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Light. Moment. Nature.

Photographs from Canada and beyond

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Young Big Horn Sheep, with scruffy spring coats, coming down the mountains in the spring.

Coming Down the Mountain

200mm f/5.6 1/320s ISO 100 4:3

Bighorn Sheep, Spring Descent – Jasper, Alberta

Captured in a quiet moment of movement, this image reveals the instinctual journey of a Big Horn Sheep as it descends from the alpine heights toward the roadside below. Drawn by the mineral-rich salt that lingers after spring melt and snowploughs, this majestic creature navigates the rocky slope with ease and purpose.

Its stance—alert yet unhurried—mirrors the rugged beauty of its surroundings, where jagged peaks and fading snowfields set the backdrop for an annual ritual now shaped by human presence. The sheep’s earthy tones harmonize with the muted palette of early spring, grounding it in place and season.

This portrait invites reflection on the subtle interplay between wilderness and civilization. It is a fleeting encounter, a moment of shared terrain, and a quiet testament to how wild lives adapt to a changing landscape.

© Marc van Eyken. All rights reserved.

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