AWARDS

2018 INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS – HARMONY - WINNER
2017 NATURE’S BEST – GRAND PRIZE WINNER
2016 PDN PHOTO DISTRICT NEWS – PORTRAIT HOTOGRAPHY – FACES – WINNER
2016 INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS – HONORABLE MENTION

BEHIND THE SCENE

A remarkable event happens in Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada, every year, in March and April.
Polar bears who entered “maternity dens” the previous October and gave birth in November are ready to leave their dens for the first time, their now four-month-old cubs in tow.
The timing coincides with the annual seal birthing season on the pack ice in Hudson’s Bay — easy food for the polar bears.
It’s extremely rare to witness the exit of the bears from their dens and one has to face incredibly challenging conditions. Temperatures can drop as low as -54C. Winds will gust up to 60 km (38 miles) an hour.
That effort is well rewarded, though, if you’re able to witness the most iconic animal of the Arctic kingdom in such close proximity, at its most intimate moments.
This mama bear was headed toward the pack ice to hunt, when she decided to take a break along the way, cubs at her side. Mother and cubs seemed relaxed and at ease with our presence. The cubs snuggled together and cuddled, totally ignoring us.
The moment I pressed the shutter release, my heart started to beat wildly. I knew I had something special. I’d been photographing polar bears since 2000, and I‘d never seen anything quite like it, before or since.

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