10-Minute Long Exposure

I am student, and I am teacher.

At every moment, to all around,

I hold the opportunity both to teach and to learn.

We are all guiding each other home.

I appreciate occasionally meeting a space for the first time in the dark. This allows senses beyond typical sight to become more called upon. I love the Trust and Surrender in this, too—the realms in which I’ve always loved to dwell.

Without being able to see much beyond each next step, I began walking along Two Medicine Lake’s edge. Listening to the ripples of the water dancing. Feeling the curves of Earth as it meets each foot. Propelled by a yet unknown.

Until I stopped at what had called me. Beyond vision or thinking, simply intuitive unfolding and trusting the universe’s knowing. I knew this rock would be the first image I’d release for my body of work. Before I could see any of the surroundings, I felt it.

As dawn began to unfold, I watched in awe as the rock aligned with the mountain above. There was this sense of a conversation between the two, a mutual listening and being with each other.

I set up my tripod, a 10-stop neutral-density filter, and a timer remote to create a ten-minute long exposure. The full processing of the image in camera would call for 20 minutes, so I knew I held one chance for this shot.

With just a whispering hint of what was before me, I felt NOW and pushed the button. Trusting the unknown of what was yet to come.

Across the next ten minutes, the scene became clear to my eyes, emerging along with the photo.

Long exposures offer a glimpse beyond our perception of “time.” If we could slow down to perhaps the pace of a mountain or rock, look at how different the same world appears. Softness everywhere. Movement becomes stillness. Water reflects like a mirror. Clouds breathe. More light pours in.

A window into the truth of timelessness…

Sunrise at Two Medicine Bow Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Limited Edition

© Kaya Satori of Satori Studio