leicashot
Well-known
EDIT: No, I didn't drop my M9 in sulfuric acid....
Today I visited a place some of you are probably aware of or have seen before seeing it was a place James Nachtwey visited in his documentary. It's name is Mt.Ijen or Kawah Ijen to the Javanese living in East Java, Indonesia.
(Following words taken elsewhere - I'm lazy). Kawah Ijen is an active 8530 feet tall volcano in East Java, Indonesia. Inside the crater of the volcano lies the largest lake of sulfuric acid in the world (650 ft deep). Exquisitely beautiful visually, it is the site of a gruelingly labor-intensive sulfur mining operation. Here 200 miners collect and carry huge loads of pure sulfur as they trek up along a rocky 4 km path out of the crater, amidst clouds of noxious sulfur dioxide gas. They then climb down to the village at the base of the volcano unload, only to repeat the round trip journey again before the day ends. The miners will then sell the sulfur to the government for a small fee, equivalent to about five dollars a day. The government exports the sulfur, which is then used for bleaching sugar, producing fertilizers, black gunpowder, matches, insecticides, and fungicides and for vulcanizing rubber.
Here is an image of the beautiful site you see once you arrive after a 3km hike up hill.
- All with Elmarit 28mm V3
Now there are days I complain about my job, and on most I actually believe that my job is physically demanding. Well after witnessing the miners working on Ijen, my whole attitude has changed. These men number around 400, aged somewhere between 20-60 years of age make the trip up the crater, usually every second day, making up to two of these trips in return for approximately US$7.50 a trip.
Most of these men carry between 65-120 kgs of Sulfur rock on each trip, going through excruciating pain, and making the occasional rest stop along the way.
My experience here was short. While I am a photographer by living, I was there on a quick trip with my family in-law who are from East Java, so I was mindful not to turn this into a working documentary. I anticipated spending a few hours in the crater, but my trip was cut short when I was engulfed by a large amount of smoke that was forced into my direction by strong winds, and surrounded me for a duration of 10 minutes. During this time, I couldn't see even 2 feet in front of me, and was struggling to breath.
If you've seen 'War Photographer' you'll have a slight idea of what I;m talking about....now times that by 10! For the first time in my life I was worried for my life as I was gulping for air underneath my wet handkerchief, protecting my mouth and nose. My eyes began to burn as I occasionally looked up to seek help and a gap between the smoke, but it kept coming for 10 minutes straight.
- This was the storm coming at me, and within 30 seconds I was stuck.
Finally a break in the wind and a worker grabbed me, only to find himself, and I once again caught in another gulf of smoke. Luckily it subsided within a minute and we ran for higher ground. At this point I was so terrified from the trauma and suffering from eye pain and breathing difficulty I decided to call it a day and return to my wife, waiting for me up top. Boy was I happy to see her! Gotta admit, I'm a little embarrassed as many photographers have gone before me to this unique place and survived a day of shooting, but I just couldn't manage to recuperate after that experience, and still suffering from breathing and sight issues as I type this. Maybe I'll head back some other time for a week to make into a small feature if I can get enough courage back ;-)
- a quick portait of my savior while struggling to climb and get my breath back
The day before I took a few minutes to shoot the processing area where the rocks are broken down into material that's easier to transport and here are some of the pictures.
...and that was my day!
Today I visited a place some of you are probably aware of or have seen before seeing it was a place James Nachtwey visited in his documentary. It's name is Mt.Ijen or Kawah Ijen to the Javanese living in East Java, Indonesia.
(Following words taken elsewhere - I'm lazy). Kawah Ijen is an active 8530 feet tall volcano in East Java, Indonesia. Inside the crater of the volcano lies the largest lake of sulfuric acid in the world (650 ft deep). Exquisitely beautiful visually, it is the site of a gruelingly labor-intensive sulfur mining operation. Here 200 miners collect and carry huge loads of pure sulfur as they trek up along a rocky 4 km path out of the crater, amidst clouds of noxious sulfur dioxide gas. They then climb down to the village at the base of the volcano unload, only to repeat the round trip journey again before the day ends. The miners will then sell the sulfur to the government for a small fee, equivalent to about five dollars a day. The government exports the sulfur, which is then used for bleaching sugar, producing fertilizers, black gunpowder, matches, insecticides, and fungicides and for vulcanizing rubber.
Here is an image of the beautiful site you see once you arrive after a 3km hike up hill.
- All with Elmarit 28mm V3
Now there are days I complain about my job, and on most I actually believe that my job is physically demanding. Well after witnessing the miners working on Ijen, my whole attitude has changed. These men number around 400, aged somewhere between 20-60 years of age make the trip up the crater, usually every second day, making up to two of these trips in return for approximately US$7.50 a trip.
Most of these men carry between 65-120 kgs of Sulfur rock on each trip, going through excruciating pain, and making the occasional rest stop along the way.
My experience here was short. While I am a photographer by living, I was there on a quick trip with my family in-law who are from East Java, so I was mindful not to turn this into a working documentary. I anticipated spending a few hours in the crater, but my trip was cut short when I was engulfed by a large amount of smoke that was forced into my direction by strong winds, and surrounded me for a duration of 10 minutes. During this time, I couldn't see even 2 feet in front of me, and was struggling to breath.
If you've seen 'War Photographer' you'll have a slight idea of what I;m talking about....now times that by 10! For the first time in my life I was worried for my life as I was gulping for air underneath my wet handkerchief, protecting my mouth and nose. My eyes began to burn as I occasionally looked up to seek help and a gap between the smoke, but it kept coming for 10 minutes straight.
- This was the storm coming at me, and within 30 seconds I was stuck.
Finally a break in the wind and a worker grabbed me, only to find himself, and I once again caught in another gulf of smoke. Luckily it subsided within a minute and we ran for higher ground. At this point I was so terrified from the trauma and suffering from eye pain and breathing difficulty I decided to call it a day and return to my wife, waiting for me up top. Boy was I happy to see her! Gotta admit, I'm a little embarrassed as many photographers have gone before me to this unique place and survived a day of shooting, but I just couldn't manage to recuperate after that experience, and still suffering from breathing and sight issues as I type this. Maybe I'll head back some other time for a week to make into a small feature if I can get enough courage back ;-)
- a quick portait of my savior while struggling to climb and get my breath back
The day before I took a few minutes to shoot the processing area where the rocks are broken down into material that's easier to transport and here are some of the pictures.
...and that was my day!
Last edited:
gavinlg
Veteran
Wow, excellent reportage, I've gone and looked over the images a number of times. I'd love to experience that!
Requin
Established
What an experience! You'have made extremely impressive photos. Great.
benmacphoto
Well-known
Really great photos and write up.
Thanks for posting these.
Thanks for posting these.
MCTuomey
Veteran
thanks for taking the time to share, kristian. spell-binding story and beautiful photos.
tritiated
Well-known
Fantastic work - great story
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
How did the camera stand up to the situation?
All sounds horrendous.
Great photos though.
jesse
All sounds horrendous.
Great photos though.
jesse
randomm
Well-known
Thank you for sharing. Great photos!
naruto
GASitis.. finally cured?
fantastic. great storytelling with the images.
mgd711
Medium Format Baby!!
These images are fantastic.
leicashot
Well-known
More pics:
Added a few more pics so had to separate the pics due to reaching my 18 pic per post limit.
The surrounding area and it's inhabitants
- All VC Nokton 35/1.2 wide open
2.8
Caught this woman kicking a cat
Added a few more pics so had to separate the pics due to reaching my 18 pic per post limit.
The surrounding area and it's inhabitants
- All VC Nokton 35/1.2 wide open
2.8
Caught this woman kicking a cat
Last edited:
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
With Nachtwey images still in my head yours really catch up, nice work!
tensai
Established
Great compositions and tones - and showing the severe nature of the place.
Good you came out alright.
Good you came out alright.
leicashot
Well-known
The camera held up 100%, quite a bit of sulfur dust but thats it. Nothing enterred the camera and it functioned better than I did
I remember looking down at the camera during my ordeal and barely being able to see it sitting on my chest, and I was thinking to myself "If I die, I hope these workers don't take my camera - I want my best friend or daughter to have it"
Now that I survived, I'm thinking....Noct 0.95, but have no means of aquiring it, but it's definitely on my "to-do-list-b4-I-die"
Maybe just a Hex 60/1.2 if I can ever find one.
Gees I'm pathetic!
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Wow, and the batteries didn't run out either.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Superb photos ... they really convey the resolute attitude of the workers and the raw brutality of what they do for a living.
Thanks so much for posting these.
Thanks so much for posting these.
leicashot
Well-known
Wow, and the batteries didn't run out either.
By the time I reached my 'working' area I had only shot 5 images before being englufed in smoke, then it was pretty much over
But had 2 spares with me, just in case
leicashot
Well-known
Thanks, I'm glad everyone is enjoying them. Only wish I had more time there to make a more complete series as I didn't yet shoot any faces or shoot anything that evokes much emotion. Oh well, maybe next time.
