During autumn, elk are easy to spot in the park (Yellowstone) right from your car window. But that's not what I want. I want to meet them on a hiking trip with my feet in the middle of nature, alone with those magnificent animals competing with other males and herding their cows into the clearings. I tried to capture such a moment in this scene. To increase the dramatic feeling, I chose a strong backlight, not usual for me. It was a real challenge. One has to use strong contrast and warm and cool colors to get the right effect. The story of light is very present in this scene: a light that only exists in the Indian summer in the West. This unique light makes sagebrush something else that is typical of the West, very exciting to paint, and so it is a dominant part of this painting. - CB