During spring break, I flew to Colorado to visit my aunt and spend the week immersed in wildlife photography. Before my trip, we had countless discussions about the animals we might encounter, though she doubted we’d see bighorn sheep. She explained that the warmer weather would likely drive them high into the mountains, far from view. One morning, as we explored Rocky Mountain National Park, we pulled off at a trailhead and hiked through the woods. Eventually, the trees gave way to a clearing, and there they were—over 30 bighorn sheep standing majestically on a vibrant red rock cliff about 100 yards ahead. The brilliance of the rock against the forest backdrop was mesmerizing. We waited for over eight hours as the sheep grew accustomed to our presence, moving closer until I captured the photo I had dreamed of. The deep, earthy richness of the red rock perfectly frames the regal male sheep, making this one of my most cherished shots.
