2020 - Perpetuity Longest Exposure

Regina Valkenborgh

An eight-year exposure captures the essence of time in stunning solar trails.

In an extraordinary blend of art, science, and serendipity, the longest exposure in photographic history was discovered in 2020. Captured using a simple cider can pinhole camera, this eight-year exposure reveals the sun’s daily path, etched across the sky in 2,953 luminous arcs.

Artist Regina Valkenborgh had set up the camera at the Bayfordbury Observatory in 2012, but after some time, she forgot about it. It wasn’t until a technician rediscovered the camera in 2020 that this remarkable image, formed over nearly a decade, came to light.

Described as the "phenomenology of capturing light and time through the photographic process," Valkenborgh’s work employed photographic paper and natural light to create an image that compresses years into a single frame. The photograph bridges the gap between visual art and scientific inquiry, offering a unique visual revelation of the sun’s changing cycles and our planet’s rhythmic journey through space.

The forgotten camera’s survival and its eventual rediscovery only enhance the impact of this photograph, which stands as a testament to photography’s role in visualizing the invisible forces of time and motion, influencing future artistic endeavors and scientific exploration alike.

TECHNICAL: Cider can pinhole camera・photographic paper negative・8-year continuous exposure (2012-2020)・210×297mm original・2,953 solar arcs recorded・camera obscura method

INFLUENCE: Longest exposure in photographic history・pioneering time-compression technique・accidental discovery methodology・expanded temporal boundaries of photography・validated forgotten/autonomous image-making

ANALYTICAL: Visualises Earth's orbital rhythm・documents solar path variations・demonstrates cumulative light capture over extended duration・reveals climate patterns through arc density・proves viability of ultra-long exposures

CULTURAL IMPACT: Redefines photographic temporality・merges scientific observation with artistic practice・demonstrates serendipity in creative process・symbolic meditation on time's passage・challenges instant-image culture

CREDIT: © Regina Valkenborgh, used with permission of the artist

AUTHOR: Regina Valkenborgh

TITLE: Perpetuity

DATE: 2020

ARCHIVE: Regina Valkenborgh

SOURCE: Regina Valkenborgh

ORIGINAL: 210 mm x 297 mm, 300 dpi

AVAILABLE INFORMATION: Captured at Bayfordbury Observatory, with a camera obscura. Digital Positive file from paper negative.