Alaska Photo Graphics

Grizzly Bear Tracks, Naknek Lake

On a cool autumn morning I was up before sunrise with one other hearty fellow on a photography tour I was leading in Katmai National Park. There are no roads to this remote location, at Brooks Lodge, in western Alaska; people must arrive by float plane or travel up the Naknek River by small boat.

Our aim was to photograph brown bears, but in many ways I prefer landscapes and knew that on a clear morning, this lakeside scene would be a great location to make a photo. After spending considerable time setting up the tripod and filters, I looked down the beach and noticed a bear walking toward me along the water’s edge. We quickly grabbed our cameras and got out of the way. Once the bear passed, I rushed back to the same spot and set up just in time to catch the sunrise.

The tracks from the bear made a significant, unplanned contribution to the composition, a perfect addition for a landscape in one of the world’s most popular bear viewing locations. To express the presence of something that is not in the scene is sometimes difficult but can be subtle and strong at the same time. This image reflects both.