Silhouetted Siberian Ibex Against Winter Sunset

A dark, horned ibex stands in profile on jagged tidal rocks, its form reduced to a sharp black silhouette against a fading winter sky. The sun dips low on the horizon, casting a pale, diffuse glow that struggles through a thick layer of light fog. Bare, skeletal branches of coastal scrub poke out from the gray stone near the animal's hooves. The sea below reflects the dimming light, appearing as a flat, dark sheet of slate. Heavy winter clouds hang low, pressing down on the rugged shoreline of the Russian Far East. The texture of the rock is rough and wet, against the smooth, featureless shape of the animal. A final rim of gray light traces the curve of the ibex's back.