“I want my audience to look at the moon and see past its cratered surface, to feel a subconscious connection with the mystery of our universe and a very real connection with those pioneers who left their families back on Mother Earth, risking all to explore this new frontier.“ – Rob Lewis

My search for a captivating story always leads me towards the uncharted path. This voyage of discovery provides the source from which all my projects in photography and film are born.

Just over a year ago I set out on just such a journey in pursuit of a story for my first film. This path led me four months later to the discovery of a photograph in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. It was a picture of a picture of a family which at first glance appeared quite mundane but yet instantly captured my attention. Within moments of course I realized the dramatic setting of the photo, almost reverently placed on the unmistakeable surface of the moon. What would drive a person to bring an intimate picture of his family to the moon, take a photo of that picture and then leave the picture there, imprinted on the solitude of its most unfamiliar surroundings? I simply had to find out.

I strive to give depth to my work by pushing myself to the limit. The development of the movie, Lunar Tribute, was no exception as I first had to find the astronaut, retired US Air Force Brigadier General Charlie Duke, and convince him first to share his story and later to give his blessing to the film. I already had a strong vision for the movie even before meeting with Charlie in person including the music which I instinctually knew, would be a key element in telling this story. I stumbled by chance on the work of Jojo Mayer – the renowned Swiss jazz drummer currently living in New York, who relies heavily on intuition to create his unique sound. Once Charlie agreed to meet with me and share his fascinating experiences, the groundwork was laid to bring this intriguing symbiosis of sound, narrative and camera work together. Lunar Tribute is an homage to the lifework of Charlie Duke and his inspiring photograph. I hope that this film does justice to that story while providing a unique and less obvious view of the moon, one that allows the viewer to subconsciously connect with the mystery of our universe, the sense of wonder that drives us to explore it and the unfailing bonds of family which keep us ever attached to home no matter how far away we travel.

“For me this was a voyage of discovery, where moving forward meant shedding inhibitions, having enough faith in the project and my work to continually take risks and relying on my senses and intuition to guide me through the unknown.“