Churchill, Manitoba

The largest land carnivore on Earth, in the natural habitat of snow and ice that defines it. It’s a simple photograph, but it’s rare to get this head-on symmetry in the viewfinder. I can say that with some authority, as this was my 12th trip to polar bear regions and I have never had this opportunity before. The enormity of the bear’s body and shoulders is there for all to see.
Many variables must align for you to be in this position and stay safe. A bonus was that the generous light allowed me to pay homage to the beauty and granularity of the bear’s fur.
Their cute and cuddly appearance, like a big white teddy bear, is perhaps the animal kingdom’s biggest bluff. This is a fearsome predator and one never to take a chance with.
The coastline east of Churchill gives photographers the chance to shoot from below a bear’s eyeline, simply because the topography is uneven. But the more important variable is the experience of your guide.
Kelsey Eliasson has worked with bears for as long as anyone in Churchill and speaks and behaves with authority. He has even written the definitive guidebook on bears in Churchill, and in a niche career, he has seen most things. He would argue that the seasonal polar bear community in Manitoba is healthy and stable, and he questions some of the dark messages about the animal’s vulnerability to global warming. Of course, there are suboptimal weather trends, but the bears we saw waiting for the Hudson to freeze were in magnificent condition, just like this one.