As we gaze upwards the Milky Way glows over the nighttime desert. The camera brings out all the depth of space, colors and stars - yet the human touch is infused with art and meaning. On this night I was looking out at space and feeling humanity’s connection to the universe and beyond!

The sky reminded me of what our ancestors saw, and I worked with the universe’s space-time flow to capture this image.

We all have a connection to the stars, like our ancestors - INFINITE STARS, we are ALL apart of the universe.

Inside this image with Milky Way Core you can see the Dark Horse Nebula, while it flows out in a stream connecting to Rho Ophiuchi.

Death Valley National Park, California - International Dark Sky Park

Despite a wind storm in the salt flats and a few cloudy nights - was moved by the beauty and the expansive cosmos!

Leaving an intense windstorm at Bad Water Basin, we moved to Artist Palette and had conditions that were just right. I photographed this spectacular moment of the MilkyWay Core rising over the warm colored, saturated rocky landscape.

Death Valley, National Park California

We watched and waited on very cold night in November our first moon rise on Lake Superior in Red, Cliff Wisconsin known as Gaa-Miskwaabigaang, hub of the Ojibwe Nation.

The western starry sky was full of shinning stars, star clusters and constellations! As the moon rose on the left, clouds around it were illuminated and its light cast a glow on the water.

Centered on the lakes’s horizon, the constellation Orion rose and directly above that Taurus the bull in a “V” shape - continuing your eye upwards you will see the bright blue dancing “7 Sisters” or Pleiades constellation.  These just took my breath away!

I had hoped and visualized this moment for several months. Working on photographing the full moon every month for a year - it was truly spectacular to see! At the beginning of our adventure in Dublin, Ireland we had days of rain, and then snow and sleet at the end of our trip ahead of storm Bert -  yet thankful for this surreal moment during the middle of the trip to watch this full moon slowly and steadily rise over magical Kinsale Harbor.

On the road to Kinsale, I had planned to jump out of the car and setup at the last minute just in case the cloud cover lifted.

As we parked at our lodging spot, it was cloudy upon arrival, so we ventured to our room and there over my shoulder the full moon had begun its ascent over the village hills!  I turned around to look out at the view of the harbor and was stunned to see an epic and unobstructed view!

After weeks of research and planning, this was a full moonrise I will always treasure and nature’s best surprise!

Just before Totality a diamond ring shape formed with vertical dynamic rays.

This moment was right as the last bit of light burst forth creating a diamond ring pattern. Wow! Nearly speechless, we were moved by the heavenly spectacle and awestruck.

Not a cloud in the sky that day over Heber Springs, Arkansas. This eclipse was totally other worldly and surreal, a moment in time and a life-changing experience!

Just at the beginning of the third contact phase with near complete darkness of space and stars in the background.  My lasting moment was looking at the eclipse during totality, nature still and feeling my place in the universe.

Misty-eyed and thinking of the connection through all of space-time.  Looking up at the surreal portal made time stand still.  Humbled and felt we are all of the “pale blue dot”, as Carl Sagan exclaimed.

Waiting in a field in Arkansas the sky began to take on a dusk like feel.  A group of people hushed and waited for totality. I looked through my lens with a solar filter and saw what looked like a bite out of the sun during the first contact phase.

Looking closer I saw a few sun spots as well!  Holding our breath we waited in anticipation for each stage of the eclipse - it was a stellar moment I will always remember!

The moon took on the color of an orange glowing ball. Slowly the shadow crept across the moon creating this unique presentation.

Full moon radiates a soft glow over an urban forest of Mid-town Memphis and the tower of  Crosstown Concourse - on the edge of Memphis in Crosstown.

Photographed high above, at the downtown pyramid for a spectacular view of the full moon’s rise in the night was dazzling with a display of a beautiful, glowing peach orb. A beautiful late summer September night with a cool breeze, beautiful a top the river front pyramid, escaping the humidity below with cool winds and a panoramic expansive view over Memphis’ vast city forest of tall trees!

Shined and radiated light on a cold and crystal clear night in January.  The illuminated moon cast a slight golden glow and looked as if hung in sky on a movie set.  This January moon, was the  brightest full moon I had ever seen, thanks to low humidity and cold crisp air.

Named for howling wolves, whose howl traveled farther on winter nights.  The wolf moon happens when nature is at rest, and busy storing up energy in seeds that will burst forth with new growht in the Spring!

Whispers of spring begin in the forest, buds form and trees take on a downy glow. I took a deep breath and absorbed the earthy Spring air and listened to the geese honking in pairs flying to nest for the night. 

The moon rose above as Spring had just emerged in the forest and shimmered softly on the lake below.  This moment was during the waxing crescent moon right before March’s full moon.

The moment and light was perfect!  This photograph marked the beginning of my full moon photo study completed over a 12-month period or full year!

Chasing the moon for the best unobstructed location facing east with the rolling lush hills of Shelby Farms Park!

I jumped out of my car and started running down a tiny trail in grass to watch for the moons’ rise, which happened in minutes.  Hands shaking in excitement I held my camera up and hoped for the best!  The artful moment between nature and being a human was spellbinding and beautiful!

I watched the full moon rise higher, and higher over the hills of Kinsale’s Harbor. The moon appeared to be perfectly balanced on top of this tall sailboat’s mast.