Can You Feel The Sun by Bodhi Smith

Jan 22, 2021

"can you feel the sun?" a brand new impression and blog from me...
 
"i can feel the sun, though i can't see her. and just because she has disappeared for a little while, doesn't mean that i can't still feel her warmth and love reflected in everything i see...even through all this darkness of mine, can't you feel the sun too?" ― bodhinku, the beauty of silence   
 
"the sun shines not on us, but in us" ― john muir, the unpublished journals
     
"if you have love in your heart, you’ll see the sun’s bright rays wherever you may be—in everything, the sun can be seen through love, just like with the moon among the stars above" ― jalaluddin rumi, hush don't say anything to god 
  
"nature speaks to me as if i were her beloved son. the mountain tell me: you have my strength. the moon tells me: you have my power to reflect. the lake tells me: you have my peace and my calm.  the sun tells me: shine like me, go beyond yourself. listen"― paulo coelho, adultery 
   
"there has to be an invisible sun, it gives its heat to everyone. there has to be an invisible sun, that gives us hope when the whole day's done" ― the police, invisible sun   
 
"mindfulness gives us the power to understand our deep connection with the lake, trees, clouds, stars, sun and the moon" ― amit ray, world peace
 
"shine on me, sunshine. blow me from here, storm. with your fiercest wind, let me float across the sky. fall gently, snowflakes. cover me with white cold icy kisses and let me rest tonight. glow, sun, clouds, colorful sky, mountain, lake, leaf, stone, stars, moon. you're all that i can call my own" ― maya angelou, and still i rise
 
this first song is a new release from an alternative rock synth duo out of austin, texas. i really dig their music and have been following them for about 3 years now. and this new song of theirs, is such beautifully melodic song, sung so profoundly sad and hopeful at the same time, piercing me with its meaning...and not only is this song perfect for my blog today because it shares the same name as my new impression, but it's really the lyrics which bite into me hard, as i identify deeply with the words down into the fibers of my soul...i too am all alone here. by choice, it's a safer place to be. i'm scared to let anyone in, but hopeful maybe there's somehow someone somewhere. but my nights get longer and longer to the point where i'm becoming like the dark side of the moon. i can feel the sun, but can't see it's light, as the darker parts of me overtake and shadow my identity...there seriously couldn't be a better accompanying song to help connect music with the meaning of my impression and blog today: "can you feel the sun?" by missio ... (just click on any of the words in the blue links to listen to the musical selection)....

"below the willow tree is where i hide the darkest parts of me. they're hiding underneath the broken lies that i just still believe. below the willow tree is where i sit and hate on my enemies. i drown 'em in my dreams, i think it's me who needs some humility...i'm alone here, i'm alone here. i'm alone here, i'm alone here...can you feel the sun? i do, but i can't see it. can you feel the breeze? i don't, but i believe it. i don't feel safe when i'm not alone. and i know, and i know what you're thinking: i like it on my own. but i'll let you in if you say it's okay...below the willow tree i get hung up on my insecurities. rose-colored dopamine, my soul feels like it could be make-believe. below the willow tree, i search to find some sense of identity. this weeping willow tree sits in silence, sheds no tears for me...can you feel the sun? i do, but i can't see it. can you feel the breeze? i don't, but i believe it. i don't feel safe when i'm not alone. and i know, and i know what you're thinking: i like it on my own. but i'll let you in if you say it's okay...i'm alone here, i'm alone here. i'm alone here, i'm alone here...can you feel the sun? i do, but i can't see it. can you feel the breeze? i don't, but i believe it. i don't feel safe when i'm not alone. and i know, and i know what you're thinking: i like it on my own. but i'll let you in if you say it's okay...i'm alone for sure, i'm lost to the world"― missio, can you feel the sun?    
 
as an inspirational writer, and visionary author, and founder of "the goddess circle" website, c. ara campbell really strikes words to print that are now so very profoundly poignant and meaningful...her following quote here just fills me with reflective thoughts:  
 
"i wonder if you can seek asylum somewhere from the conspiring energies of the sun and moon? ...i give up....dropping my guard i give in; i don’t need the shields anymore, not where i’m going....where i tread forward, to the place of dancing openly with the unspoken as it makes its way into the light, i just don’t need all the masks. they would be unwelcome in the glaring brilliance of truth. the dress code for this party is bare, raw and naked...come what may, this is when i shall come undone" ― c. ara campbell 
 
"three things can not hide for long: the moon, the sun and the truth" ― siddhartha gautama buddha, the dhammapada
    
"your effulgence has lit a fire in my heart and you have made radiant for me the earth and sky...i have become your sunshine and also your shadow. i am in the house of mercy and my heart is a place of prayer at your feet"  ― jalaluddin rumi  
 
"and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you. here is the deepest secret nobody knows and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart. i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)" ― e. e. cummings, 100 selected poems   
 
"we must remember that the sun is a star, but not all the stars are the sun" ― munia khan
  
“you see only your shadow when you turn your back to the sun" ― khalil gibran, sand and foam  
  
"if you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the moon and stars" ― rabindranath tagore  
 
"when you just sit in silence the wind blows through you, the sun shines in you and you realize you are not your body, you are everything" ― anita krizzan  
 
"if i had a wish that i could wish for you, i'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while...sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. sunshine in my eyes can make me cry. sunshine on the water looks so lovely. sunshine almost all the time makes me high" ― john denver, sunshine on my shoulders    
 
"those gray clouds were always blocking out all his horizons...but in the midst of all the gloominess, even as the storm was raging, her sun rays all of a sudden broke through to him, her hopeful light glowed, she shined on his face, and as he turned towards her, arms raised up to absorb her directly, he sighed and smiled, she warmed his skin and soaked deep into his core, his heart pulsing her throughout his body, touching her light to his soul in a glowing prayer"  ― bodhinku, glowing   
 
"listen and hear the lesson we can see as silence repeats itself...sunshine is silent. the sun sets in silence. and in silence, the colors in the sky change while the clouds move across the sky in silence. and then the moon and stars appear in silence, to dance all night with the milky way across the sky in silence...silence is the most beautiful thing i know" ― bodhinku, the beauty of silence   
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MEANING
"i'm all alone here. by choice, it's a safer place to be. i'm scared to let anyone in, but holding faith maybe there's somehow someone somewhere. but my nights get longer and longer to the point where i'm becoming like the dark side of the moon. i can feel the sun, but can't see it's light, as the darker parts of me overtake and shadow my identity...but yet, some nights there's still that sliver of hope" ― bodhinku, can you feel the sun?   

pictured here is crater lake atop a mountain in oregon just after a heavy snowfall has left everything covered in a blanket of white. the sun has set, leaving behind its colorful afterglow as the crescent moon makes an appearance in the early evening sky...
 
i almost called this image "a sliver of hope" but did not wish for the meaning of the entire image to center around the moon itself, although my feelings kinda do when related to this impression...i instead chose the name "can you feel the sun?"...this title envelopes the entire image and ties it all together. plus, i wanted a set of opposite flowing words to that of one of my favorite beatles' tunes, "here comes the sun"...
 
the sunset is softly colorful, holding back the darkness of the encroaching night. the sky is still glowing with subdued yellows, oranges, pinks, and purple hues...
 
and even though the sun is not present, you can feel her in everything in the picture. you can feel her warmth radiating through the sky. you can sense her vitality in the pine trees. you can see her colors permeate the clouds and reflect subtly in the snow crystals and lake water...she is there, and there is everywhere...and though only most of the dark side of the moon is visible, you can see the sun in the moon, as a sliver of her light reflects off the surface of the moon and points towards her location below the horizon...
 
when the sun sets, the moon is the closest celestial body in the night sky that still sees her, follows her, and he selflessly reflects her light, so that we may all feel her glow...  
 
in my impression here, the darkness has taken over much of the moon, but still there is a narrow crescent of light from the sun, an sliver of hope reflecting brightness into the shadows of this beautiful wintery landscape, a lovely wonderland high up in the cascade mountains of the pacific northwest
 
i'm all alone here. by choice, it's a safer place to be. i'm scared to let anyone in, but holding faith maybe there's somehow someone somewhere. but my nights get longer and longer to the point where i'm becoming like the dark side of the moon. i can feel the sun, but can't see it's light, as the darker parts of me overtake and shadow my identity...but yet, some nights there's still that sliver of hope... 
 
also, as many of you know, i'm a self-declared oxymoron, and i love contrasting opposites. there are so many opposites i can feel in my impression...it's cold in the snow, but warm with the new blanket of snow. the wind is howling, yet with the new snow there's a tranquil silence, such a beautiful hushed quiet. as the sun has disappeared, the moon appears, with most of its dark side showing and only a sliver of light of the sun reflected back...a winter white darkness, with a sliver of hope shining through, bringing warmth and light...
 
i'm all alone here with my doggie. i'm so cold on the outside, but i'm warm on the inside. i can feel the sun, though i can't see her. and just because she has disappeared for a little while, does not mean that i can't still feel her warmth and love reflected in everything i see...even through all this darkness of mine, can you feel the sun too?
 
"only love can go beyond the moon and sun to behold the universe" ― bodhinku, nothing but peace
 
here is another tune...this song is very upbeat and happy, something i always find myself connecting to with the music of the beatles. and that positivity reflects the message of the song with the message of my impression here and blog, quite perfectly matching it. and this classical song from the 1960s manages at the same time to bring you good vibes while listening to it as you view my picture here, as they both speak volumes about hope and faith in the beauty of life, and in new beginnings...i like to listen to this song at the start of the new year as a great mood boost filled with hope of a refreshing new beginning: 
"here comes the sun" by the beatles ....and here too is a really great reggae cover as well to give a listen if you choose: "here comes the sun (the beatles cover)" by peter tosh ... (just click on any of words in the blue links to listen to the song)...
 
"here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun, and i say it's all right. little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter. little darling, it feels like years since it's been here. here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun, and i say it's all right...little darling, the smiles returning to the faces. little darling, it seems like years since it's been here...here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun, and i say it's all right...sun, sun, sun, here it comes. sun, sun, sun, here it comes. sun, sun, sun, here it comes. sun, sun, sun, here it comes. sun, sun, sun, here it comes... ittle darling, i feel that ice is slowly melting. little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear. here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right. here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun. it's all right. it's all right" ― the beatles, here comes the sun  
 
or if you so choose, here is a more somber song to give listen to, a beautiful love song, and every bit as meaningful and beautiful as any great love song every written: "sunshine on my shoulders" by john denver ... (just click on any of words in the blue links to listen to the song)...
 
"sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. sunshine in my eyes can make me cry. sunshine on the water looks so lovely. sunshine almost always makes me high. if i had a day that i could give you. i'd give to you the day just like today. if I had a song that i could sing for you, i'd sing a song to make you feel this way...sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. sunshine in my eyes can make me cry. sunshine on the water looks so lovely. sunshine almost always makes me high...if i had a tale that i could tell you, i'd tell a tale sure to make you smile. if i had a wish that i could wish for you, i'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while...sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. sunshine in my eyes can make me cry. sunshine on the water looks so lovely. sunshine almost all the time makes me high. sunshine...almost always" ― john denver, sunshine on my shoulders
 
"listen to the silent wisdom in the sound of sunshine coming down. the sun alone gives life to this earth, to our world. without the sun, we would not be here. so be silent like the sun. listen, and understand. we are lucky to have the sun shine on us. we are lucky to be alive. embrace that simple fact. embrace the sunshine. and live today like maybe there is not going to be a tomorrow...and then when the sun rises right on schedule in the morning, yet again, be thankful for having one more day to be alive" ― bodhinku, the sound of sunshine
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MORE BODHIKU QUOTES
and now here are a few more quotes from bodhinku from past blogs to help add to the deeper meaning of this blog today...
 
"with having experienced a positive change in your life, you will attract more positive people in your life, but that doesn’t mean your life will always be happy, as the seasons come and go, along with good and bad times, so will joyful emotions and sadness...the yin and yang of life" ― bodhinku, seasons come and go
 
"letting go of what we knew is so hard, so difficult...but being refreshed by a new beginning is nothing short of magical" ― bodhinku, refreshed again   
 
"a big lonesome heart, left alone in the mojave to find only the love of the relentless sun in the daylight, and romance of the stars at night...turned to stone by an ancient heartbreak, but still full of hope, big hope, as the music of the desert sings its song all day long, and the milky way paints its reflective art across the night sky..." ― bodhinku, heart to stone 
 
"so what do you have to look forward to right now? you have everything, just cherish the sound of sunshine coming down, and the glowing smells of nature on the breeze, and all the colorful graces your body gets to feel...you are alive, embrace it...enjoy the simple basic fundamental of not being dead...love what you have right now, live your best day today, and tomorrow will be better, i guarantee it..." ― bodhinku, the sound of sunshine 
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STORY BEHIND THIS IMPRESSION
"even though the sun is not present, you can feel her in everything in the picture. you can feel her warmth radiating through the sky. you can sense her vitality in the pine trees. you can see her colors permeate the clouds and reflect subtly in the snow crystals and lake water...she is there, and there is everywhere" ― bodhinku, you can feel her in everything
  
pictured here is a sunset at crater lake just after a heavy snowfall. i had been tracking the weather for a number of days hoping a snowstorm would hit, and one did hit the southern cascades quite hard...now i needed a break in the storm and clouds...because it's no bueno to get a beautiful sweeping landscape picture of crater lake when surrounded by snowqualls with no visibility and gray grey gray everywhere there it is not white...
 
and then i got my lucky break when there was a break in the system after two days of heavy snow...i started my drive from medford to crater lake all stoked and excited to get some images of fresh deep untracked snow piled on the ground and filling up the trees, with the lake surrounded by a white blanket in the crater down below me....
 
driving up, it was a winter wonderland...the roads were solid white with deep snow walls for shoulders. the trees were still holding on with their branches full of pine needles and feet of fluffy snow. man, was i excited, this was a dream, and i was having a blast being the only vehicle on the road just making my way in 4wd...so much fun, just me and my doggie, besos...
 
bubble burst when i got to the entrance gate. there was only one problem with my plan, and it was a huge problem. i was informed by the park ranger that the last 3 miles of the road was closed due to the heavy snow. and hiking was not permitted up the roadways in the park in the snow...only the "raven trail" was open to get up to the rim. but there was a fresh 42" on the ground and i did not bring my splitboard nor do i own a pair of snowshoes, plus, doggies are not permitted on this trail (which is just plain stupid to me)...so i could not go the last few miles and hike up to the rim from the crater lake visitor center...man was i bummed, it killed me to have gotten so close, with dream photographic conditions before me, all to just have to be turned away, left to drive back down off the mountain dejected, back to medford for the night...
 
i woke up the next morning not very hopeful that they would have the road cleared, but kept checking the nps crater lake website for updates to the road closure, seemed like i was hitting refresh on my browser every five minutes...but come on, do you blame me? with conditions like this, fresh snow, first tracks, snow covered tress and a pristine lake, one of the most beautiful scenes in all of the world right here, this perfect photographic opportunity was worth the gamble of losing a day or two hoping and waiting for my chance...
 
so that next day, i was reserved to waste the entire day to do nothing and just be ready to get up to the crater rim when the road opened (if it would ever open)...i refreshed the website feed at 10:10am to see the words: "we are planning on opening the road from the visitor center to rim village by around 12:00pm this afternoon"...wooo-hoo and holy shit! i got lucky, got my break...zoom, i was gone in an instant, started driving the two hours up to crater lake again...
 
i got to the visitor center right at 11:55am and hit a line of people waiting to head up, the road was still closed and had yet to open...i was 22 cars back from the lead, i was surprised there was not more vehicles, very surprised, but very pleased...they opened the road at 12:34pm and i had butterflies filling up my belly as i followed the other 21 4x4 vehicle in front of me...it was slow progress as they had a park ranger acting as an suv pace car up those last three miles of steep snow covered icy, and curvy road...
 
when we got to the rim village we were stopped again for a while as they methodically figured out how we were parking, and ushered us in to fill up the limited number of spots...by 1:11pm i was parked and stepped out of my vehicle into the crisp winter mountain air...ahhhhhhh, memories rushing back to me of my backcountry snowboarding days, my god i miss them...
 
and i was there! i stretched, took a deep breath, smiled huge, exhaled...it felt so good, i did it again...then put on all my snow gear (it was c-o-l-d), snowboard socks and boots, long thermal underwear, snowpants, down vest, down jacket, gloves, snow mask, helmet, goggles...you would have thought i was going snowboarding, as i truly had on all my gear, but it's the warmest clothing and boots that i own for adventures in the deep snow, and my helmet is warm covering my ears and head perfectly holding my snow goggles in place, and my goggles are meant to protect my eyes from the uv rays at high altitude in reflecting snow, and for seeing in the snow better and clearer...so why not adorn it all instead for photography for hours in the snow?...this was smart, as i would have frozen had i not been this prepared, because it was c-o-l-d!
 
besos (my doggie) was not difficult to get ready for the snow...he was much better prepared than me, and just as excited...all i needed to do for him was open up the door and say "lets go!" and he was ready (and probably thinking damn, finally dude! after waiting for me to gear up)...and btw, he did end up getting a bit cold faithfully waiting for me to get my shots in the snow...he ended up digging a little hole in the snow, circling and making it into a bed, and curled up in it, below the wind, very instinctive and intuitive, and cute, he even put his nose under his paws and took a nap while he patiently waited for me...
 
i was out in the elements for close to 4 hours waiting for the sun to set, and i do not know if i mentioned that it was fricking frigid c-o-l-d!...but i found my perfect composition, as close to the edge of the slope as i could safely get (and was permitted). where no one could get in front of me, or make any tracks in the snow or bother me...it was a beautiful spot (as you can see) and i was not leaving it for anything...i was not going to leave, not going to go back to the vehicle and warm up, i was staying put for the duration...
 
the wind started to howl harder, temps were dropping, but the clouds were clearing more and more...at about 3pm the ranger ski patrol came by to check on me and talk to me...i think they though i was crazy because i said i was not going to move until after the sunset...
 
i waited and when the sky lit up, and the moon came out from behind the clouds, i knew this was meant to be...all my efforts had led me to this spot, to see this beautiful scene, to capture it with my camera...i had to wake besos up to have him witness it with me, he smiled at me, really. and i think it must have been the same smile i had on my face and in my eyes. i was just like him, and he was just like me, lost in a moment of sheer happiness. we could feel each others energy, and then feel it flowing into the beauty surrounding us...so peaceful, colorful, silent, eloquent...nobody to disturb us, no chattering, no noise, no people. just me, my doggie, and mother nature enjoying each other's company...life is good, life is very good to me.
 
more music you can listen to as you read on with my blog. this is another favorite song of mine, one most people might have never heard before, "beautiful day" by ziggy marley...this song is very poignant to this image, as well as very soothing at the same time and easy on the ears as you read along...  

"i take a look into the sky, because the world is not so pretty. free myself from worries so i can see: it's just a beautiful day, it's just a beautiful day! you could be sad, but i rather you not be. don't dwell on the negative, just the positivity. and it's a beautiful day, it's just a beautiful day...we're always trying to satisfy these wants and needs. take you some time for that inner peace. when your eyes are open, you'll see things differently. there is so much gloom hiding the reality: it's just a beautiful day, yeah, it's just a beautiful day!! take a look into the sky, wake up, take a look into the sky, keep your head up high, take a look into the sky. i take a look into the sky, because the world is not so pretty, free myself from worries so i can see: it's just a beautiful day!! i could be sad, but you rather me not be. don't dwell on the negative, just the positivity. and it's a beautiful day, and it's a beautiful day!!! we're always trying to satisfy these wants and needs. take you some time for that inner peace. when our eyes are open, we'll see things differently. there's so much gloom hiding the reality: it's just a beautiful day, a beautiful day!!! take a look into the sky. wake up. take a look into the sky. look in the sky, keep your head up high. it's just a beautiful day, i know it's a beautiful day. it's just a beautiful day, i know it's a beautiful day...no one can take that away, it's just a beautiful day. i know it's a beautiful day. don't you feel no way, it's just a beautiful day!" ― ziggy marley, beautiful day  
 
"breathe. exhale. listen to the sound of sunshine coming down. feel the wonderful silence. walk your path. smile. it's a beautiful day" ― bodhinku, beautiful sunshine 
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HISTORY OF CRATER LAKE
"and though only most of the dark side of the moon is visible, you can see the sun in the moon, as a sliver of her light reflects off the surface of the moon and points towards her location below the horizon" ― bodhinku, sun in the moon

"crater lake is a deep, clear, intensely blue lake located within a huge volcanic caldera in the cascade volcanic mountain range, in southwestern oregon, u.s., about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of medford, oregon. the lake and its surrounding region became crater lake national park in 1902, with an area of 286 square miles (741 square km). by the early 21st century, the park had more than 90 miles (145 km) of hiking trails

crater lake features two small islands. wizard Island, located near the western shore of the lake, is a cinder cone approximately 316 acres in size. pohantom Ship, a natural rock pillar, is located near the southern shore
 
the crater from which the lake was formed, which is about 6 miles (10 km) in diameter, is the remnant of mount mazama, a volcano that rose to probably 12,000 feet (3,700 metres) until an eruption about 7,700 years ago destroyed the upper portion. subsequent lesser outbursts are indicated by cinder cones on the caldera floor; one of these, the previously mentined wizard island, rises 764 feet (233 metres) above the water. crater lake has an average surface elevation of 6,173 feet (1,881 metres) above sea level and an average depth of about 1,500 feet (457 metres). underwater mapping of the lake in 2000 established a maximum depth of 1,943 feet (592 metres)—making it the deepest lake in the united states and the seventh deepest in the world. its waters are exceptionally clear, and it is often possible to see to a depth of more than 100 feet (30 metres).

perhaps the most unique feature of the lake is its remarkable colour, a deep, brilliant blue that is magnified by its contrast with the ochre and rust hues of the surrounding rock walls. the intensity of this colour results from the reflection of blue and green light waves off the clear and colourless water, which is a function of the absence of suspended sediment because the lake is fed directly by precipitation rather than indirectly by a stream.

animal life inhabiting the area—nearly all of which is protected wilderness—includes deer, bears, eagles, hawks, owls, and grouse, and, particularly in summer, there is an abundance of songbirds and insectivorous birds. crater lake contains limited numbers of fish (trout and salmon), introduced by humans. the area’s plant life is predominantly pine and fir trees, with wildflowers covering the meadows in summer.

archaeological finds at fort rock cave, about 55 miles (90 km) northeast of mount mazama, indicate that humans were present in the area at the time of the principal volcanic eruption, not long after which the area near crater lake was inhabited by the modoc and klamath native american tribes. crater lake has long held special significance for native americans, for whom it has been a sacred place, visited by shamans, medicine men, and others during vision quests. the first american of european descent to see the lake is generally held to be john wesley hillman, who is credited with first seeing it on june 12, 1853. a mid-19th-century gold rush brought an influx of prospectors to southern oregon, and hillman was a member of one of a pair of competing groups who were trying to find the “lost cabin mine,” whose owners reportedly had buried gold when they were attacked by natives. the two groups eventually became one, came upon the lake, and voted on what to name it, choosing deep blue lake over mysterious lake."― john p. rafferty, editor encyclopaedia britannica 
 
crater lake was a place of mystery to the local native americans, the klamath tribe. the klamath native americans must have lived in the region as early as 7,700 years ago, because artifacts such as obsidian tools, spear throwers, and moccasins have been found beneath the mazama ash layers to the north and east of crater lake. the klamath indians describe the catastropic eruption of mount mazama and the creation of crater lake in one of their legends. their legend of a raging war between two great volcanoes, mount mazama and mount shasta, parallels the geological history of crater lake.

the spirits of the earth and sky often came and talked with the people. llao was the spirit of the below-world who lived beneath lao-yaina (today known as mount mazama). skell was the spirit of the above-world. llao often came up and stood on top of lao-yaina, and his head would touch the stars near the home of skell. there was no lake then, just a hole through which llao passed to see the outside world. one day, llao saw loha, daughter of the klamath chief, and fell in love with her beauty. she rejected him because he was ugly and was from the below-world. he got angry and swore that he would take revenge on her people. he tried to destroy the people with the curse of fire. the klamath chief sought help from skell...

skell descended from the sky to the top of mount shasta, with llao atop of mount mazama. skell and llao were thundering and trembling the earth, hurling red hot rocks back and forth to each other (from mount shasta to mount mazama), causing great landslides. a terrible darkness spread over the area for days. all spirits of earth and sky took part in this battle, creating intense fear among the people. attempting to calm the ferocious volcano gods and to make up for the sins of the tribe, two medicine men offered to sacrifice themselves and jumped into the pit of below-world. impressed by their heroic sacrifice, skell fought even harder. he finally defeated llao, driving llao deep down into the below-world. he collapsed the top of mount mazama to imprison llao forever beneath the world. skell wanted peace and tranquility to cover up this dark pit, so he filled it with the beautiful blue water...  
 
crater lake is unpredictable. no matter how many times you’ve seen it before, you can never be sure exactly what to expect on your next visit to the rim. the lake’s appearance is ever-changing and often surprising. this is especially true in the winter—perhaps the best time of year to witness crater lake at its most wild and its most serene. 
 
the lake’s character depends partly on the wind. on many winter days, strong winds whip across the water. the strongest gusts materialize as whitecaps and can be seen marching, like angry armies, across the width of the lake. calm days in the winter are few and far between, but, when they occur, the scene is entirely different. the lake becomes a mirror and reflects the sky in perfect symmetry; the air is so quiet you can hear a pine needle drop. 
 
the lake’s appearance (and disappearance) also depends on cloud cover. roughly 50% of the time in the winter and early spring, storms completely hide the lake from view. while disappointing for visitors who have driven hours to get here, it’s during these periods of rain and snow that the lake is replenished. crater lake wouldn’t be america’s deepest lake without such wet winters, which dump an average of 435 feet of snow.
 
clouds also create scenes of stunning drama. when storms end, the lake’s features slowly reveal themselves to fortunate onlookers. and once every few years, some lucky visitors reach the rim to find a “smoking cauldron”—the crater filled with fog, with blue skies above. this occurs when cold, moist air becomes trapped in the caldera during a temperature inversion.
 
sometimes, too, crater lake is masked by ice. it forms along the shore during cold snaps. seeing the lake completely frozen over, however, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (the lake’s tremendous depth makes its surface freeze-resistant). In 1949, the last time the lake was ice-bound, it froze for 2½ months and a thick layer of snow accumulated on top. typically, though, seeing bergs of snow and ice in the water is simply an indication that an avalanche has recently occurred on the caldera’s inner slopes. 
 
with so many variables (and we haven’t even mentioned the color of the water, which can vary from bright blue to slate gray, with hues of red, orange, and purple at sunrise and sunset), crater lake is never the same lake twice. and thank goodness! its unpredictability is one of its finest attributes, one that makes visiting (and re-visiting) the park such a delightful and rewarding activity...  
 
"the moon is the closest celestial body in the night sky that still sees the sun, follows her, and he selflessly reflects her light, so that we may all feel her glow..." ― bodhinku, feel her glow   
 
"the darkness has taken over much of the moon, but still there is a narrow crescent of light from the sun, a sliver of hope reflecting brightness into the shadows of this beautiful wintery landscape" ― bodhinku, sliver of hope
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MORE QUOTES FOR EXTRA MEANING
this is another beyond beautiful song, give it  listen and you'll be able to connect this tune to my impression and blog here before you...a song vocalized so powerfully, yet softly, by a man singing the blues..: "ain't no sunshine" by bill withers ... (just click on any of words in the blue links to listen to the song)...  

"ain't no sunshine when she's gone. it's not warm when she's away. ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and she's always gone too long anytime she's goes away. wonder this time where she's gone. wonder if she's gone to stay. ain't no sunshine when she's gone. and this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away. and i know, i know, i know, i know...hey i oughta leave young thing alone, but ain't no sunshine when she's gone, woh woh. ain't no sunshine when she's gone. only darkness every day. ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away, anytime she goes away..." ― bill withers, ain't no sunshine   
 
"and then i feel the sun itself as it blazes over the hills, like a million flowers on fire...clearly i'm not needed, yet i feel myself turning into something of inexplicable value" ― siddhartha gautama buddha, the dhammapada  
 
"express yourself completely. then keep quiet. be like the forces of nature; when it blows, there is only wind; when it snows, there is only snow; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through to you" ― lao tzu
 
"the fact that the sun makes no discrimination where it shines is very significant. this is a wonderful metaphor for compassion. it gives you the sense of its impartiality and all-embracing nature" ― dalai lama xiv, the art of happiness   
 
"we are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. our flesh-and-bone tabernacle seems transparent as glass to the beauty about us, as if truly an inseparable part of it, thrilling with the air and trees, streams and rocks, in the waves of the sun—a part of all nature, neither old nor young, sick nor well, but immortal" ― john muir   
 
"to express the love of two lovers by the marriage of two complementary colours, their blending and their contrast, the mysterious vibrations of related tones. to express the thought of a brow by the radiance of a light tone against a dark background. to express hope by some star. someone's passion by the radiance of the setting sun. that's certainly no realistic trompe l'oeil, but something that really exists, isn't it?" ― vincent van gogh  
 
"and you said,
"never forget me,"

as if the coast
could forget the ocean

or the lung
could forget the breath

or the earth
could forget the sun." ― beau taplin  
 
"both my grandmothers were women of faith. they were devout and deep believers of some unseen power, tapped into this great mystery that i could barely comprehend in my youth and inexperience. both walked a different path and prayed in a contrasting way, alternate sides of a similar coin. these two possible versions of such a powerful belief made me aware of options and choices in faith at an early age...i’ve always been fascinated by old churches, by rosaries and by hundred year old paintings on walls inside country churches like the one i was baptized in at the foothills of a mountain near where my mother was raised. my awe stemmed from the faith and belief poured into them, the pure knowing that was etched into their every crevice, the complete trust in this unseen power. i envied the believers. i could never imagine that much belief in anything...as i aged, i developed a fascination for this soul deep belief they held, this unshakable knowing in something you can’t see but believe without a doubt of its existence...faith without proof. belief in the face of shaky reality. unwavering hope. knowing that there was something more in the unseen. how i wished i could have that level of conviction, not for religion necessarily as i held my own earth based beliefs by this time, but for everything else that i faced; my work, my relationships, my future...as humans, we put faith in things we can’t control all the time. we believe the sun will rise tomorrow and when the day is over it will set, whether we can see it through the clouds or not. we know that gravity will do its job and keep us from floating off into the sky. we trust our bodies to wake up and start the day, though sometimes with an ache or pain. we believe the cold of winter will end and spring will once again warm the ground for planting. so why do we find it so hard to trust in our own unfolding lives?..all the old adages they say like, keep the faith. the answer to your prayers, hope springs eternal. things always have a way of working out. there’s a reason for everything. what’s meant to be will always find a way...i’m part pisces sun and leo moon, and a whole lot of fire and impatience in between. i want proof and i want action. i want to see the reality and gnaw on the bones of truth. being in absolute trust is still something of a mystery to me and a lifelong challenge i strive to open fully to on my path towards greater self discovery and understanding...what we believe in, shapes our future. so how do we put faith in something we can’t see?...it is simple, what we think and believe will be, will be. we have the power to create the future based on our beliefs in the present. the tricky part is not being overwhelmed or trapped by the reality that we are surrounded by. everything that we see is the manifestation of the past. what we create in the future we are in the process of bringing into being with every thought, story and belief we hold...and in the absence of proof, one must cultivate deep faith. there are some things in this world we have very little control over such as when our bodies are finished with this chapter we call life and our essence goes back to spirit to get ready for the next round. but for everything else, we have to trust that our choices and decisions shape our future even if we can’t see it forming in the unseen and that there is a purpose to it all...so, know that the sun will rise tomorrow and the birds will find a song to sing. gravity will continue to hold you securely on terra firma. the warmth of spring will melt away the cold grey of winters last breath. your future is not written in stone and we have the power to manifest great things even if we can’t see them yet. in the meanwhile, have faith. hold prayer of love, things always have a way of working out in the end" ― c. ara campbell, in an ever changing world
 
"does the sun promise to shine?
no, but it will—
even behind the darkest clouds,
and no promise
will make it shine longer or brighter
for that is its fate,
to burn until it can burn no more.
to love you is not my promise
but my fate—
to burn for you
until i can burn no more." ― atticus, love her wild  
   
"girl lithe and tawny, the sun that forms
the fruits, that plumps the grains, that curls seaweeds
filled your body with joy, and your luminous eyes
and your mouth that has the smile of the water.
a black yearning sun is braided into the strands
of your black mane, when you stretch your arms.
you play with the sun as with a little brook
and it leaves two dark pools in your eyes." ― pablo neruda, twenty love poems and a song of despair
 
"if we resist the temptation to allow other people to define who we are, then we will gradually be able to let the sun inside our own soul shine forth" ― paulo coelho, the alchemist 
 
"be the celebrators, celebrate! already there is too much—the flowers have bloomed, the birds are singing, the sun is there in the sky—celebrate it! you are breathing and you are alive and you have consciousness, celebrate it!" ― osho, awareness: the key to living in balance  
 
"such a sky and such a sunset i never knew and neither did you. and everybody never breathed quite so many kinds of yes" ― e. e. cummings, 100 selected poems    
 
"yours is the light by which my spirit's born: you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars" ― e. e. cummings, 100 selected poems    
 
"dusk, i realized, is just an illusion, because the sun is either above the horizon or below it. and that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are: there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time. how would it feel, i remember wondering, to be always together, yet forever apart? i know the answer now. i know what it's like to be day and night now: always together, forever apart" ― nicholas sparks, the notebook
 
"the sun has long since set and the thief is about to come, and there is nothing i can do to stop it. so i stare at her and wait and live a lifetime in these last remaining moments" ―nicholas sparks, the notebook
 
"even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" ― victor hugo, les miserables  
 
"you are immortal...because you are life, and life cannot die. you are in the trees, the butterflies, the fish, the air, the moon, the sun. wherever you go, you are there, waiting for yourself" ― don miguel ruiz, the four agreements 
 
"good opposes evil the way the summer sun opposes winter cold, the way light opposes darkness. they are built into the eternal scheme of nature" ― deepak chopra, buddha  
 
"for the first time the sunshine kissed my own naked face, and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and i wanted my masks no more. and as if in a trance i cried, "blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks!" thus i became a madman" ― khalil gibran, the mad man  
 
"even the mighty sun might get depressed if she started comparing herself with the moon: “people take me for granted and sing praises of the moon" ― shunya  
 
"oh what a wonderful soul so bright inside you. got power to heal the sun’s broken heart, power to restore the moon’s vision too" ― aberjhani, elemental: the power of illuminated love 
 
"in the moon thou sendest thy love letters to me, said the night to the sun. i leave my answers in tears upon the grass" ― rabindranath tagore, stray birds  
 
"the sun is an arrogant thing, always leaving the world behind when it tires of us. but the moon is a loyal companion. it never leaves. it's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. every day it's a different version of itself. sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. the moon understands what it means to be human. uncertain. alone. cratered by imperfections" ― tahereh mafi, shatter me  
 
"someone picked up the sun and pinned it to the sky again, but every day it hangs a little lower than the day before. it's like a negligent parent who only knows one half of who you are. it never sees how its absence changes people. how different we are in the dark" ― tahereh mafi, shatter me    
 
"the sun and the moon have merged and the earth is upside down. i feel like i can be exactly who i want to be in her arms. she makes me forget the terror i'm capable of" ― tahereh mafi, ignite me    
 
"your thoughts are your message to the world. just as the rays are the messages of the sun" ― amit ray, world peace
  
"each day is born with a sunrise
and ends in a sunset, the same way we
open our eyes to see the light,
and close them to hear the dark.
you have no control over
how your story begins or ends.
but by now, you should know that
all things have an ending.
every spark returns to darkness.
every sound returns to silence.
and every flower returns to sleep
with the earth.
the journey of the sun
and moon is predictable.
but yours,
is your ultimate
art" ― suzy kassem, rise up and salute the sun 
 
"glamour only radiates if there is a sublime courage and bravery within: glamour is like the moon; it only shines because the sun is there" ― c. joybell c.  
 
"pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawn" ― c. joybell c.
   
"next morning i thanked the lord because while i was mourning, the sun had shone with all its rays to raise hope in me, yet nothing was shown as proof of love" ― munia kuhn, to evince the blue  
 
"fidelity is wearing a mask these days...the sun cannot recognize her own rays" ― munia khan, attainable
 
"mindset matters: the sun just rises and sets…the awe, inspiration, romance, and renewal is within you" ― steve maraboli, unapologetically you   
 
"you can turn off the sun, but i'm still gonna shine" ― roy t. bennett, the light in the heart 
 
"the final mystery is oneself. when one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?"― oscar wilde, de profundis      
 
"i had an inheritance from my father, it was the moon and the sun. and though i roam all over the world, the spending of it’s never done." ― ernest hemingway, for whom the bell tolls  
 
"i have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself" ― henry david thoreau, walden  
 
"may the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks" ― j.r.r. tolkien, the fellowship of the ring
 
here is a great upbeat and uplifting tune...its about escaping what's bringing you down. it's a resilience anthem, with the narrator defiantly proclaiming that nothing will break her, nothing will shake her....and her secret weapon against self-doubt is a pocket full of sunshine. she has a happy place that provides her loads of light and positivity: "pocket full of sunshine" by natasha bedingfield ...(just click on any of words in the blue links to listen to the song)...
 
"i got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. i got a love and i know that it's all mine, oh, oh-oh. do what you want but you're never gonna break me. sticks and stones are never gonna shake me, oh, oh-oh...take me away (take me away), a secret place (a secret place), a sweet escape (a sweet escape). take me away (take me away), take me away (take me away) to better days (to better days). take me away (take me away), a hiding place (a hiding place)...i got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. i got a love and i know that it's all mine, oh, oh-oh (got a love and i know that it's all mine). do what you want but you're never gonna break me (oh). sticks and stones are never gonna shake me, oh, oh-oh (never gonna shake me, never gonna shake me). i got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. i got a love and i know that it's all mine, oh (i know) oh-oh (i know that it's all mine)...wish that you could, but you ain't gonna own me. do anything you can to control me, oh (you can't control me). oh no you can't control me... take me away (take me away), a secret place (a secret place), a sweet escape (a sweet escape). take me away (take me away), take me away (take me away) to better days (to better days). take me away (take me away), a hiding place (a hiding place)...there's a place that i go that nobody knows where the rivers flow and i call it home. and there's no more lies, in the darkness there's light, and nobody cries, there's only butterflies... take me away (take me away), a secret place (a secret place), a sweet escape (a sweet escape). take me away (take me away), take me away (take me away) to better days (to better days). take me away (take me away), a hiding place (a hiding place)...take me away (i got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine), a secret place (a secret place), to better days (to better days) take me away (take me away), take me away (take me away), a hiding place (a hiding place)...the sun is on my side and takes me for a ride. i smile up to the sky. i know i'll be alright. the sun is on my side and takes me for a ride. i smile up to the sky. i know i'll be alright" ― natasha bedingfield, pocket full of sunshine 
 
"slow slam dancing with the dream of you. i am smiling through the pain of the ugly truth. a black light burning bright, i illuminate an empty room. i wish i was better at the things that really matter to you. i don't care how long it takes i will never give up on you...the shine was in my eyes when the new world swallowed you like a life that never happened. you are like every emotion i never learned how to use, they never do what i tell them to do. i want to be better with all the good words that really matter to you. i don't care how long it takes i will never give up on you...i want to walk inside a van gogh sun. a technicolor world all perfect and new. i want to live where there are no shadows of all those stupid things that we used to do. i will never give up on you...i have found my happy place with the fear that i will never see you again. i guess you and me are in the place that we are meant to be, life is not supposed to make sense. i know i need to be better in all the good ways that really matter to you. i don't care how long it takes, i will never give up on you...i want to walk inside a van gogh sun and see a better world all different and new. i want to live where there are no shadows of all those stupid things we both know that we used to do. i want to walk inside a van gogh sun. i want to see the world exactly like you do. i want to live where the past doesn't matter. whatever it takes, i will never give up on you. i will never give up on you. i will never give up on you. i will never give up. i will never give up on you...all the pain and all the hate are gonna fade away. i want to dream under those van gogh stars that made us feel like there was nothing that we couldn't do. i want to live where there are no shadows. i want to find the van gogh sun that shines on you. i want to walk inside a van gogh sun. i want to see the world exactly like you do. i want to live where our past doesn't matter. whatever it takes, i will never give up on you. i will never give up on you. i will never give up on you. i will never give up. i will never give up on you" ― art alexakis (everclear lead singer), van gogh sun     
 
"you make me smile like the sun, fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head, spin like a record, crazy on a sunday night...you make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe, shine like gold, buzz like a bee...just the thought of you can drive me wild...oh, you make me smile" ― matthew shafer (uncle kracker), you make me smile  
 
"you're the one i want to be with when the sun goes down...that's the sound of sunshine coming down" ― michael franti and spearhead, sound of sunshine 
 
"well we all shine on...like the moon and the stars and the sun...yeah we all shine on...and on and on and on..." ― john lennon, instant karma   
 
"i'm alone here, i'm alone here...can you feel the sun? i do, but i can't see it. can you feel the breeze? i don't, but i believe it. i don't feel safe when i'm not alone. and i know, and i know what you're thinking: i like it on my own. but i'll let you in if you say it's okay" ― missio, can you fel the sun?    
 
"ain't no sunshine when she's gone. only darkness every day. ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away, anytime she goes away..." ― bill withers, ain't no sunshine    
 
"cold stars rush by through wispy, ragged clouds, past a moon like a bony knee...to feel the mellow, golden sun on your skin, more gentle and cozier and more golden than even the light of your favorite reading nook at the close of the day" ― catherynne m. valente, the girl who circumnavigated fairyland  
 
"the sun is patient. the sun is kind. the sun always forgives, trusts, supports, and endures. the sun never fails. when every star in the heavens grows cold, and when silence lies once more on the face of the sun, three things will endure: faith, hope, and love" ― jim butcher, blood rites
 
“as long as the sun’s shining, shit can’t be that bad" ― j. lynn, wait for you   
 
“as a photographer you have a deep love for light, life and yourself. you know that the eyes of love aren’t blind, they are wide open. only when your eye, heart and soul shine brighter than the sun, you realize how ordinary it is to love the beautiful, and how beautiful it is to love the ordinary”― marius vieth  
 
"the sage's wish: like the sun, from the east, may you continue to rise, smile, and shine" ― ogwo david emenike
 
"you've got to get out and pray to the sky to appreciate the sunshine; otherwise you're just a lizard standing there with the sun shining on you" ― ken kesey, one flew over the cuckoo's nest
 
"you say you love rain, but you use an umbrella to walk under it. you say you love sun, but you seek the shade when it is shining. you say you love wind, but when it comes you close your windows. so that's why i'm so scared when you say you love me" ― bob marley
 
"the sun shows up every morning, no matter how bad you've been the night before. it shines without judgment. it never withholds. it warms the sinners, the saints, the druggies, the cheerleaders...the saved and the heathens alike. you can hide from the sun, but it won't take you personally. it'll never, ever punish you for hiding. you can stay in the dark for years or decades, and when you finally step outside, it'll be there" ― glennon doyle melton, carry on warrior  
 
“to the heart in you, don’t be afraid to feel. to the sun in you, don’t be afraid to shine. to the love in you, don’t be afraid to heal. to the ocean in you, don’t be afraid to rage. to the silence in you, don’t be afraid to break" ― najwa zebian, mind platter 
 
"every day the sun rises out of low word-clouds into burning silence" ― jalaluddin rumi
 
"a thousand robes of wisdom are gone.
all my good manners have moved a thousand miles away.
the heart and the mind are left angry with each other.
like the stars and the moon are envious of each other.
because of this alienation, 
the physical universe
is getting tighter and tighter.
the moon says, how long will i remain
suspended without a sun?" ― jalaluddin rumi, the soul of rumi  
 
"the sun sets. the moon sets. but they are not gone" ― jalaluddin rumi, a year with rumi 
 
"last night i asked the moon about the my beloved, my one question for the visible world, where is she? the moon says: i am dust stirred up when she passed by. the sun: my face is pale yellow from just now seeing her. water: i slide on my head and face, like a snake, from a spell she cast. fire: her lightning–i want to be that restless. wind: why so light? i would burn too if i had a choice. earth, quiet, impregnated: inside me i have a garden and a bubbling spring" ― jalaluddin rumi, the soul of rumi
 
"knock, and love will open the door. vanish, and love will make you shine like the sun. fall, and love will raise you to the heavens. become nothing, and love will turn you into everything" ― jalaluddin rumi, the soul of rumi 
 
"the sun loved the moon so much, she died every night to let him breathe" ― jalaluddin rumi, the essential rumi
 
"some nights stay up till dawn, as the moon sometimes does for the sun. be a full bucket pulled up the dark way of a well, then lifted out into light" ― jalaluddin rumi, bridge to the soul  
 
"i said to the night: if you are in love with the moon, it is because you never stay for long...the night turned to me and said: it is not my fault. i never see the sun, how can i know that love is endless?" ― jalaluddin rumi, whispers of the beloved 
 
"moon and evening star do their slow tambourine dance to praise this universe. the purpose of every gathering is discovered: to recognize beauty, and then love what’s beautiful...the universe smiles, and people smile. but remember, smiles come best from those who weep" ― jalaluddin rumi, the music and silence of the heart
 
"see this body's house, and see my soul, all made drunken by the cup of her love. for hers is the face of the sun in whose track the cloud-like hearts are moving" ― jalaluddin rumi, poems of ecstasy and longing
 
"why look for another moon or another sun? what i see will always be enough for me" ― jalaluddin rumi, in the arms of the beloved
 
"that sun, which the sky never saw even in dreams, has returned, and brought a fire no water can quench"  ― jalaluddin rumi, hush don't say anything to god 
 
"no matter how hard you stare into muddy water, you will not see the moon or the sun" ― jalaluddin rumi, the essential rumi  
----------------------
 
ABOUT THE IMPRESSION
"it's cold in the snow, but warm with the new blanket of snow. the wind is howling, yet with the new snow there's a tranquil silence, such a beautiful hushed quiet. as the sun has disappeared, the moon appears, with most of its dark side showing and only a sliver of light of the sun reflected back...a winter white darkness, with a sliver of hope shining through, bringing warmth and light" ― bodhinku, a sliver of hope    
 
captured about 11 mins after sunset standing over a snow covered crater lake directly 250m below me..this "square" framed composition is comprised of three images all taken in succession of each other in a landscape orientation, one above the other panning up with about 30% overlapping to the next frame. each exposure was shot with different camera settings to accommodate the effects i was striving for in my image...the impression was then created by using the photomerge function in adobe photoshop cc to stitch together these 3 exposures...  
 
in my photography, i always use filters to create longer exposure effects, saturate colors naturally, and balance the light in my composition in-camera...i often use as many as four filters at time, and i always use at least one filter in my completed impressions...
 
for only the lake water exposure, to get the effects and balance i was looking for, i used two progreyusa filters in the capture of this composition, a 3.0 nd progrey antarctica filter to bring the light in the image down 10 stops and permit a really long 111 second exposure, f/11 @24mm, iso-64 in order to create the dreamy effect with making the water look perfectly still and smooth and naturally saturate all the purples and pinks in the image...for the other two exposures, the 10-stop nd filter was not used...but for all three, i used a 0.9 reverse gnd progrey aurora filter to help balance in-camera overall the image the way i envisioned it...in this case, to stop down the much brighter light in the sky at the horizon level an extra three stops and help permit details in both the moon in the top background, and the fresh fallen snow in the foreground at the bottom come out better in the exposure...
 
i also used the progrey g-120z magnetic holder to hold the filters and secure them to my nikon d810 with a nikon nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8... 
 
and with this being a very long exposure of 111seconds combined with two other quasi-long exposure images aligned vertically and taken in succession to each other, a stable and sturdy tripod is an absolute necessity in order to keep the images sharp and in alignment with each other for more exact merging of the three images...for this i used my faithful induro phq3 series 5-way panhead mounted on my dolica tripod 70" carbon fiber tripod, because it is sturdy, tall, and perfectly compact for travelling  
 
i wish to openly thank my sponsors who have always supported me through both the good and bad times...for truly this long exposure impression would not be possible without the use of my faithful induro phq3 series 5-way panhead mounted on my dolica tripod 70" carbon fiber tripod, in combination with the progreyusa filters which i use with every photo i take...
 
"if nothing else...if i open my eyes, if i cry, if i think, if i sigh, if i giggle, if i dance, if i love, if i breathe, then i have lived a full days worth of life...nothing is wasted, nothing" ― bodhinku, if nothing else
 
"contemplate without thinking. be certain only in your uncertainty. stop the world. slow down everything. let it all be. shut off the noise. relax. seize this moment. reconnect. feel and sense what surrounds you. listen to all the colors of light whisper as they envelope you. see the melody and harmony that float about unnoticed. taste the solitude of all this wonderment. smell the beautiful silence. now discover your peaceful serenity. then, reach out and touch your faith with all your senses. this is my world. awaken!" ― bodhinku, my world
 
"my photography is my way of keeping a diary" ― bodhinku, my diary  
 
i leave you today wishing that bright joy and spiritual peace fill your life...imploring you to make every moment count, no matter what, always and forever, for that is the only thing that truly matters... 
  
and above all else,
i hope this message and impression find you well.
 
namaste,
bodhi
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