WATCH: Photographer captures rare phenomenon of lightning inside volcanic eruption



SAKURA-JIMA, Japan --  A German photographer says he has captured phenomenal images of lightning striking inside a volcanic eruption.

"Volcanic lightning during eruptions of Sakura-jima in Japan," wrote Marc Szeglat on Youtube. "The video footage of the lightnings was made from a composition of still photos. You can see an explosive eruption with visible shock wave, too."

Volcanic lightning is a rare event.  Discovery News explained one theory about how it is created: