Driving home the other night and seeing people pulling over to photograph the Full Moon brought back an evening several years ago. I was on a photographic expedition with a group of women in New Mexico. We were driving to Santa Fe in search of the location of Ansel Adams iconic image  “Moon Rise Over Hernandez“.  The Moon was rising and the pressure was on! We pulled over were we thought Ansel made his move to make history. Where he climbed up on his car and took what would become to be known as one of the most important images of our time.

Moon rise Over Hernandez -Ansel Adams 1941

We were convinced that we had found the spot Ansel had chosen that fateful night. Everyone started setting up their tripods and trying to beat the setting sun. And all the while thinking of that magical time of day, twilight. The last light of day is the most coveted light. The low sun on the horizon softens the light to make magic. I was facing the opposite direction as everyone else, fascinated by the glowing neon sign in front of the bar on the highway. The sky behind the sign was changing quickly in the diminishing light. I was able to get 4 frames exposed before the scene disappeared. To this day “Saints & Sinners” is one of my favorite images. I don’t think I got a single frame in the direction that was “Moon Rise Over Hernandez”.

I was lucky enough to see Moon Rise Over Hernandez and many other of Ansel Adams images at his gallery in Yosemite. They are some of the most breathtaking images I have ever seen. You can read more about Ansel and see more if his images by clicking the link in the story above which will take you to his website.