Day Four in Grand Teton National Park brought moody skies, memorable wildlife encounters, and a few frustrating moments. From watching bull moose navigate crowds of idiotic visitors to photographing pronghorn beneath golden fall foliage, the day offered plenty of opportunities and a few lessons in fieldcraft. We spent time observing bison behavior, searched unsuccessfully for grizzlies, and ended the evening quietly watching two cow moose among the cottonwoods. Not every encounter went as hoped, but there was certainly no shortage of wildlife or stories to tell.

Day Three in Grand Teton National Park began with a bull moose wandering through the sagebrush and ended with an up-close encounter with beavers at blue hour. In between, changing weather brought dramatic storm clouds, golden light spilling across the Tetons, and rainbows over a herd of bison. From capturing one of my favorite landscape photographs to trying new wildlife photography techniques, it was a day filled with unexpected opportunities, shared excitement, and a few moments that almost slipped right past us.

A 4 a.m. wake-up call, a two-hour drive into Yellowstone, and absolutely no guarantees. What began as a spontaneous change of plans turned into an extraordinary day of wildlife encounters. From watching a great gray owl hunt silently through a dense forest to spotting wolves, bighorn sheep, pikas, a grizzly bear, and a bull moose, the opportunities just kept coming. Not every encounter resulted in a great photograph, but each offered something memorable. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, grateful, and beginning to wonder if our guide, Evan Watts, had a special talent for attracting wildlife.