Getting this shot was a test of patience. When I arrived, the moose was taking a siesta, with only its antlers popping out of the vegetation. I moved around scouting for the best angle to capture the moment if it decided to move.
I had no way of knowing which direction it would head once it stood up, but I found a spot with a good foreground and background and took a chance. It was on the opposite side from where most other observers were. A few even walked over to tell me I’d get a better view from where they were. But I didn’t want a better view of a sleeping moose, I wanted a shot of it walking across the landscape.
I politely explained that I was hoping for a particular composition and was willing to take the risk of missing out. After more than an hour of waiting, the moose finally rose and, to my relief, started slowly moving in my direction just as the sun dipped behind the Rocky Mountains. I snapped. countless shots, and came away incredibly happy with the result. This is my best moose photo so far.