Centurion Image™ – exclusively available to collectors. See consultant.
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

I’ve hiked past this viewpoint over a hundred times in the past five years and each time, I looked towards the mountains with anticipation that maybe, just maybe, a moose would cross in front of one of the most spectacular valley vistas on earth.

Over the years, I had seen dozens of moose in the nearby willows and forests, so I knew it was technically possible, but I also knew it was incredibly unlikely – not only would the moose have to cross the deep channel that divided the banks of the lake, but tucked away in the trees to both the left and right side of this image are large parking lots that fill daily with hikers and boaters. In short, it was a fully irrational hope. Still, my mind clung to that remote chance, and I looked intently each day as I hiked past this vantage point.

One morning, as I hiked just beyond the viewpoint, I came across a lady staring off the trail – she had spotted a cow moose in a very dense portion of the forest not far from the lake. About that time, I heard the low, rather unimpressive mating call of a bull moose, and even though I could not see him, I instantly knew that he was following the cow.

I quickly made my way back to the viewpoint – the fog was clearing from the lake and the mountains stood towering in the morning light. I couldn’t see the moose from there, but I could occasionally hear them. I knew that they would most likely disappear deeper into the forest and not step into the lake, but I stood there full of hope none the less. Then, a few moments later, the cow emerged from the bushes and crossed with the bull close behind her. My near-dilusional vision had become a reality!

I call this image Oyade (o-YAH-day), which refers to the Stoney Nakoda cultural view of interconnection – where all elements of life exist in harmony with one another. To the Stoney Nakoda, humans are not separate from the land, animals, waters, or sky, but as participants in a living and balanced system. Jasper is one of our last great wild places. Thanks to decades of conservation initiatives, wild moments like this still occur where we humans, if we are extremely patient, can witness moments of harmony.