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Bull Caribou, Denali National Park

One August evening in western Denali National Park, I waited for about an hour through a rainstorm, hoping that a break in the cloudy sky would let the setting sun through and create some light on this bull caribou. This time of year, caribou shed the velvet covering on their antlers, which for a few days leaves them a ruddy color due to the blood from this process.

The caribou had grown comfortable with my presence, so I just sat and waited—a very common experience in wildlife photography. The rain squall passed and I kept glancing over my shoulder, cheering on the sun hidden behind the clouds to peep through one tiny hole lower on the horizon. Finally it did, but just for a few minutes.

The sunlight beamed across the landscape, turning the bull caribou into a golden blaze, which contrasted dramatically with the stormy blue-gray background. Whenever blue and yellow (cool and warm colors) can be found working together in nature, it builds a powerful feel to an image. I ended up with a few frames in this magnificent light.

Subject: Barren Ground Caribou

Location: Denali National Park, Alaska

Camera - film - gear:

• 35mm Canon EOS 3
• 500mm f4.5
• Fuji Velvia
• Gitzo tripod