Kamchatka's convoluted terrain, its brown bears and bubbling geysers are the show-stoppers of the Russian Far East. These ranks of smouldering, snow-capped volcanoes form a link in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'.

In this Wild West frontier region, off-limits to travellers until recent years, travel is undertaken on an epic scale, whether by six-wheel-drive truck, 22-seater military-style helicopter or by inflatable rubber boat. Ironically, much of the region remains protected by strict nature reserves reserved in Soviet times.

These images were taken with Nikon D200 (10 mpx) using RAW format, and are available for licensing.