full moon rise in delicate arch moab utah

Delicate Arch Moonrise

Arches National Park, Utah

I had planned my entire photography expedition into Utah around this moment. Six months earlier I chose a week in the summer that would end with a full moon. This would be the evening I would make my first hike up to the iconic Delicate Arch to attempt a moonrise centered inside the arch. I had my sunset time, moonrise time, moonrise azimuth, and the angle of delineation which allowed me to adjust my compass reading to account for the magnetic variation.

Upon reaching the arch, it was more incredible than I expected from having studied other photographs of it. The arch is larger and the area surrounding it is steeper and more hazardous. I worked my way around and up into an area that my compass indicated should be about the right spot for moonrise. The smooth sandstone was tilted downward at about a 40 degree angle and quickly dropped off into a natural sandstone bowl about 30 feet below. Any mis-step would be disastrous.

I studied the horizon inside the arch. The moonrise time was now. The last thing I wanted was to have my azimuth calculation wrong by a few degrees and miss the moment. The time came and went as I scurried back and forth along the steep sandstone searching for the moon. I reasoned that because I was looking toward a mountain range, the higher elevation would delay the moonrise by some unknown amount, but I still worried that I had simply made a miscalculation and I wasn't set up in the right spot. About a minute later - a long, anxiety-filled minute - I saw the eerie glow of the lunar rim peeking into the landscape almost directly in the center of the arch. My compass-work was spot on; I only needed to move my tripod about two feet to the left.

I suppose Delicate Arch Moonrise is one of my favorite types of photographs to create because it takes a composition that a lot of people are familiar with and adds a difficult technical component to it that requires planning and field skills. I hope you like the result. Photo © copyright by Tim Herschbach.

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Matted Print

Matted Print

These elegant open-edition and limited-edition matted prints are my most popular format. I personally create each of these beautiful art pieces in my studio in Texas. The photograph is printed on Vibrance Metallic paper, by Breathing Color, a Texas-based paper company. The print is then dry mounted in an archival mat which I hand-cut to fit the image. These matted prints are ready to be inserted into a frame of the same size.

Please note that the size listed is the size of the mat, or frame size, not the photograph size. The mat edges are roughly 2" to 5" wide, depending on the mat size chosen. For example, a 16"x20" Matted Print will have a mat size of 16"x20" and a viewable image size of roughly 12"x16". A 56"x40" Matted Print will have a mat size of 56"x40" and a viewable image size of roughly 48"x32".

The mat is signed on the lower right and numbered on the lower left. The print is also signed and numbered underneath the mat in case you'd like to put the photograph into a different mat.

Each size of Matted Print has its own limited edition. Learn more about my Limited Editions.

Select a print size:

Matted & Framed Print

Matted & Framed Print

The matted print (description above) is inserted into the frame of your choice with museum-grade anti-reflective glass (or reduced-glare acrylic if shipping), and an acid-free 3/16" foam-core backing. Finally, the back is sealed with frame sealing tape to protect the artwork from its environment. Each frame includes soft "bumpers" in the bottom corners to protect your walls, the photograph's certificate of authenticity, and a cable making it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

After checkout, Contact me to let me know which moulding style you would like.

Select a print size:

Canvas Print

Canvas Print

Canvas prints are both beautiful, durable, and affordable. I create these canvas prints by hand in my home studio in Texas. The photograph is printed on thick and heavy Lyve canvas, by Breathing Color, a Texas-based company. I then spray-laminate the canvas to protect the inks from moisture and abrasions and to add a lovely satin finish. The canvas is then stretched on sturdy 1.5" stretcher bars and presents with a black edge. If you'd like a different edge color, please let me know.

The canvas will come with soft bumpers on the lower corners to protect your walls, a label of authenticity, and a cable that makes it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

Learn more about my Limited Editions.

Select a print size:

Canvas Print with Float Frame

Canvas Print with Float Frame

The Canvas (description above) is framed in a solid-wood, 3" deep float frame that I custom-build for your photograph.

The frame will come with soft bumpers on the lower corners to protect your walls, a label of authenticity, and a cable that makes it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

After checkout, Contact me to let me know which moulding style you would like.

Select a print size:

Great care is taken to ensure my fine art prints show the colors and tones that are intended. Due to variances of color and tone in displays, what you see on your monitor, tablet, or phone may be somewhat different than the colors and tones of the print.

Regular production time for a typical order is about a week. If I expect it to take longer, I will let you know.

While the above options will suit the majority of my collector's needs, please contact me if you need to customize your photograph further, whether it be size, frame, or mount.

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