You could call it a "self-timed photo". But "selfie" is the current slang, and a lot shorter. It's the same concept as taking a family photo including yourself.

Illumination of the "elephant's foot" seems to mainly come from just left of the camera, given its shadow on the background. So he probably stood there for a while, panning over it with his flashlight. And then he walked over, and stood next to it. But he was a little careless with the flashlight, and hit the camera some.

Also, the right side of the "elephant's foot" does seem to be flaming.