This photographic scene shows a volcanic landscape sculpted by erosion, where the ochre earth contrasts with the reborn vegetation that is trying to reclaim its place. Small clumps of green shrubs, dotted with light flowering spikes, cling to raised blocks of soil, as if defying the gullies carved out by water and wind. In the background, the silhouettes of burnt trees, blackened and stripped of their leaves, bear witness to the fire, the sulphur and the previous passage of hot gases. It's a setting where each plant seems to sum up a long struggle against acidity, drought and volcanic dust storms. The hazy sky reinforces the raw, mineral character of this scene, just hinting at the distant presence of the Kawah Ijen crater. This image perfectly illustrates the fragile coexistence between the harshness of the terrain and the vitality of the flora, in an environment where the soil cracks, digs, splits and recomposes itself more quickly than on the plains. It's a powerful reminder that even on the edge of sulphurous craters, life rebuilds itself, slowly but stubbornly.
Passionate about photography, I travel the world in search of the most beautiful shots.
Currently in Thailand..
Read more…