In the heart of Guatemala, a land unknown to me, reshaped my perception of nature.
In the spring of 2018, while travelling across Latin America, a dear friend’s whisper led me to this hidden gem. With modest expectations, I embarked on this journey that later would forever carve itself into my memory.
A hiking tour up Volcan Acatenango initially failed to ignite my spirit. Having trekked through lofty altitudes in Cusco, La Paz, and Uyuni, I felt prepared. Little did I know that reality soon would humble me.
Ascending from 2,500 to 3,700 meters on that first day, self-doubt shadowed each step. The steep, treacherous terrain drained me of strength. Exhaustion wore at my core.
Yet, from our campsite, a mere kilometre from us, the vision of Volcan de Fuego, or Fire Volcano in English, erupting in a dazzling dance, nature’s fireworks, took away all my misery from the hike. Throughout the night, its rhythmic eruptions pulsed like a primal heartbeat, making it impossible to divert my gaze.
The next morning, we embarked on an even steeper ascent towards the summit. The unforgiving terrain pushed my body and spirit to their limits. Doubts clawed at me once more. Yet, after an hour of relentless struggle, we stood atop the peak. As the sun adorned the sky, silhouetted volcanoes painted a breathtaking panorama. Volcan de Fuego, with its majestic eruptions, captivated us all.
This journey, one of the most demanding, granted me the honour of witnessing and capturing nature’s unbridled power. The image stands as a tribute to my unyielding journey and a testament to the enduring spirit of nature’s artistry. I am deeply honoured that it was awarded by the head curators of 1x.com, the world's largest online curated photo gallery.
My heart sank when news reached me of a devastating eruption at Volcan de Fuego weeks later.
The image will be printed on Hahnemuehle's Fine Art Paper with pigmented inks to create an elegant yet fantastical mood. It also has a 7.5cm wide white border around it (i.e. the actual image size is 59.1cm x 105cm).
This is a Limited Edition, and only 88 prints will be produced. Every print is made after ordered. It takes 2-3 weeks.
