Low angled perspective on polar bears

The problem with so many photo tours that go to see the polar bears around Churchill, Canada is that the bears are viewed from huge tundra buggies that place a photographer at least 10 feet above the ground. If you stand and shoot from an adult height, that raises the angle another 5 or 6 feet. This means you're shooting down on the bears, and a perspective like that diminishes the stature and the power of these incredible predators. The only way to avoid a severe downward angle is to use a long lens -- 500mm or more -- and photograph them far from the vehicle. The lens will then be more parallel with the ground. However, it's much better to find a trip where you can shoot from ground level. A couple years ago I conducted a photo tour in which my group and I were enclosed in a compound protected by an electric fence and the bears were free. In this way, we could shoot through the photographer-friendly fence from ground level. The picture I've attached is an example. I didn't get the entire polar bear in the frame because I was shooting with my 500mm lens, but the massive bear was quite close-- about 30 feet away. I have other shots where I was actually laying on the ground shooting up at a bear! It was an incredible experience, and the images from the trip are so much better than those taken by other photographers from tundra buggies. My settings for this were 1/800, f/7.1, 800 ISO.

7 Comments

Dec 24, 2016, 12:59:32 PM

Jim - Hi Rosemary, Yes, a determined bear can break through the fence. That's why we had two Inuit guards with rifles loaded with rubber bullets. If a bear stays too close to the fence, they shoot it in the butt. The noise and the sting scares it and it runs away. Bears that fear humans are a good thing for the sake of both species.

Dec 24, 2016, 12:42:11 PM

Rosemary Sheel - Yikes. Fabulous shot but I just read "Ada Blackjack" a story of survival in the artic. And I wonder, are you sure that a very determined bear can't break through the fence?

Dec 24, 2016, 12:36:41 PM

Jim - Bill -- I need your email in order for me to let you know about the next polar bear trip. You can send it to: photos@jimzuckerman.com

Dec 24, 2016, 10:34:27 AM

Jim - Hi Bill, Thank you for your note. I am planning another trip to the polar bears now for more ground level shots, and I will let you know as soon as it's set in stone. Do you receive my free monthly eMagazine? If not, you can sign up for it using a link at the bottom of the home page on my website. I always announce my new tours in that.

Dec 24, 2016, 9:35:17 AM

Jim - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, Bob.

Dec 24, 2016, 8:47:38 AM

BILL BOSWELL - If you are running another trip where you get to be at ground level let me know please.

Dec 24, 2016, 7:31:57 AM

Bob Turner - I agree with you. I have not been to Churchill for that reason. I have been to Kaktovik many times and photographed bears from small boats or on the ground of the barrier island. Each time I visit Kaktovik I hope for snow as the bears get really dirty on the gravel island. Happy Holidays!

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Low angled perspective on polar bears

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