A Sanctuary at Peregrine Story
An unexpected encounter in our backyard became a painted portrait a reminder of the quiet beauty that surrounds us every day.
Crowned in Frost
The original photograph · Sanctuary at Peregrine, Colorado
01.The Encounter
It began with the most ordinary of errands.
One early evening in November, just after a snowstorm had blanketed our Colorado foothills, I stepped out onto the patio to take care of a small chore. But the moment I opened the door, I discovered I wasn't alone.
There, resting quietly at the edge of our backyard, was a magnificent buck.
I hurried upstairs for my camera, hoping he would still be there when I returned. He was. And remarkably, he seemed in no hurry to leave. As I began to photograph him, he stayed perfectly at ease, settled in the snow, his antlers rising above him like a crown. He barely moved. At times it almost felt as though he were posing for me.
I never did get to that chore. Some evenings have other plans.
Crowned in Frost · Painted Photography
02.The Finished Portrait
The photograph captured the encounter as it happened. But I wanted the finished portrait to hold something more - the stillness of that November evening, the softness of the snow, and the quiet dignity of this unexpected visitor.
Crowned in Frost became my interpretation of that memory.
03.A Place We Call Home
Living in the foothills of Colorado, we're fortunate to share our surroundings with wildlife. Encounters like this never feel ordinary. They remind me to slow down, to notice, and to be grateful for the natural beauty that surrounds us.