Alaska Coastal Brown Bears

Mitchell · December 5, 2018

I had the pleasure of spending a week this September in Lake Clark NP, Alaska to photograph the coastal brown bears. While it was the last week of the season, the experience was superb. I will never forget the experience with these bears and the wonderful guides who kept me safe while staring through the camera.

The plane landed on the beach and one hour later I was laying down on the sand watching this sow nursing her cub by the shore.
This was followed by a family stroll on the beach when we returned after dinner. This shot taken after sunset.
This was the end of the silver salmon run. Just a few stragglers were around. The bears worked hard to catch these last few fish before hibernation.
Fresh sushi?
This blonde bear was stunning in the nice light.
This sub-adult male put on a great show for us by splashing around but lacked the skills to catch any fish.
After a day of shooting, I returned to my cabin to freshen up for dinner. I hear a rustling next to the porch and this cub poked his head up from the bushes a few feet away from me. I quickly set down my tripod with the big glass and picked up the 70-200mm I had strapped on a second body around my neck to catch a few frames before he darted off.
Subadult checking us out at dusk.
Another nursing photo. I liked the pose and the environment on this one.
Tried to make the best of the lighting on this one.

shniks · December 5, 2018

Great photos Mitch. Looks like you had a good time. I was there in July, but there were no clams and I missed the beach shots. Maybe next time.

Cheers,

denisegoldberg · December 6, 2018

These are amazing Mitch!
1 and 4 are my favorites of the set.

Stumblebum · December 6, 2018

Epic stuff! Congrats!~

Mitchell · December 6, 2018

@shniks said:
Great photos Mitch. Looks like you had a good time. I was there in July, but there were no clams and I missed the beach shots. Maybe next time.

Cheers,

Thanks. No clamming while I was there, but they spent most of the days on the beach and eating peas by the shore.

@denisegoldberg said:
These are amazing Mitch!
1 and 4 are my favorites of the set.

Thanks, Denise. I've got so many photos from this week that it's hard to pick favorites for me.

@Stumblebum said:
Epic stuff! Congrats!~

Thanks. One of my best photography weeks. Lucked out with great weather and cooperative subjects.

pathfinder · December 8, 2018

Looks like a great trip with great light, no rainy or very grey days and a set of wonderful images.

I really like every one of these!

David_S85 · December 9, 2018

Super sat of bears. Love number seven.

Richard · December 9, 2018

Awesome set, Mitch. I love the low POV--it makes them even more immediate.

Mitchell · December 10, 2018

@pathfinder said:
Looks like a great trip with great light, no rainy or very grey days and a set of wonderful images.

I really like every one of these!

Thanks. I got lucky with the weather. I would have been happy with some interesting skies, but I won't complain.

@David_S85 said:
Super sat of bears. Love number seven.

Thanks, David. #7 was a shocker.

@Richard said:
Awesome set, Mitch. I love the low POV--it makes them even more immediate.

I spent most of the week laying down or kneeling in the sand trying to get low. I think it really does help.

MoonMan04 · December 11, 2018

That's awesome! I always have my camera ready too for opportunities like #7 haha

Mitchell · December 15, 2018

@MoonMan04 said:
That's awesome! I always have my camera ready too for opportunities like #7 haha

The best camera is the one you have ready.

jerryr · December 18, 2018

Nice work - love #3 and #7 !

redleash · February 8, 2019

Great set, Mitch! All the shots are nice and most stand alone in their storytelling but as a group it is wonderful. My favorites are 1, 4 and 6. Nicely captured and the most interesting of all of them. Looks like you had a terrific experience.

Lauren

kdog · February 14, 2019

Not sure how I missed these first time around, but these are superb shots. What a wonderful experience that must have been.

kurzvorzwoelf · February 14, 2019

And I must have missed it too, somehow. Good that you brought this thread up again just in time, @kdog

Mitchell, dunno what to say, these shots leave me speechless. I admire people like you who actually take the time to go out in the wild and also have the patience and skills to create such phantastic shots. Bears are phenomenal creatures and I'd love to have the opportunity to see some in their natural habitat one fine day. Maybe I should hire as a nature photographer's assistant some day (carrying all the heavy lenses hehe) and bring myself binoculars.

Thanks for sharing those pictures, man.