Dusk eruption of Gunung Semeru Java Photo

Photographer’s Note

Semeru (3760 metres)is the highest mountain on Java. It is in the same group of mountains as Bromo of which there are numerous photos on this site. Semeru is frequently photographed as the large peak puffing away in the background of many Bromo photos.
The climb to the summit of Semeru is a 2-3 day walk. The mountain stages minor eruptions (like in the photograph) every 20 - 40 minutes. The photo was taken in late afternoon and simply involved walking from the campsite at the base of the climb to the summit around to the west so that the sun was at my back, then waiting for the eruption to start. The most striking aspect of the photo is the colour caused by the almost perpendicular rays of the sun hitting the cloud of dust and steam escaping a couple of thousand metres into the sky from the crater.
While it is a pity that the wide angle zoom "flattened" the superb conical summit of the mountain, the photo typifies the fact that Indonesia sits in the middle of the "Ring of Fire". The many spectacles presented by the landscapes, the festivals and the people of Indonesia never cease to truly amaze me.

Gregtom, alainh, supereira, bazal, DaveLarson, Fredrik77, gilbriones2002 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kinginexile (2440) 2004-11-13 3:12

Welcome to TE, Campbell.
Quite a sight, like an outcropping growing out of the mountain, it looks so solid. the light and sharpness with which you caught this moment is a real treat for the eye.

justa (0) 2004-11-13 4:46

Good composition, very interesting, beautiful colours. I like it. Well done.
Welcome in TE, good luck!

ceky (2326) 2004-11-13 5:24

Once again, an impressive and beautiful "puff" of Semeru ; may be you have already seen the other picture of bibiweb (here)

retesh_gondal (173) 2004-11-13 5:32

wow must be spectacular seen...nice shot

alainh (35399) 2004-11-13 7:48

Bonjour Campbell,
impressionante et belle photo.
la lumiere est superbe. On se sent tout petit !
amicalement
alain

Ebbe (9595) 2004-11-13 8:01

Very fine use of the evening sun Campbell. Not only on the smoke, the rippled pattern of the mountain is also well brought out. I would like to crop a little more on the bottom.

ANd very welocome to us, bring more of this kind!

supereira (9576) 2004-11-13 10:05

Hi Campbell!
Welcome to TE!Very interesting shot!I like the composition and the framing.Very good colors and good contrast between them.I like it a lot!Great job!

alimo3 (6826) 2004-11-13 19:09

Helo Campbell,
first picture and a good one from you
subject and colors are powerful.
thanks for sharing and welcome to TE !

Tom

centurion (0) 2004-11-23 1:10

Fantastic capture right in moment of this eruption here. Great work Campbell.

bazal (7898) 2004-12-03 5:04

Very impressive eruption, most of all when you know how explosive can be the volcanoes located in this part of the world. Light and colors are great and the comment is interesting. Good contribution !

DaveLarson (798) 2004-12-05 7:46

Wow. I see that u posted this a while ago, but what an "explosive" start u made on TE, Campbell. A remarkable shot - the colors, texture, and composition...superb.

Dave

entrelec (8342) 2005-10-25 3:13

Hi Campbeell
This picture reminds me my climbing two years ago, great, but no camera, so no pictures.
Your is nice, what color for the smoke!
Joel

gilbriones2002 (930) 2005-12-16 8:05

this photo is wicked, great depth and sharpness, wow is all i can sy.

yogi32 (801) 2006-02-04 11:07

wow, super photo

budhiprayoga (0) 2008-09-03 12:51 [Comment]

Show Comment

popsick (235) 2009-07-27 6:03

Hi Campbell,

Nice moment you've got here.. and the colour of that cloud of dust is fascinating..

so you had visit my country ;)
when you were in Maluku, did you visit Ternate (North Maluku?)