On the deck of the USS John P. Murtha, a Navy photographer captured a moment that would become an enduring image of Artemis II, the mission that carried the first woman to the edge of lunar travel. He wasn't chasing an iconic shot and he barely recalls taking it.

"To be honest, I don’t even remember taking the photo," August Clawson later said.

The image centers on Christina Koch, still inside the open cabin of a Navy MH-60, her bright orange NASA spacesuit bright against the gray metal and the late day glow washing over the scene.

The shot rests with the moment of transition as two Navy helicopters brought the crew from a Pacific splashdown to the ship, framing the end of a demanding journey with a hush of sunset.

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Photographer Captures Golden Hour Return of Artemis II Crew [PHOTOS]
Image Credit: DoW
NASA astronaut Victor Glover aboard the USS John P. Murtha after returning from space on April 10, 2026.

The Navy quickly released a flood of photos and videos from the recovery, and Clawson’s images rose to the foreground, including two portraits of Koch. By the next morning, his phone was buzzing with messages from friends who had seen the pictures on television and across social media platforms.

The path to those photographs took shape in February when NASA delayed Artemis II’s launch to April.

Clawson explains that he was hoping for an April recovery window because the Golden Hour — that coveted window just before sunset when light softens and colors pop — would produce the most striking results.

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Photographer Captures Golden Hour Return of Artemis II Crew [PHOTOS]
Image Credit: DoW
The NASA Orion spacecraft is winched into the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha.

"I was hoping for the April timeframe because the windows for the recovery were at Golden Hour," he recalled.

The photographer’s background helps illuminate why those moments resonated. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Clawson developed a passion for portraits and skate photography during high school. He describes photography as a lifelong pursuit that followed him into the Navy, where he found his niche as a mass communication specialist.

He spent three years aboard the USS George Washington, capturing the drama of a flight deck in sunlight and in darkness, and his work began to earn recognition.

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Clawson says he consistently sought portraits within action-heavy scenes. He explains that his collections often include up-close faces captured without posed smiles, showing who the person is in a candid moment.

Photographer Captures Golden Hour Return of Artemis II Crew [PHOTOS]
Image Credit: DoW
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman walks with NASA personnel on the flight deck of the San Antonio Class amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha after returning from space on April 10, 2026.

"I’d always focus on portraits," he said, adding that uncontrolled action could be challenging, but the payoff was worth it when a subject revealed their true self.

In 2024, Clawson was named the “Communicator of the Year” across the Department of Defense, a reflection of his work aboard the George Washington.

In 2025, he reported to EOD Group 1, which was already deep in planning for Artemis II. The preparation for this recovery demanded a balance of precision, respect, and timing, all of which Clawson sought to honor in his coverage.

As the helicopters touched down on the Murtha’s deck, the setting sun lingered on the horizon. Clawson moved closer to the action, careful not to intrude on the moment of return for the crew and the mission they had just completed.

Photographer Captures Golden Hour Return of Artemis II Crew [PHOTOS]
Image Credit: DoW
Sailors conduct a foreign object debris walkdown on the flight deck of the USS George Washington in 2024. Clawson said he learned to work with unusual lighting while shooting carrier operations at night. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class August Clawson.

"I didn’t want to shove a camera into their faces," he said, underscoring a simple, timeless principle of photography: let the moment speak for itself.

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The result was more than a single image. It connected viewers to the human side of a high-stakes space mission, highlighting the perseverance and teamwork that underpin every launch and recovery.

The photographs served as a bridge between the public and the men and women who operate at the edge of exploration, reinforcing the idea that spaceflight is as much about the people on the ground as it is about the spacecraft in the sky.

Clawson’s work emphasizes a broader truth about military photography: the best images often come when the photographer steps back, respects the moment, and lets the subject carry the story.

Photographer Captures Golden Hour Return of Artemis II Crew [PHOTOS]
Image Credit: DoW
Photos taken aboard the USS George Washington. Clawson said that even among the chaos of a carrier flight deck, he tried to capture unposed portraits of sailors “that capture who they really are.” Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class August Clawson.

He remains devoted to portraying real expressions and genuine experiences, rather than manufactured theatrics.

The image of Koch in the glow of Golden Hour stands as a quiet testament to the brave individuals who make these missions possible, a reminder that science and service are deeply intertwined in the nation’s pursuit of discovery.

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