Spiritual Journey

In April 2024, I had to say goodbye to my dog—my best friend for more than 15 years. It was a heartbreaking loss. I had already planned a spring trip to Yellowstone, and after his passing just weeks before, I knew I needed some time alone in nature to process and heal. On my first morning in the park, I set out to look for great gray owls in a few familiar spots. After having no luck and with snow starting to fall, I decided to try a new area. Just minutes later, to my surprise, I spotted an owl perched across a small meadow, hunting in the thickening snow. I quickly grabbed my gear and moved in quietly to capture a few images before it disappeared. What I didn’t expect was to spend the entire day with that owl—mostly alone—as it hunted and rested in the same quiet meadow where I first found it. I’m not a spiritual person, but some say owls are connected to the spirit world. When I think back on that day, I like to imagine that my pup came to check on me, just to make sure I was okay. Along with the comfort that experience gave me, it also led to this beautiful and meaningful photograph.