Alec Koroluk-Stephenson, Men of the mountains (TRAVEL 2024)

This trip was the first time overseas with a camera, which awoke my passion for photography. At first I used photography as a means of simply capturing moments, sights, and people - but as my relationship with my camera evolved, I used photography as a means of interacting and connecting with local people and communities on my travels. These photos were captured after spending a couple of nights in Indonesia near Tengger mountains, in East Java.. I found that a personal connection, be it a shared conversation, or even several drinks allowed for more personal and genuine shots. The men captured in this series start their work roughly 11pm, and guide people from the top of Pananjakan mountain for sunrise, down to the base and through the desolate sands until you reach the peak of Mt Bromo. Until the steepest part of the ascent, the men ride and care for the multitude of horses that can be seen on the trek and ride to the top. I spent several hours talking to these men, full of character and stories, who displayed a mix of ruggedness, hardness, isolation, but also kindness, community, and compassion.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.