Bison resting in the grass

Antelope Island’s bison herd is one of the oldest and largest publicly managed herds in the country, and this one had settled into the grass to chew its cud, entirely unbothered by the road nearby. Bison spend most of their day either grazing or resting like this — there’s not much urgency in a 2,000-pound animal’s schedule.

Why it matters

The island’s herd traces back to 1893, when twelve bison were introduced to what was then a private ranch — making it one of the oldest continuously managed bison herds in North America, well before the species’ broader recovery from near-extinction.

Getting the shot

Getting low kept the horizon line out of the frame and put the grass right at the bison’s chin, which made the animal feel embedded in the landscape rather than just standing in front of it. Waited for a head-on look rather than shooting the more common profile.