What drives the human spirit?
A sulfur miner in the Ijen crater pauses for a moment while resting on his digging bar.
On the island of Java, Ijen's crater lake has a high concentration of sulfuric acid.
The raw sulfur these miners carry out of the crater weigh between 160-180lbs (72-82kg). The bamboo flexes each time they take carefully thought out steps up the side of the crater.
Photographing others doing what I consider to be extremely difficult tasks or in less fortunate situations is never easy. My initial motivation to visit Java resulted from seeing photographs of the sulfur miners of Ijen crater and Mt. Bromo which are both located on Java (Indonesia). I did not see the blue flame... saving that for another visit.
Photography has always been the catalyst that compels me to do the research and make it happen without regard to the ensuing hardships that follow. Carrying a respirator through India and Thailand before arriving in Jakarta was a calculated choice as I did not want to be without or stuck renting something that 100's of people have been gasping through. Without it, the time I'd be able to spend in the gas cloud would be diminished. Creating photographs once there is my way of being able to share and indirectly preserving what I know my mind is incapable of doing... remembering things at this resolution.
The physical hardship and danger of being down inside of Ijen crater is quite real. The chances of a rock-slide are high with so many loose rocks and bolders. The health tolls these miners pay is steep. The reward they get is dismal for they must start at 2am, make the trek up the outside of the mountain (about 2.5km) and then down into the crater to begin hacking out freshly solidified sulfur. The sulfuric gas cloud moves about at will enveloping you completely and then for a few moments you find yourself in a clearing. Using an acid rated respirator was not nearly sufficient to protect my throat and lungs from this gas. Some eye protection would be a great idea if you plan to go.
There are certain places that seem to draw us in regardless of ones stated purpose - sort of a collective curiousity. Take a Buddhist temple for example, you have tourists coming to see what goes on inside the temple and then you have others coming as Buddhists to give offerings and pray. (same could be said for all religious structures across all religions)
Near the base of the mining area, the gas is most concentrated and all anyone can do when it comes is hunker down, shut your eyes and wait it out as you can barely see a few meters in front of you. The molten sulfur is directed down chutes through these barrels where it then slowly solidifies. It's a beautiful orange color when molten. I listened to the labored breathing of this miner when he would sometimes hack and choke as he clenched a t-shirt in his teeth. I quickly learned from him that it's best to just stay put and wait till the thickest part of the cloud passes.
This is what I live for... seeing and sharing the rawness of the Earth and it's inhabitants. It's interesting to note that for me, the small incentive to share my previously unseen work on the Steemit platform proving to be the best catalyst to actually following through. Thank you to the Steemians who make this platform vibrant and such a positive place by contributing, curating and just sharing.
It could be said that the miners are compelled to work this dangerous job to earn a living and provide for their families, however, I understand that it's also an honor to do this work. If anyone can help elaborate on this it would be most appreciated!
All the images were taken with a Sony A7r along w/ a manual Olympus 21mm f3.5 (just before I bought the Loxia 21mm). That particular Olympus lens is now being used as a long term static time lapse lens at a building site I'm working on.
You talked about the need to use an acid rated respirator to protect your throat and lungs, as well as eye protection. I don't see the workers in your pictures using any kind of protection.
Is there a reason for that? Or is it sheer negligence that comes with having worked there all their lives?
Your pictures reveal the hardships some people endure all their lives, just to feed their families. And here we sit in our air conditioned rooms cribbing about little things that shouldn't really matter.
Thank you for capturing this, almost like a tribute to those people. Following you to be able to find your adventures on my feed.
I believe the world should see what goes on behind the scenes. Very few people can go to the bottom and still function, minus these miners of course, because that is where the sulfur is pooling. The use damp t-shirts and some have respirators that are Ok, but not likely enough. Interestingly, there were many enterprising blokes renting respirators to tourists for about what these miners make for 1/2 a days efforts. Essentially, if you showed up with 50 respirators, these miners could literally retire from mining and just rent out respirators.
Why don't they do it? I mean, renting out respirators? Is it expensive for them to invest that kind of money? It may not be for everyone, but at least those with health problems can continue making money this way. I've never traveled to those places, so I have no clue how they think and what pushes them to do what they do.
Those that have managed to get a respirator could either use to mine or simply stand around and rent it out to tourists wanting to go down and have a look. It turns out that it's more profitable to simply rent the respirators than to actually mine. Hence, the prevalence of the miners w/o a mask. (not only is it expensive, masks like these just don't exist in that area - they're bartered for or given by tourists that feel bad for them). I was asked to 'give' my mask to one of these guys - I laughed at him. I'd much prefer to give it to an actual miner who needs it.
wow...this is very true...it sucks sometimes to see how distructive our world is heading
yes, it's certainly something that deserves more thought and discussion!
It's sad those people who work in horrible conditions. This is the result of capitalism. Profit by any means. Elites do not care about human lives
The inequities are far too wide still... Indeed.
It's such a shame people in this world have to subject themselves to such terrible conditions in order to feed themselves and their families. I suppose from their perspective they are simply doing their job, but they should be better protected. Protective equipment should be provided for the workers.
Alas, this is like a frontier area where anything goes... the only thing that matters is what you can put on the scale at the end of the day... everyone is a freelancer. Much like the gold mining that goes on in Africa...
Great post, this is the kind of content I want to see more of on Steemit! 100% upvote!
Thank you @mweich - our world is full of a myriad of hidden treasures (so to speak).
I've not heard of this. It's truly wonderful and your post tells an unheard tale. Great pics as well 👌🏼
Thank you @nrajesh - just as most people have never seen the Mylapore kolam competition! Have you ever visited Hampi? Looking forward to going back one day (when it's cooler).
It is surprising you should mention a place close to my heart. Local Chennai-ite here!
No I have never been to Hampi. But it will be interesting to see and read about it in similar post like this - from you.
Yes, I saw that you were from there & I happen to have been at the event last Jan 2016 - I'll post some photos sometime!
Thanks for sharing this and shedding some light on this. Followed!
Followed you back as it's great to see other's perspectives/experiences in places I've been as well.