Richard Misrach: Night Desert
In this early black and white series, Misrach uses long exposure times and strobe lighting to explore a desolate environment. The work marks the beginning of his decades-long project rooted in the American desert.
![Black and white photograph of a desert cactus at night.](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-036-908x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled, 1977
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph of a glowing white standing stone at night with Stonehenge in the background](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-020-878x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Stonehenge #1), 1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph of a crescent moon and three small light flares](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-012-901x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Moon), 1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a small scraggly tree before a silhouetted mountain background with a faintly glowing horizon](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-023-1-897x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Burning Bush #2, Arizona), 1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a saguaro cactus with a drooping offshoot](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-005-880x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Saguaro), 1975
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of the base of a palm tree with two branching trunks](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-019-898x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Palm #7, Baja), 1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Long-exposure black and white photograph of a night landscape tracking the movement of the moon.](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-034-896x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Lake Havasu), 1977
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of an empty desert at night with black borders around image](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/RM-EN-037.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (White Sands #3), 1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a thick cactus stem topped with two small round offshoots in front of a silhouetted mountain and glowing horizon](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RM-EN-011-901x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Saguaro #3), 1975
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square long-exposure photograph of short curved star trails in a clear dark sky](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-017-893x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Night Clouds), 1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a tall yucca plant amid shorter desert plants](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-003-895x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Yucca in Fog, Baja (Yucca #1)), 1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a desert cactus at night.](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-035-908x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Saguaro), 1975
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a desert sandstorm at night.](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-010-908x900.jpg)
Richard Misrach, Untitled (Sandstorm), 1976
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a desert cactus at night.](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-036.jpg?fit=675%2C669&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled
1977
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph of a glowing white standing stone at night with Stonehenge in the background](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-020.jpg?fit=675%2C692&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Stonehenge #1)
1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph of a crescent moon and three small light flares](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-012.jpg?fit=675%2C675&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Moon)
1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a small scraggly tree before a silhouetted mountain background with a faintly glowing horizon](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-023-1.jpg?fit=675%2C677&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Burning Bush #2, Arizona)
1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a saguaro cactus with a drooping offshoot](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-005.jpg?fit=675%2C690&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Saguaro)
1975
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of the base of a palm tree with two branching trunks](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-019.jpg?fit=675%2C676&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Palm #7, Baja)
1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Long-exposure black and white photograph of a night landscape tracking the movement of the moon.](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-034.jpg?fit=675%2C678&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Lake Havasu)
1977
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of an empty desert at night with black borders around image](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/RM-EN-037.jpg?fit=675%2C681&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (White Sands #3)
1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a thick cactus stem topped with two small round offshoots in front of a silhouetted mountain and glowing horizon](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RM-EN-011.jpg?fit=675%2C675&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Saguaro #3)
1975
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square long-exposure photograph of short curved star trails in a clear dark sky](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-017.jpg?fit=675%2C680&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Night Clouds)
1977
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white square photograph at night of a tall yucca plant amid shorter desert plants](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RM-EN-003.jpg?fit=675%2C679&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Yucca in Fog, Baja (Yucca #1))
1976
split-toned selenium gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a desert cactus at night.](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-035.jpg?fit=675%2C669&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Saguaro)
1975
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a desert sandstorm at night.](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RM-EN-010.jpg?fit=675%2C669&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Richard MisrachUntitled (Sandstorm)
1976
split-toned gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]