As the night sky stretched out above the historical Hindu temple, Pura Luhur Poten Bromo, a stillness settled over the lava fields. The silence was only broken by the occasional hiss and pop of the volcanic landscape.
For centuries, the temple had stood witness to countless natural wonders and human triumphs, and on this night, it had lent its presence to the photographers as they captured the infinite beauty of the universe.
A group of photographers - including yours truly had gathered to capture the elusive beauty of the Milky Way as it shone its brightest over the temple. We had driven for what seemed like hours in our colourful jeeps to reach the spot where they would set up our equipment, under the watchful gaze of the ancient temple.
The temple itself stood tall and strong, a testament to the resilience of the Hindu faith in the face of adversity. It was said that the temple had stood for centuries, having survived countless eruptions from the nearby volcano, Mt. Bromo.
The photographers worked in silence, their cameras pointed towards the sky, capturing the vast and breathtaking expanse of the Milky Way. The stars sparkled like diamonds, their light reflecting off the ancient stones of the temple.
As the night wore on, the Milky Way slowly began to fade, and we packed our bags to head back to our jeeps. With each step, we felt a sense of awe and reverence, knowing they had witnessed something truly remarkable.
As we reached the jeeps, the moon began to rise over the horizon, just behind the temple, casting an orange glow across the sky. In that moment, the photographers knew that they had captured something truly unique, a fleeting moment of beauty that would be forever etched in their memories.