When, in the stillness of the night the full moon rises, shapes and shadows replace the colors of the day. You know that the colors are there. A quick scan with a flashlight reveals them to your eye. But film doesn’t need the flashlight, only the light of a clear night’s moon, and time.

For twelve years I have stalked the perfect scenes lit only by the moon. And avoided the perils of the night – hidden rocks and limbs in my path, skunks, malaria, and unseen objects – power lines, distant lights, and cars or airplanes which appear suddenly. There are always exceptions to the rules. The red glow in Moonlight Church is caused by the exit sign inside the building. There are house lights in Moonlight Glow.

When I first wondered if I could shoot by moonlight, it was more than a decade ago, and just a curiosity. I had no idea what would follow, let alone know if it was even possible. Each success compels me to continue. The goal is no longer to just make images by moonlight. It is to make striking images that aren’t seen, but created in the camera over time.

Using a variety of films, and now digitally, I am documenting an abandoned orchard. It most likely won’t be spared the insult of the developer forever. On a good night, I expose 20 frames – 2 shots in total on 2 different cameras. Being that this work carries on with such blazing speed, it may be years before I finish here. And there are other places far from here that call out to me.

Jeff Becker 203.261.9765