Grace & Tristesse above the Tajogaite Volcano
Traces of an Volcanic Eruption
La Palma 2022
One year ago, on a sunny Sunday in September, the latest volcano eruption haunted the west side of the Isla de La Palma with a huge bang. The following 86 days were marked by horrific noise, unstoppable streams of lava and tons of black ashes raining down on the people and their farmlands. Desperate uncertainty while the lava made their way through several villages, destroying thousands of houses while hundreds of earthquakes shattered the island. Yet this eruption was one of the most natural events happening on La Palma and the Canary Islands. The volcanic origin is ubiquitous and reason for the impressive landscape the islands are famous for.
In may 2022, when I visited the island, the famous LP-301 road opened for the first time since the beginning of the eruption. A good chance to photograph the area of Llano del Jable almost exclusively in an untouched state. The plateau is located right above the craters on the east side of Tajogaite - the newly created volcano on the island. A truly natural impression of the covered tristesse and bizarre side effect to the disastrous lava fields in the valley.
It was exciting yet harrowing to be one of the first photographers in that area (except the scientists who made their observations before) covered with fine black particles of ashes, only being accompanied by two grajas - the typical mountain crows of La Palma. The smell of sulfur still being expelled by several craters of Tajogaite was perceptible and left obvious traces at the typical pine trees. It felt weirdly intimate and the vulnerability of the moment was a new experience compared to the usual wild and rough character of the island.
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Martin Lovekosi
