There is a distinct kind of patience required in wildlife photography. Often, it isn't about chasing the action; it is about standing still long enough for the forest to accept your presence, letting the background noise fade until you are simply a quiet observer sharing space with the wild. On one of my recent excursions out to Lone Elk Park , I was reminded of just how unpredictable and fascinating those encounters can be . As I scanned the dense green tree line with my camera, this magnificent bull elk caught my eye . In the middle of the rutting season, a bull’s antlers become much more than an impressive crown because they are tools for dominance, display, and territory. This particular fellow had clearly been hard at work. His expansive antlers were tangled thick with fresh green brush, foliage, and earth, giving him a delightfully rustic and almost mythical appearance, as if the very forest had crowned him. Capturing a moment like this brings together everything I...
