Tapir on Wind-Scoured Ridge at Sunset

Rich amber light washes over a wind-scoured ridge in Indonesia, where a tapir stands in patient stillness. The animal's thick, dark coat absorbs the warm glow, against the pale, dry grass bent low by the breeze. A thin layer of fog rests on the valley floor below, softening the distant tree line while keeping the foreground sharp. The tapir's snout rests low, ears perked against the cool air of the dry season. Behind the subject, the shallow depth of field blurs the rugged terrain into a tapestry of muted greens and browns. One blade of bent grass in the immediate foreground catches the last ray of sunlight, glowing gold against the dark fur.