Golden Gaze the Soul of Montana's Bighorn

As the golden hour approached, I found myself perched on the rugged mountainside of Montana, a canvas of nature’s raw beauty. A lover of wildlife... more

by Kim Mulholland

Title

Golden Gaze the Soul of Montana's Bighorn

Artist

Kim Mulholland

Medium

Photograph

Description

As the golden hour approached, I found myself perched on the rugged mountainside of Montana, a canvas of nature’s raw beauty. A lover of wildlife and seeker of stories told through the eyes of its silent inhabitants, I was there for a purpose: to capture the soul of the wild through my lens. My particular muse? The Bighorn sheep, a creature of elusive grace, wandering the rocky terrain where few dare to tread.

Photographing wildlife is akin to a dance, a balance of patience and readiness, for these majestic beings do not pose at one's mere whim. Especially a bighorn, with its vigilant eyes, always on the lookout for an excuse to bound away into the wilderness. This day, the sun shone with an intensity that was both a blessing and a curse—casting harsh shadows, yet promising the soft, golden light of the evening that photographers yearn for.

There I was, in the wild's embrace, camera in hand, my heart syncing with the quiet rhythm of nature. My subject, the Big horn, adorned with a coat that whispered tales of survival, grazed the land, oblivious to my presence. As the sun dipped lower, its rays mellowed, bathing the world in a warm glow, and the scene before me transformed.

The sheep, now sideways to the sun, was illuminated on one side by a light so tender and forgiving, it sculpted its features gently, revealing every nuance. The rocks, previously harsh and unyielding, now formed a bokeh of shimmering jewels that cradled the big horn's profile in an ethereal backdrop.

I adjusted my position slightly, ensuring I would not startle my muse. The camera, an extension of my being, focused; my finger trembled above the shutter, awaiting the perfect moment. And there, as if the bighorn sensed my intent, it paused, turning its gaze towards the horizon, a portrait of serenity and wild spirit.

The click of the shutter was a silent pact between photographer and subject, a fleeting moment captured for eternity. In the Bighorn's eye, I found the reflection of the mountains, its spirit, and the untold stories of the wild. The portrait I captured was not just an image but an encounter, a connection to the soul of the wild that I so deeply crave. And as the evening light embraced us both, I knew I had found the story I had come to tell—a tale of light, life, and the profound silence of communion with nature.

Uploaded

March 28th, 2024