It is the Lakota word for Bison.

Since my earliest days it was “Tatanka” that filled my dreams of the west.

To this day, it remains the same.

I have been fortunate to photograph the great animals of this planet and none stand so majestic as the Bison.

The beautiful maned lions of South Africa, their roar rattling your bones thru the night.

The few remaining Big Tuskers of Kenya, Ivory to the ground and weighing 100 kilos at the minimum.

The Polar bear, the Brown, the Grizzly all inspire awe and command respect.

It is, for me, however, Tatanka, in full winter coat, the morning frost glistening off the solitary bull, that literally, in the case of this image, that brought me to my knees.

It was a fortuitous moment.

Divine timing.
 
There he was, on the rock outcropping, perfectly ridged above, his entirety in the soft morning glow, nibbling on the supple morning grasses.

Now in perfect focus, camera steadied I made my silent request.

“Hey big fella…just a moment please…”

Magic.

His head rose, swung slightly to the right to survey what I hoped he saw as a respectful visitor and there it was…the shot!

Click.

“Tatanka”