Bear

Mother Brown Bear & Cub: NWF Photo Contest Winner

2011 National Wildife Photo Contest WinnerAs the old saying goes, “f/8 and be there.” That can be just as true of wildlife photography. Even after 12 years of photographing Alaskan Coastal Brown bears every summer, I am surprised with new opportunities each time. This photo of a sow (mother bear) playing “hide and seek” with her cub just won 1st place in the Professional Mammals (I think that means that the photographer is a professional – not the animalsSmile) category of the National Wildlife Federation 2011 photo competition. I’m frankly really honored, as the other winning images are all amazing. A special shout out to fellow bear watchers and dedicated biologists Laura Romin and Larry Dalton, who took first place in the Amateur Baby Animals contest. The images are all showcased on the NWF website and in the November issue of their magazine. Read more »

Alaska Brown Bear Safari Trip Report & 2012 Announcement

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Each year I think our Alaska safaris can’t get any better. But this year, our twelfth of visiting with the Bears and Puffins alongside the spectacular volcanoes and the mountains lining the Cook Inlet was the best yet. We had two fun groups (kept small as always so we can move around with the bears and provide lots of personal instruction) and our daughter Annie helping with lessons on Photo Books and with the gear hauling…

July is a special time for the bears of the Cook Inlet. Just about all the moms have brought their cubs out into the open along the water to graze, to learn to clam and to start thinking about fishing. It is still early enough that the bears are fairly relaxed and haven’t starting panicking in their fall rush to put on weight for winter. We were treated to many scenes of cubs and moms playing and mothers nursing both spring cubs (born this winter in the den and first out in the world only a couple months ago) and “yearling” cubs—last years spring cubs in their final year before being kicked out by their moms.

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The Eyes Have it!

_djc6751It is easy to get carried away by dramatic wildlife like the Alaskan Brown Bears (aka Grizzly Bears) we’re busy photographing her in Alaska but to communicate in a photograph it is all but essential to have clear and sharp eyes in addition to a clean composition and a compelling subject…

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Alaska Brown (aka "Grizzly") Bear & Puffin Photo Safari 2012 (2 sessions)

Dates: 
Sun, 07/08/2012 (All day) - Sat, 07/21/2012 (All day)

Session 1: July 8-15, 2012 (Maximum 6 photographers)
Session 2: July 14-21, 2012 (Maximum 6 photographers) 

Now Accepting Deposits for 2012

It seems like just yesterday, but 2011 was my 12th year returning to the Cook Inlet in Alaska to photograph America's most spectacular animals. And even though I'm just on my way up for this season I'm already excited to announce I plan to head back again next year for July 2012. These trips fill up every year so if you want to hold a spot go ahead and get your deposit in as soon as you can and take advantage of the earlybird discount.

Spending a week with Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears, often called Grizzlies, is truly a life-changing experience. Unlike the bears at Brooks Lodge in Katmai, which are stressed out and offer very limited viewing, we'll be able to see bears in their native and un-stressed environment.

One day the bears will be grazing on the nutrient rich grass and the next they'll be up to their shoulder digging in the mud for clams. Without question these are my favorite weeks of the year.

We'll have an entire small lodge to ourselves, and the bears are right in the area, so our shooting opportunities are maximized.

You can see some of my favorite images from past trips (some from our traditional photo safaris mixed
in with some from custom "family" trips we've put together to the same location):

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Alaska Brown (aka "Grizzly") Bear & Puffin Photo Safari 2010

Dates: 
Thu, 07/08/2010 (All day) - Wed, 07/21/2010 (All day)
Session 1: July 8-15, 2011 (now accepting deposits for 2011)
Session 2: July 14-21, 2011 (now accepting deposits for 2011)
Session 1: July 8-15, 2010 (SOLD OUT, wait list only)
Session 2: July 14-21, 2010 (SOLD OUT, wait list only)

Now Accepting Deposits for 2011

It seems like just yesterday, but 2011 will be my 12th year returning to the Cook Inlet in Alaska to photograph America's most spectacular animals.

Spending a week with Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears, often called Grizzlies, is truly a life-changing experience. Unlike the bears at Brooks Lodge in Katmai, which are stressed out and offer very limited viewing, we'll be able to see bears in their native and un-stressed environment.

One day the bears will be grazing on the nutrient rich grass and the next they'll be up to their shoulder digging in the mud for clams. Without question these are my favorite weeks of the year.

We'll have an entire small lodge to ourselves, and the bears are right in the area, so our shooting opportunities are maximized.

Read more »

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