We were camped just inside Grand Canyon National Park—quiet site, soft morning light, barely anyone else around. I’d stepped out early to get the fire going when I noticed movement through the trees. At first, I thought it was just wind, but then the shapes took form: an entire herd of elk, no more than a hundred yards out, grazing and weaving between the pines like they owned the place.
I didn’t have time to overthink it. I reached for the 600mm, braced against the camper door, and started shooting. This particular elk stopped and stared straight into the lens. No fear, no urgency—just that calm, steady curiosity animals have when they haven’t been pushed too hard by people.
The photograph ended up becoming one of my favourites from that trip. It’s part of the animal wall art collection on my main site—real wildlife, real encounters, no bait, no zoos. If you’re interested, the image is available as a signed fine art print. Every detail in the fur, every needle in the background—it’s all preserved in the final print.
Moments like this don’t announce themselves. You just have to be there, camera in hand, and pay attention. That’s the entire point of the road.
