The Long Exhale

The Long Exhale was photographed on Fitch Mountain in Healdsburg, California, using medium format film on a Hasselblad 500CM. Rising above town, the mountain is covered in a dense mix of oak, madrone, bay, Douglas fir and redwood, its trails winding beneath a canopy that can feel remarkably removed from the town below.

Kim hikes Fitch Mountain regularly, and this particular stretch comes at a familiar turning point. The climbing is behind him. From here, the trail begins its descent and he can finally let go of the effort of getting up the mountain. The Long Exhale takes its name from that moment: the release that comes when the hard part is over, the body settles, and the walk home begins.

Originally created for WEST OF MORNING — Analog Landscapes of Northern California, Kim’s inaugural exhibition at fís Gallery, this Studio Edition brings the photograph into a made-to-order format for the home.

Each print is produced on Hahnemühle fine art paper, presented with a 3-inch archival white mat, and finished in a handcrafted solid wood frame made in Germany. Each Studio Edition arrives ready to hang.