Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, is a magical place. Carved out of the very fabric of the Earth itself, this cave system stretches for endless miles. Although many of the caves have been well explored and well mapped, there remains much to be found yet. Intrepid spelunkers are still working on the caves, still finding new passages and still finding new rooms. Science is expanding its knowledge rapidly.

Yet, even in the known sections there remain wonders to be found. Every step of the path reveals something new, and turning around gives one a fresh perspective. The warped walls, the intricate stone formations, the mighty pillars, stalactites and stalagmites all combine into one, dancing between your light and the darkness, calling, beckoning ever onward.

High up on one wall is the heart of Carlsbad. The walls twist impossibly around the void, framing the heart perfectly, and reminding explorers, new and experienced, that the cave is alive here in the world of shadows. The silence, and the very caves themselves, go on forever into the darkness. Yet the heart beats on, forever, just as it always has and just as it inexorably will.

It is hard to describe, exactly, how this scene affected me as I made this photograph. I was in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, New Mexico, one of my very favorite places to photograph. I find the entire refuge to have a large and diverse range of wildlife in it, and as you are there you never know quite what you will see.

This day, however, the refuge was fairly quiet. The inhabitants who were there preferred to stay hidden, which was a pity. It was early fall, too early yet for the majority of migratory birds to arrive, so seeing any bird this trip was something of a rarity. Still, there was plenty to see and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

My trip that day was done, and I decided to sit by the shore of a pond and enjoy the last of the day, for it would be dusk soon. As I sat, I simply relaxed, enjoying the sun, enjoying the day, and mostly, enjoying the few canada geese who were at the far side of pond. It was a time of peace, solitude and reflection; the rest of the day began slipping away even quicker than before. When I look at this photograph I am reminded of that time; of that peace and quietude, that perfect afternoon in the bosque. I hope that you feel much the same, and may the peace of the bosque be with you.

Morning in Yellowstone National Park. It’s a time to start a new day, and a time to catch up with old friends to see how they are doing. It doesn’t matter that the ones catching up are elk, for they miss their friends, too What struck me about this scene, however, is the calf next to its mother. Standing there, not quite patiently, yet not ready to leave her side, either. Still, it is inquisitive and it can’t wait to get about its day.

Elk are social animals, with the females choosing to live in loose herds, while male elk typically live alone or in small bachelor groups. Being social, they are friendly to each other, and watch out for each other. The morning ritual is an important one, for many reasons.

Yellowstone National Park is home to approximately 20,000 elk in the winter, and up to 30,000 elk in the summer months; its pristine environment and habitat are perfect for the animals that live there. Here, the bends of the tributary that later flows into the Yellowstone River afford a perfect place  for water and forage, and, importantly to these elk, a perfect place for the morning meeting.

Shortly after this moment, the calf received its wish, and it was off into the day’s adventure.

Crystal’s Repose

Halcyon Sandias