Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico by Ansel Adams (1941)

“Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico” is a renowned photograph taken by artist Ansel Adams in the year 1941. It captures a twilight scene featuring a dramatic sky over Hernandez, New Mexico. In the foreground, illuminated by the fading sunlight, is a cluster of white crosses in a cemetery adjacent to a small adobe church and other buildings. The composition draws attention to the contrast between the stark white of the crosses and the buildings against the darkening landscape. Above, billowing clouds straddle the horizon, with a nearly full moon rising above the scene and providing a focal focal point amidst the vast sky. The image is celebrated for its striking balance of light and shadow and its exquisite depiction of the American Southwest’s landscape.

Other Photographs from Ansel Adams

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