Three Little Bears
Three spring cubs, born just months earlier, rarely sit still long enough to line up. But patience paid off. Below, their mother fished the river while they watched closely, learning by simply paying attention, yet staying alert. Ears up, eyes scanning. Growth happens quietly, in the space between curiosity and caution.
A Gaze Beyond Words
There's a moment when a coastal brown bear looks directly at you and the world falls away. Ears alert, eyes deep brown and unblinking, holding something hard to name. Not aggression. Not fear. Just weight. His muzzle tells of years spent fishing and surviving here. You're only passing through.
Going Home
Sunset on the tundra. This bear moves slowly across the ridge, in no apparent hurry. Maybe he's heading home for the night. Maybe he'll stop by the river to fish first. Either way, a break in the clouds let the last gold light through, just enough to catch him in silhouette. The white and green covering the ground is lichen, a critical food source for caribou through the harsh winter months when little else grows. Lichen isn't actually a single organism. It's a partnership between fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria), living together in a relationship neither could survive alone. Walking across the tundra has its own sound. Dry lichen crunches underfoot like walking on rice krispies, especially during dry stretches. It's one of those small details you only notice when you're out there.
Curious Gaze
We were photographing a mom and her cubs about 30 yards ahead when we heard another family moving through the tall grass. We were positioned below them on the river bank when the mom appeared first, then her first cub, then this one.
The mom and the first cub gave me a chance to dial in my exposure. The grass was tall enough to be a distraction in those early frames, but their passing through pressed it down just enough. By the time this cub reached the overlook, the shot was clean.
All Is Well
After a full day behind the camera, an old tune from my scouting days always comes back to me. The unofficial words sung to "Taps":
Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, Safely rest,
God is nigh.