Alignment Over Bear Butte

For this image, I had been watching the path of the full moon and planning where I needed to position myself to photograph it rising behind Bear Butte. With a longer lens compressing the distance between me, the mountain and the moon, the goal was to make that enormous moonrise feel as commanding in the photograph as it did standing there watching it happen.

As daylight disappeared, I waited for the first edge of the moon to break above the horizon. Slowly, it climbed into view behind the unmistakable silhouette of Bear Butte, glowing against the deepening evening sky and briefly creating the alignment I had envisioned.

There is something particularly powerful about watching a full moon rise over Bear Butte. Known as Mato Paha to the Lakota and Noahȧ-vose to the Cheyenne, the mountain is a sacred place with profound spiritual and cultural significance to numerous Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains. The landscape deserves to be approached and photographed with that significance in mind.

• Classic Borderless Frameless Prints – Printed on museum-grade cotton rag paper in a lustre finish, perfect for custom framing. These have an archival life of 100 years in typical display conditions and 200 years in dark storage. This style does NOT come with a frame.

• Metal Print – Satin-finish vibrancy and vibrant color depth and detail; edge-to-edge imagery on aluminum with sleek, modern finish. Mounted on a 3/4" float mount with pre-cut hanging holes. This medium style does NOT come with a frame.

• Float Frame Canvas Pro – Museum-grade artistry and timeless presentation; printed on archival fine art canvas with exceptional color accuracy, depth, and texture. Each piece is hand-stretched and expertly mounted within a refined floating frame that creates the illusion of the image “suspended” inside the frame. Crafted in Italy, these canvases combine traditional craftsmanship with modern precision for unmatched quality and longevity. Ready to hang and built to last, this premium format brings warmth, dimension, and a gallery-level finish to any space.

• Each print:

  • Ships ready to display (canvas and metal only come ready to hang)

  • Printed using archival-quality materials for 100+ year longevity

📅 Shipping Timeline:
Please allow 2–6 weeks for production and delivery for float frame wall art. Please allow 2 weeks for metals and classic borderless prints for production and delivery. Each piece is made-to-order and carefully inspected for quality before shipping.

📐 Custom Sizing:
Custom sizes or special installation inquiries are welcome. Please contact Ellen directly for bespoke sizing, framing, or large-scale project options either through my contact page or emailing ellenscollection@gmail.com

🕯️ Care & Longevity:
Each piece is crafted using archival materials for 100+ years of display life. To preserve the integrity of your artwork, display it away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth as needed.