer behind the shot was Norris Niman, who believed Sighvatsson was 'the perfect person for a photo in the freshly formed lava field.'

'A festival isn’t complete unless someone gets naked,' Niman adds. 'And of course, this one was no different.'

Total exposure.

However, pulling off a spontaneous photoshoot next to an erupting volcano wasn’t a simple feat, and it's not something anyone should attempt. In fact, visitors are warned not to get too close to the lava fountains.

'It felt like standing too near a massive bonfire,' says Niman. 'We had about a minute to get the shots, rotating around to avoid roasting either side, all while a crowd was watching.'

While his experience as an adventure guide allowed him to assess the risks and 'get in and out' quickly, Sighvatsson emphasizes that anyone without proper knowledge should stay on higher ground and avoid approaching the lava fields.

'People often don’t realize the gases present,' he explains. 'It’s safe to stay on higher ground above the volcano, but venturing down into the crater can be extremely hazardous.'

'A strong wind was blowing on Sunday, which directed the gases away, so we were fine staying near the lava field. But if there’s no wind, you absolutely should not go down there.'

Though the photoshoot lasted only a few minutes, hundreds of onlookers were present, and the moment quickly spread across the internet.

'This eruption is something extraordinary,' he says.

Sighvatsson and Niman seem to be relishing the attention from their fiery photoshoot, and while the sunglasses haven't stolen the spotlight, their anonymous friend is quite happy with the results too.

'He actually messaged me saying this was the shot he had been waiting for,' Sighvatsson says, who has returned to the volcano a couple of times in recent days.

'I’ve witnessed every eruption on the island since 1991, but this one is truly something special,' Sighvatsson adds.

As the crowds continue to flock to Geldingadalur, which remains active with lava flows, Icelandic authorities have established a hiking trail to manage the influx of visitors. The area is regularly patrolled to ensure everyone's safety.

'This is an ideal eruption for tourists,' said Thorvaldur Thordarson, a volcanology professor at the University of Iceland, in an interview with Reuters earlier this week.

'But with one important warning: don’t get too close.'