Mountain Bluebird: God’s First Whisper of Spring

You don’t hear the Mountain Bluebird first — you feel it.

A soft flutter in your chest. A breath you didn’t realize you were holding finally released.

The air still smells like frost and pine. The early Wyoming light is thin and gentle. And then that impossible blue cuts through the quiet like a whispered promise from God Himself.

This Mountain Bluebird image came after hours of waiting in silence. Boots numb. Fingers stiff. Watching the light slowly inch across open country. I hiked in before dawn and prayed more than once. Wildlife photography has taught me that it’s less about control and more about surrender. If God wants the moment shared, He aligns it.

The light had to be low and warm, brushing the feathers instead of flattening them. The bird had to pause just long enough on a weathered barbed wire fence that has seen many Wyoming seasons come and go. Nothing was rushed. Everything was given.

When I pressed the shutter, I felt peace before excitement.

Morning’s Blessing: Sandhill Cranes in God’s Light

Years of searching ended in a single morning where light, prayer, and patience collided.

For years, I chased the haunting calls of Sandhill Cranes across open fields and misty Wyoming wetlands. Always just out of reach. Always a whisper on the wind.

That morning, everything aligned.

The sun stretched its first fingers across the horizon. The sky shifted from deep blue to gold. And there they were — tall, graceful, and still, as if they belonged to the unfolding dawn itself.

I stepped out of the truck with my heart pounding and whispered a simple prayer: let them stay.

And they did.

Their feathers caught the soft sunrise light in a way that made every detail vivid. The air smelled like damp earth and dew, the kind of scent that fills your soul as much as your lungs.

Standing there, I felt a quiet reminder of God’s careful handiwork. Beauty often comes after long waiting.

Whispers of the Wilderness: A Sacred Encounter with Elk

When the light hits the cottonwoods and young elk stir in the morning mist, words fall short.

Each month, I return to Grand Teton National Park with hope. Wildlife photography in Wyoming teaches humility — you never know what the day will hold.

This was an elk morning.

As we entered the park, a serene herd greeted us. The sunrise painted the sky in gold and soft pink. The air carried dew and pine. The elk moved so close to the road I could hear their gentle breathing.

Cottonwood trees framed the scene like a natural cathedral. Morning light shimmered across their leaves and illuminated young elk exploring beside their mothers.

Capturing this required stillness. Hours of watching. Trusting the rhythm of nature. Trusting that if God wanted the moment preserved, He would align it.

He did.

In that instant, the earthly and the divine felt intertwined — and I simply pressed the shutter.

Curious Deer of the Morning

Four deer froze in wonder and stared back at me.

What they saw in that moment — I’ll never fully know. But I know what I felt.

The Wyoming morning was cold before dawn. Dew clung to the grass. The scent of sage brush and earth filled the air. I waited for the first light to touch the field where they wandered.

Their ears twitched. Their eyes were wide and alert. There was a quiet reverence in that field, as if even they sensed the sacredness of morning.

 I pressed the shutter and held that peace in a single frame.

Wildlife photography is rarely rushed. It’s built on patience, faith, and presence.

Bring These Sacred Wildlife Moments Into Your Home

Each of these photographs was created slowly and intentionally — through prayer, patience, early mornings, and trust.

They are available as 11 x 14 matte fine art prints designed to feel personal and timeless. These are not mass-produced decorations. They are heirloom pieces meant to slow a room down and reconnect you to creation.

If one of these moments speaks to you — the Mountain Bluebird’s promise of spring, the cranes in golden wetlands, the elk beneath cathedral cottonwoods, or the quiet gaze of deer at dawn — I invite you to bring that peace into your home.

Seasons change. Light returns. Waiting is never wasted.

And sometimes, the right image becomes a daily reminder of that truth.

Ways You Can Support Awakened by Spring

If this work moves you, there are simple and meaningful ways to support it:

• Purchase a fine art print from Awakened by Spring and bring Wyoming wildlife into your home.
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay connected to new wildlife stories and behind-the-scenes moments.
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel to experience these encounters through film and field stories.
• Join our email list for first access to new releases, reflections, and special offerings.
• Or simply buy us a coffee — every bit of support helps fuel early mornings, long hikes, and the continued pursuit of sacred light.

Your support allows this work to continue — the waiting, the praying, the freezing mornings, and the sharing of God’s creation through the lens.

Thank you for being part of this journey.