Owakudani is a volcanic valley with active sulfur vents and hot springs in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It was created around 3000 years ago, as a result of the explosion of the Hakone volcano. Although it is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and kuro-tamago a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs, most of the area is only accessible by the maintenance team.
Marie Blampain is a French conceptual photographer born in 1992 in New Caledonia, currently based in Mexico. Her photographic practice is primarily studio-based, where she constructs images using the body, color, and space to question our perception of reality. Her work explores photography's ability to shift the way we perceive familiar situations, revealing the richness of experiences that often go unnoticed in everyday life. Her work has been exhibited in France, New Zealand, and Mexico and two images are part the collection of Palais Galliera in Paris.