A bison wades across a cold river beneath a broad basalt cliff. Its heavy shoulder hump, shaggy forehead and short curved horn make a compact silhouette against the far bank. Wet fur hangs darker around the lower legs and beard. One forward step pushes a small white splash out from the hoof, while the rest of the river surface stays comparatively calm.

The animal occupies the middle of a much larger landscape. Tawny grass follows the opposite waterline, broken by pale fallen branches and a few low bushes. Above them, the cliff rises in irregular columns and ledges, with patches of yellow lichen interrupting the dark gray rock. A low cloud ceiling keeps the light even across the scene.

In the foreground, shallow ripples run around rounded stones and catch pieces of silver sky. They lead toward the moving bison without forming a perfect reflection. The photograph gives equal attention to the animal's weight and to the quiet scale of the river crossing around it.