Goodnight Moon is one of the most significant works in Bobby’s portfolio representing one of the “Original 25” pieces placed on view in the gallery at the grand opening in 2011. Without this and a few others to boost sales while Bobby built his portfolio, the Bobby Wheat Gallery would not have survived the first year.

Even in a hustle-and-bustle city like Vegas, solitude is just minutes away.  These prominent peaks, known as the Wilson Cliffs, serve as a backdrop for the beautiful Las Vegas nature retreat, Red Rock Canyon, and they can be seen from nearly anywhere in the valley.  Just a few miles from the edge of the city, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area lies on the eastern side of the Spring Mountains, the tallest range in southern Nevada.  Frequent winter storms will deposit snow on the peaks and often vanish before reaching the valley. At sunrise, light and weather can yield a surreal combination. 

This image is the product of an extremely rare desert coincidence.  On the one day of the month when the moonset coincides with sunrise, a winter storm left a fresh dusting of snow on the hills and began to clear just as the first light of the morning set the mountains ablaze with brilliant hues of red and orange.  The light reflected by the snow brings out the subtle detail in the shadows.  The moon hovered above the clearing storm just long enough to allow me a few exposures with all of the elements in place.  Seconds later, the moon descended into the heavenly pillow of clouds to rest.

Location | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas, Nevada

Medium and Materials | Chromogenic Print from Film on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper, Face-Mounted with 2 layers of UV protection in the Bobby Wheat Gallery’s Signature ANTIGLARE Presentation.

Camera and Film Used | Toyo 45a 4x5 View Camera with Fuji Velvia Film

Edition Size | Edition of 50 + 10 Artist’s Proofs for a Total of 60 Enlargements Regardless of Size (ONLY THE ARTIST’S PROOF #10/10 REMAINING 40x80)