Wolf Moon

Story

‘Twas a Wolf Moon out there… a time of mystery, a time of danger, a time when sensible folks stay inside, lock the doors, bar the windows, and hide, for the wolves be are surely out there. Wolf Moons are nothing to fool around with, that’s for sure, for many an odd thing happens upon them.

Nah. It is merely the first full moon of the year, the Wolf Moon. There I was, camera in hand, when the clouds parted for a moment, allowing me to make this photograph just as it was rising just to the left of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico.

Left, in this case, is defined as myself being in the west looking east, with the mountains to my right. This, in turn, makes the moon to my left and my head hurt trying to describe it. This moonrise’s color was incredible, and the clouds parted just enough to reveal the misty moon.

This photograph almost didn’t get made. I knew the Wolf Moon was rising, yet the clouds remained stubborn and obscured the moon. I could see the light behind the clouds, but that was about it. The moments slid by, and no movement at all with the clouds.

I remained, stubborn and hopeful, yet the moon continued to hide. Finally, just as hope faded, the clouds parted, giving me a quick opportunity to make the photograph.

No sooner than I did the clouds closed in again. The timing turned out to be exquisite, for the rest of the night remained cloudy. It just shows to never give up hope, for you never know.

So what’s the deal with the name Wolf Moon?

Every full moon has at least one name for it, with some names being more common than others. People also know the January moon as the Cold Moon, and sometimes, the Old Moon. And there are other, less common names for it, too. But for me, the name Wolf Moon is truly compelling and the short story for it wrote itself as I was creating the photograph.

In the end, there’s no other choice for me.

Another compelling moon and a behind the scenes peek

Go behind the scenes of Crescent Moon.