While road-tripping on the Pamir Highway a few years back, Øystein Sture Aspelund scouted out a small geyser in the mountainous landscape. Near a lake at about 4,000 meters above sea level, the spring periodically burst, producing short-lived formations that evoke mushroom clouds and paint splatters.

“I was really fascinated by these sculptures and how they appeared along with their remote backdrop scenery. I set my camera shutter speeds very fast, enabling me to ‘freeze’ and capture some of these sudden shapes,” Aspelund tells Colossal.

Set against the beige, craggy terrain, the photos document these fleeting eruptions, the individual water droplets suspended in voluptuous sculptures. Other than a few light corrections to the light and color contrasts, the images are relatively untouched, presenting the frigid jets and Tajikistan landscape with striking clarity.

Aspelund is based in Oslo, and you can find more of his portfolio on Behance and Instagram.