Words cannot properly describe what it feels like to stare into the eyes of a Desert Bighorn Sheep.
This was the closest I’ve ever been to one in the wild. This young ram and I happened to be navigating the steep sandstone slickrock at the same time on this particular evening in September 2015.
The weather was warm — likely still over 90 degrees as late-day shade overtook Dangling Rope Canyon — and I imagine he was venturing down to the nearby waters of Lake Powell to get a drink.
I myself was heading to the waters’ edge too — just to take landscape photos, of course. But my method of slickrock walking was much more gingerly than his. I didn’t even know he was there until I heard his hoofs clambering on the sandstone.
And I think my presence surprised him just as much. We both froze, looking each other over, then I slowly — somehow unalarmingly — removed my telephoto lens from my bag and twisted it onto my camera body.
Let’s be honest, I’m not much of a “wildlife photographer” so I still can’t believe I caught this frame of my bighorn friend showing me this curious look. I got one more photo as he started to turn away. And then he continued his quick scrambled down the slickrock, and disappeared around the bend.
It was one of the most intense and powerful moments in my life. Thank you for revealing yourself to me, my bighorn friend.
Hope you enjoyed this Daily Dose,
-Jake
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