This is actually a photo of the moon setting, not rising, but somehow the word “moonset” doesn’t feel like a real word the way “moonrise” does. Perhaps we have Ansel Adams and his famous photo “Moonrise Over Hernandez” to thank for that, but I suspect it’s something more fundamental in how we perceive the moon.
Regardless of the “euphoneousness” of its title, I really enjoy looking at this photo, which is unusual in itself. I, like most other artists I know, rarely enjoy my own work much, whether it’s photography or music (one of my other creative outlets). Oh, I’m often very pleased with certain technical aspects and/or the aesthetics. And I can be quite proud of it in some cases. But I’m always too intimately aware of my work’s flaws to really enjoy it. Every artistic work has flaws and, usually, no one is more aware of them than their creator. “Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize” (Robert Hughes, Time magazine).
But I really enjoy this photograph. It’s not amazingly original. Not a startling composition. Not stunningly sharp — the air was quite hazy and there’s a good layer of cloud in front of the moon, accounting for its ghostly appearance and lack of detail. In fact, it may be the ghostliness and lack of detail in the moon that makes this photo appealing to me. We’re constantly subjected to super saturated, super sharp, high-contrast images these days (though this shot can hardly be said to be lacking in saturation!) The subtlety is very appealing to me.
Ah yes. The subtlety. I’m afraid you’ll have to take my word for that to a large extent: You, dear reader, can only see the 300 x 450 pixel sRGB image above (or click it to get a larger 600 x 900 version) whereas I can see the full-resolution file in glorious 16-bit ProPhoto RGB color, which shows off the subtle detail in the moon and quite fantastic detail in the foreground landscape. In print form it’s quite breathtaking.
Of course, that’s the solution for you: Order a nice 12 x 18 print on Hahnemuehl Fine Art Pearl paper! Then you’ll be able to see and appreciate what I’m talking about here. It’s expensive, naturally, but you’re worth it!
Addendum:
I’ve made this image and 14 others from Grandfather Mountain available as widescreen computer backgrounds (1280 x 800) at www.robertstech.com/images/desktop/
Mark – That’s one helluva great shot! Really moody, really well composed. The spark of reddish colors in the moon, the gorgeous layers in the mountains – wow! It took me half a year to notice it, but I think it’s great.
– MCC
PS: Nothing wrong with calling a setting moon moonset, IMO – just like sunset, except it’s the moon.