Dominic Hall, The Miners of Mount Ijen (People and Portrait 2018)

In Eastern Java lies an Active Volcano where ever day local miners climb the 9000 feet up and another 3000 feet down into the crater where the open sulphur mine is located. The air reeks of toxic gas and tourists who go to witness the active mine and famous Blue Flames are issued with gas masks before the climb. The local miners rarely wear any more protection than a bandana tied around their faces, breathing in the toxic gas as they make the trip up and down the mountain as many times as they can. Often they will make the trip three or four times during the working hours from 2am to sunrise when the air is cooler. After the sun comes up the heat makes it too dangerous to work in the mine and carry their often 70kg or more loads. The mine has a record of incidents with the latest being a release of toxic gas from the volcano which shut it down for some time. The miners, who must work past the hoards of tourists on a thin and precarious goat track, are surprisingly upbeat and friendly and are often donated water, food and items like head torches or gloves from the foreign visitors. Watching the men work in these harsh conditions you can't help but wonder how long one could stand this work before the body gives in.

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