It was the last morning in Grand Teton National Park so I figured that I had to get my ass out of bed to go see what I could see. I mean I hope it wouldn’t be another 12 years until my return, but life gets the best of us all. I could already see that the sunrise would be lack luster as there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, so I decided to focus on wildlife. I turned off onto the scenic road to Jenni Lake and within minutes I almost ran over a porcupine. I slammed on my brakes, got out of the car, and chased him (or her cant tell). I began to try to focus but it was still too dark and he was very nonsocial not to put too fine a point on it (pun intended). I continued on down the road, and as the sun began to rise I caught a glimpse of an elk bounding through the prairie. Again, I pulled off the road and as I raised my camera I figured out what she was chasing. The Coyote popped out onto the road in front of my car and the elk immediately gave up her chase when she realized I was there. I had never seen a coyote this large and whose coat was so grand. I thought it might actually be a wolf for a second. This coyote had no fear of me either, and as I blasted away it occurred to me that the elk was probably chasing off this basterd from her calf whom was probably still hidden out in the prairie. As I approached, trying to frame him up with the landscape, he eventually figured that I was going to cost him his breakfast and continued onto the other side of the road. I followed, hoping that the low morning sun would light up his magnificent coat. He in turn decided that a morning nap was the best way to bore me into leaving, but not before I grabbed my shots. I decided to turn this into a triptych to remind myself of the events that unfolded that morning and remember the cardinal rule of nature photography…never be late to work.