On a cold spring morning, I ventured out in hopes of finding sage grouse strutting in their lek, an almost prehistoric looking behavior to witness. This particular spring had been more wintery than usual, and a thick crust of snow and hard ice lay over the entire area. As a result, I had a unique opportunity to get portraits of these birds in some staggeringly beautiful scenery. I laid down against the ground as the sun rose, igniting the snow behind us with a lovely pink hue as it lit up the valley. A male sage grouse emerged from a dip in the shadows and began to strut, his display looking almost like the panache of a medieval warrior as he flared his unique feathers and inflated his chest sacs. My 800mm lens allowed me to photograph portraits of this incredible animal at a respectable distance that did not alter his behavior. I rather like how the portrait turned out, especially the sunrise behind him, the flair of his plumage, and the impressive confidence found only in a strutting bird.