KEVIN BENCKENDORF
Waiting to Strike “Gold”

At Kawah Ijen Volcano in East Java, Indonesia, men spend long, laborious days mining for “Devil’s Gold” in this uniquely sulfur-rich environment. This series shows how the miners remain close to the deposits in anticipation of extracting sulfur, and the arduous journey of descending and ascending, descending and ascending all day to earn a living for themselves and their family. After a steep walk down into the darkness and billowing sulfuric clouds, I emerged upon the sight of a dozen men in search of their day’s pay. I snapped the photos in this series after obtaining permission from them, aiming to capture the nature of this work as the sun began to rise and illuminate the unfolding scene.

BACK TO GALLERY