In the summer of 2017, I visited Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa. The refuge is home to a beautifully restored section of American prairie, overflowing with native flowers, grasses, and patches of ancient forest. The refuge is also home to a captive herd of American bison in a paddock through which visitors can drive.

The American bison was designated the national mammal of the United States in 2016. This animal represents so much in the American spirit - resilience, strength, and survivorship, among many other traits. Once hunted until just shy of extinction, the bison can be seen in many states across the country both in the wild and in captive, maintained herds.

Through these portraits, I aimed to capture the ancient fortitude of these animals. Among the tall prairie of Neal Smith NWR, the herds of bison evoke a sense of what America has lost in its environment, as well as what we can bring back. Perhaps, someday, we may see greater swaths of land that look a lot like Neal Smith.