A Photographer’s Masterpiece: The Moon Becomes an Eye Through a Rock FormationLos Angeles-based photographer Elliot McGucken has captured a stunning celestial illusion at Arches National Park in Utah. His mesmerizing image, titled Desert Eye, showcases the Full Moon peering through the North Window Arch, making the formation resemble an enormous, watchful eye.
“The arch already had an eye-like shape from a specific angle,” McGucken explains. “All it needed was the perfect round ‘pupil’—a full Moon.”Using a Fuji GFX100s medium format camera, he meticulously positioned himself at the ideal vantage point to highlight this rare alignment at dusk. His efforts paid off spectacularly, as the resulting image went viral, amassing nearly a million likes on Instagram since its debut on May 17.“The response has been absolutely incredible,” McGucken says. “I’m grateful for the millions of people who have enjoyed, commented on, and shared Desert Eye.”The Art and Science Behind the Shot
Arches National Park, home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, has long been a favorite location for landscape photographers. In 2020, photographer Zach Cooley captured a similar composition but included climbers within the rock formation.
Cooley previously shared with PetaPixel that he relied on multiple apps, including PlanIt!, The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE), and PhotoPills, to precisely determine the Moon’s position. “Each tool has different strengths, and I like to cross-reference for shots like this,” he explained.A Visionary Photographer
McGucken, known for his awe-inspiring landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife photography, frequently shares his work on Instagram and his website. Beyond photography, he is also a physicist who explores scientific themes in his imagery, such as light cones that depict the movement of light through space and time.
His previous work has garnered attention from PetaPixel before—most notably in 2019 when he documented a rare, flooded Death Valley.For more of McGucken’s breathtaking photography, visit his Instagram and website.
“The arch already had an eye-like shape from a specific angle,” McGucken explains. “All it needed was the perfect round ‘pupil’—a full Moon.”Using a Fuji GFX100s medium format camera, he meticulously positioned himself at the ideal vantage point to highlight this rare alignment at dusk. His efforts paid off spectacularly, as the resulting image went viral, amassing nearly a million likes on Instagram since its debut on May 17.“The response has been absolutely incredible,” McGucken says. “I’m grateful for the millions of people who have enjoyed, commented on, and shared Desert Eye.”The Art and Science Behind the ShotArches National Park, home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, has long been a favorite location for landscape photographers. In 2020, photographer Zach Cooley captured a similar composition but included climbers within the rock formation.
Cooley previously shared with PetaPixel that he relied on multiple apps, including PlanIt!, The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE), and PhotoPills, to precisely determine the Moon’s position. “Each tool has different strengths, and I like to cross-reference for shots like this,” he explained.A Visionary PhotographerMcGucken, known for his awe-inspiring landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife photography, frequently shares his work on Instagram and his website. Beyond photography, he is also a physicist who explores scientific themes in his imagery, such as light cones that depict the movement of light through space and time.
His previous work has garnered attention from PetaPixel before—most notably in 2019 when he documented a rare, flooded Death Valley.For more of McGucken’s breathtaking photography, visit his Instagram and website. 
