The photographs in this series are all about the scenery along the Rio Tinto in Spain.
We were drawn to the extraordinary patterns and textures created by the continuous natural and historical pollution caused by mining upstream, going back to the Roman era.
Due to this, the water is very acid and has an orange to red tint in the dry season, while the colorful deposits of minerals and metals in mud and on stones give the scenery an otherworldly look that resembles nothing we usually associate with landscapes that we are familiar with.
Crazy River V
Mixed Up World - Where water is air and air is land...
Crazy River II
Crazy River VII
The cracked dry soil in the riverbed of the Rio Tinto is very colorful. The river winds all the way down from the mining area through Huelva province until it reaches the Andalusian coast in south of Spain.
The acidic water of the Rio Tinto drains rocks full of sulfide deposits. Its water carries high concentrations of iron and heavy metals, and supports microorganisms that can live in extreme conditions.
When the rains pour down, the water of the Rio Tinto dillutes and the colors fade away in a whirlpool of high rising water, debris and rocks.
The water of the Río Tinto is notable for being very acidic with a pH of 2 and its deep red color is due to iron dissolved in its water.
The land- and waterscapes of the Rio Tinto lend itself very well to experiment and search for abstract nature compositions.
