# Photographer Dies Capturing Mt St Helens Eruption

> Robert Landsburg died photographing Mt St Helens eruption, saving his Nikon F2 camera.
- Title: Photographer Dies Capturing Mt St Helens Eruption | Shortify
- Summary: Robert Landsburg died photographing Mt St Helens eruption, saving his Nikon F2 camera.
- Keywords: robert landsburg, mt st helens, nikon f2, photography, volcanic eruption, national geographic, Photographer, Dies, Capturing, Helens, Eruption, Digital Camera World
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/photography/photojournalism/its-amazing-that-this-camera-survived-a-volcanic-eruption-forthcoming-documentary-tells-the-valiant-yet-tragic-story-of-a-photographers-last-act
- Published: 2026-11-02T18:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: robert landsburg, mt st helens, nikon f2, photography, volcanic eruption, national geographic
## Eruption Details
On May 18, 1980, Mt St Helens erupted at 8:32 a.m. PDT, sending a pyroclastic flow at 670 mph and 800°F.
## Photographer's Final Moments
Robert Landsburg, a Portland photographer, shielded his Nikon F2 camera with his body as pyroclastic flow approached.
## Camera Survival
Landsburg rewound his Kodachrome 64 film, placed the camera in his bag, and lay on top to protect it from the blast.
## Family Tribute
Jill Dutchess, Landsburg's niece, said his camera survived the eruption with ash inside the lens.
## Post-Eruption Discovery
Seventeen days later, Landsburg's body, camera, and film were found, with images published in National Geographic January 1981.
## Key takeaway

Robert Landsburg died photographing Mt St Helens eruption, saving his Nikon F2 camera.