A New Friend

While on a trip to Norway to photograph musk ox in Dovrefjell National Park, I was hiking with a group  over a small hill in search of new subjects when I heard a faint call coming from just beyond another nearby rise. The sound, soft and high-pitched, reminded me of the bleat of a mountain goat. As it drew closer, we soon saw the source—a young musk ox calf appearing over the hill and walking directly toward us. I paused to capture a few photos as it approached, calling out with every step. I sat down on a nearby rock to steady my camera, and to my surprise, the calf walked right up to me. Captivated by the moment, I didn’t realize its mother was grazing behind us with a small group of other musk ox. The calf stayed for a few moments, offering a few curious and endearing poses, before realizing I wasn’t its mother and walking off to reunite with her. Though brief, the encounter was incredibly memorable and led to this beautiful portrait of a sweet, energetic young musk ox.