09/03/2026
The Reward of Patience
Six hours.
That’s how long I had spent watching a bison carcass, waiting for Yellowstone to deliver one of those moments wildlife photographers hope for. Six hours of watching, waiting, and wondering if something might appear.
Nothing did.
Eventually, I packed up my gear and started the drive home, accepting that sometimes Yellowstone simply makes you put in the time without giving anything back.
But Yellowstone apparently wasn’t finished with me yet.
As I traveled along the Yellowstone River, I suddenly spotted a large male grizzly stepping into the water and beginning to cross the river. After spending the entire day waiting for an opportunity, there was no hesitation. I pulled over, grabbed my camera, and hurried to the river’s edge.
For the next few moments, everything happened quickly.
The grizzly pushed through the cold water, his massive body mostly hidden beneath the surface. Then, for a brief instant, all that remained visible was his head—ears raised, eyes forward, water breaking around his face as he powered toward the opposite bank.
I managed to capture a couple dozen images before the encounter was over.
Of all of them, this is my favorite.
There is something about those eyes staring directly across the water and the simplicity of the composition that captures the power and determination of a grizzly without needing to show his enormous size.
Wildlife photography often teaches you that the photograph you spend all day waiting for isn't necessarily the photograph you come home with.
Sometimes you can wait six hours for nothing…
…and then, on the way home, Yellowstone gives you everything.
