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Volcano's Rim
Brimstone collectors walk along the rim of Ijen Volcano's crater carrying heavy loads of sulphur, sometimes 70 kg and heavier, from vents inside the crater for use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, etc. Java, Indonesia.
Snowing Ash
Ash from a new eruption on Mt. Merapi accumulates like snow on coconut trees lining the highway from Yogyakarta to Magalang, Java, Indonesia.
Shanty Town
A shanty town resident lounging in his makeshift shelter built beside a highway that, further up the road, was swallowed up by the Sidoarjo mud flow. A mud volcano was unleashed by a blow out while there was drilling for natural gas in May 2006. His village is buried beneath the mud and methane spewed out from the mud volcano which is expect to last for another 30 years. Porong, Java, Indonesia.
Mass Grave
Markers for unidentified victims of Merapi volcano's worst eruption in over 100 years at mass burial site near Sleman, Java, Indonesia. The death toll from the volcanic eruption has risen to 324 people.
Flip Flops
Sandaled feet of a brimstone collector. Twisted feet from many years of descending into Ijen Volcano to collect sulphur and carry out the heavy load, sometimes over 70 kgs, from the crater on a precipitous trail wearing nothing but sandals. Java, Indonesia.
Burial
Volcanoes give life but they take life as well. Body bag laid out in a wet public mass grave: Attendants check shrouded body of a victim of Merapi's volcanic eruption who was prepared for burial too late to be interred in a coffin. Near Sleman, Java, Indonesia. The death toll from the volcanic eruption has risen to 324 people.
Brimstone
Collector of brimstone (sulphur) emerges with a heavy slab from the silent, noxious fumes inside the crater of Ijen Volcano. Java, Indonesia. He lives for weeks at a time inside the sulphurous crater.
Blanket of Ash
Woman enters her home which has withstood the weight of volcanic ash from Mt. Merapi's worst eruption in over 100 years coating it, but her breadfruit tree in front of the house has collapsed and been severely damages by the accumulated ash. Along the Yogyakarta to Magalang highway, Java, Indonesia.
Here are some more images from photographer James Whitlow Delano‘s documentation of Indonesia’s volcanoes, specifically Mount Merapi and its eruption one year ago this month. The captions are in his own words.
James shoots only film and almost always in black and white. The photographs you see in this issue of Trunk and in the slideshow above were first printed on paper and then scanned. James’ images have an inexplicable richness to them. We’re not sure if it’s in the metering, the processing, the printing, or the paper. Actuality, it’s all of the above.
Therein lies the difference between digital and analog photography. When shooting digital, you can control/account for lighting and make sure your exposure is spot on. The rest of the “look” or style is achieved on a computer in post production.
Whereas with film, you need to control and manipulate the light, the film itself, the processing, and the printing from start to finish. You can over/under-expose the film, push/pull when you develop–there are tricks and techniques that need to be adhered to rigorously every step of the way with film in order to achieve the desired effect.
This is one of several reasons why it takes guts to continue shooting with film. There’s a larger margin for error, especially since you can’t see how your shots and exposure are turning out, not to mention getting though airport security and x-rays today with film.
