This is one of the biggest male bears I
have encountered in Alaska over the last
10 years. Had I been on my own, I would
not have even considered recording the
moment, let alone lying down on the
ground for this perspective. It is all about
placing trust in those who not only know
the location well, but also this specific
bear’s behaviour at this time of year.
This is the most niche of skill sets
imaginable and so removed from my
sphere of competence. A picture as
immersive as this, is a tribute to my
guide far more than it is to me. Brooke
Bartleson, we salute you and thank
you for your knowledge, passion and
experience. Without Brooke, there was
no picture. This is not something to try
alone and really can only happen if the
guide trusts the cameraman and the
cameraman trusts the guide. It is the
most symbiotic of relationships. Brooke
knew this big bear and knew that at this
time of year - the mating season - he was
focused on one thing - and it wasn’t me.
I tend not to talk camera technicalities;
after all, a camera is just a piece of metal
and merely a conduit between artist and
subject. But what I do know is that this
photograph is elevated by the shorter
telephoto lens. I don’t like using big
lenses and, on this occasion, just after
6:30 a.m., I felt the urge to gamble and go
short. Again, all credit to Brooke, for her
calm reassurance.
This kind of project gets the adrenaline
going. Alaska is a long way from anywhere
and trips come down to a few minutes.
For every hour of flying time there is
probably just 10 seconds of proper action
on the ground but those 10 seconds are
about as intense as we know." - David Yarrow