Bears are incredible - powerful, charismatic, clever, adorable and at times dangerous! Read on to hear about some of my close encounters!
It would be fair to say that I am obsessed with Bears. They are incredible animals - powerful, clever, charismatic, adorable and at times dangerous! I have had a number of encounters with Grizzly and Black Bears in the USA and Canada, most of which were observed and photographed from the safety of a moving hide, my vehicle. I have always tried to make the most of these opportunities as they are often fleeting experiences, with limited time to photograph and take in the full majesty of these fine beasts before they disappear into the forests and wild places they inhabit.
In 2013, I had the opportunity to observe and photograph Brown Bears much closer to home, in the wild woods and bogs of Northeastern Finland not far from the Russian border in a place called Pirtivaara. This was a fantastic opportunity for me to spend three full nights in fixed hides placed in a variety of natural settings observing and photographing wild European Brown Bears at close quarters. During the summer months the sun barely sets below the horizon in the Finnish Taiga Forest just south of the Arctic Circle. Therefore for much of the night there is an opportunity to photograph wildlife, especially bears and in some places Wolves and Wolverines, often in magical 'golden hour' light, weather permitting of course. My experience in these one person hides was certainly memorable if a little scary, cold and lacking in any luxuries!
If you want to see more images of my close encounters of the Ursine kind please check out my Brown Bears Portfolio and take a peek inside my Finland and Canada Galleries.
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