On a calm morning like this, I’m more than willing to give up the comfort of my warm bed for a chance to stand on the summit of Mt Ngauruhoe. The visibility was excellent – all the way to Mt Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty, 150km away.

The fresh snow and the crisp wintry air brought a sense of serenity, only to be interrupted by the crunch of my crampons and the hissing sound of the steam fumaroles.

– Zhi Yuen Yap

Camera settings: Olympus OM-D E-M5 with the 12-40mm 2.8 lens, ISO 200, F/8, 1/80sec.