23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The Weight of Survival

At the Kawah Ijen volcano in East Java, Indonesia, a miner carries baskets filled with solid sulfur up a steep trail from the crater. Each load weighs up to 80 kilograms and is transported through toxic fumes and scorching terrain. The photograph reveals the harsh reality of this dangerous work; a daily struggle for survival and dignity amid the beauty of a volcanic landscape.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Lcin, Indonesia
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Marcello Perino