European Elk at Białowieża Forest

Białowieża Forest, straddling the Poland–Belarus border, remains one of Europe's last great tracts of primeval woodland, its ancient mix of deciduous and mixed forest offering a rare glimpse into the continent's lowland wilderness of old. It's here, amid this timeless mosaic of trees, that photographers on the Wildlife of Białowieża Forest holiday come in search of the European Elk, best sought out during January when the forest's stillness lends itself to patient, considered photography. The scale and depth of this ancient habitat provide a fitting backdrop for images that speak to the elk's presence within one of Europe's wildest remaining landscapes. Dress for the cold and move quietly — the forest rewards those willing to wait.