Otherworldly Moon Image: Giant Eye Peeks Through Desert Rock Arch In Surreal Photograph

In late October, photographer Zach Cooley embarked on a journey to Arches National Park in Utah. There, he captured a mesmerizing scene: a full moon perfectly framed by the North Windows Arch, creating the illusion of a giant eye in the sky. In brilliant single-exposure photographs, the enchanting visual is nearly too flawless to believe.

Cooley’s incredible images reflect meticulous planning on his part. “Moon photos like this involve some fairly extensive planning, and that was certainly the case for this shot,” he shares with My Modern Met. “I use multiple specialized photography apps which allow me to see exactly where the moon will appear at any given time and position (PlanIt!, The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE), and PhotoPills).”

Positioning himself in the exact right place at the right time was also crucial. “For precision alignment, you have to be standing in just the right spot, and a few steps in the wrong direction could mean you miss the target,” explains Cooley. As the moment approached, he felt nervous, wondering if he would be standing in the correct spot. “I was never happier when it appeared in the right place, and I knew I could achieve the planned shot.”

Capturing Earth’s satellite has long been a fascination for Cooley. “I have a memory of when digital cameras were fairly new, and my dad tried taking a photo of the full moon straight above us. It didn’t turn out at all,” he recalls. “He captured the same thing that many today do with cell phones—just a white disc, lacking the details that we can see with our eyes.”

Once Cooley began his photography practice, he made it a point to learn how to capture better pictures of the moon. “It’s something we don’t normally see in our day-to-day lives,” he says. “Watching a sunset or a sunrise is common for many, but it’s not often that we witness the moon at the moment it peeks above the horizon or as it sets and ‘touches’ the landscape.” Through compelling shots like the “eye” at Arches National Park, Cooley offers a powerful reminder of how marvelous our moon is.