Some encounters demand stillness, patience, and awe. On a frigid Wyoming morning, I came across a herd of nearly 300 elk grazing near the road. They moved as one, yet each held its own presence, eyes alert, bodies catching the soft light of early sun. I could feel the crisp air on my face, smell the frost in the grass, and hear the distant rustle of hooves across the field. Each time I lifted my camera, one would meet my gaze, acknowledging me, and in that exchange, the wild and I became part of the same moment.

It was a rare gift: to be seen and, in turn, to truly see. The light painted their coats in subtle golds and browns, revealing the power and quiet grace of creatures designed to command the landscape. God’s hand was evident in the timing, in the trust, in the connection that allowed this closeness to unfold.