Mining Brimstone

Mining Brimstone

Photograph by Alexandra Boulat

Gathered from the crater of an active volcano on Java, slabs of sulfur weighing more than a hundred pounds (45 kilograms) fill a miner’s baskets. Up and out of Ijen Crater, then downslope for seven and a half hours to a factory, each worker delivers his load using nothing but his own muscle power.

Photo Fast Facts

Camera: Canon EOS-1N Film

Type: Unrecorded

Lens: 17-35mm Canon zoom Speed and F-Stop: 1/60 @ f/4

Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy

Time of Day: 8 a.m.

Lighting Techniques: Natural + 81B filter

Special Equipment or Comments: I had spent three days shooting the sulfur miners. Because of the sulfur acid, one camera broke down—the acid damaged all the copper contacts. To protect myself from the sulfur smoke, I wore a gas mask, but the miners did not.