BEHIND THE SCENE

Polar bear families generally emerge from their dens in March and April, when cubs are strong enough to survive outside and ready to make their first trek to the sea ice. Exiting the den is a slow process. The mother will stay at or near the maternity den for several days while the cubs get used to the cold and explore the surroundings. Once the trek proper starts, the mother will periodically stop to nurse and rest. In stormy conditions, the mother bear will dig a “day den,” to protect her cubs from the elements.
The bond between mother and offspring, and between sibling and sibling, is very strong. It’s the only social structure among normally solitary polar bears to be recognized and identified by scientists. Playing, chasing, wrestling, fighting, cuddling and napping together are all part of daily life for a young bear. The cubs engage in fun and games that prepare them for their roles in life later on. Once weaned the siblings will stick together for a while hunting and playing. Mothers are extremely patient with they cub allowing them to bite, jump and pirouetting all over and around her.
Being able to observe cubs playing joyfully and tirelessly for hours is a photographer’s dream, but it’s certainly not an easy task. With temperatures that can drop below -40C, technical and physical challenges abound.

Cold is a challenge for your equipment as well as you yourself. If you’re uncomfortable you won’t be able to focus on the job. You must be clothed properly to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Knowing how and when to apply layers while avoiding perspiration is vital. Hydration is important but I’ve learned to manage my fluid intake.

Getting rid of surplus fluids is far from enjoyable in these conditions. Even when you’re comfortable physically, you face the technical challenge of operating a camera with all its small buttons while wearing bulky gloves.

Finally you have to accept the fact that, after a while, parts of the camera will freeze, and you need to find a way to work around that.

Batteries tend to freeze first, followed by the control panels and back monitor.

It comes with practice. You must be skilled enough to work your camera in blind mode. The only way to learn is to keep shooting and hope for the best.

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