polar bear – Roumazeilles.net

Polar bears of Wrangel Island

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 16:44:37 +0000

When you want to see polar bears in the wild, there is a name that keeps popping up: Wrangel Island. It is quite famous for having the highest density of bear dens where female congregate to give birth to polar cubs in December.

It is definitely difficult to reach (less than 6 expeditions are reaching the island in a given year, sometimes less than 5). There appears to be a very limited set of options (if you are not in direct contcat with the Russian government) to reach an island which is not only North of the Arctic Circle, but is isolated north of the Tchukotka province in the far East of Russia. But you know how it is: We needed to try it. So, we went on the Professor Khromov vessel used by Heritage Expeditions, in August 2018.

Did we see bears? Oh, yes! More than a hundred, probably. Was it good for photography? The answer is definitely murkier. Most of these bears were properly terrified by anything remotely human (a walking human being, a zodiac, even a ship). This has limited strongly the possibilities for photos. And we had to fully appreciate the few good photogenic encounters that we had.

Here are a few of the polar bear photos I brought from Wrangel and surroundings:

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus), ours polaire.
Wrangel Island, Russia.
August 2018.

Snow geese

A few lessons out of this:

Heritage guides should rely less on walking/trekking to approach wild life (No security issue here; We just would not approach most wild life this way). Zodiac cruises are difficult but more efficient and less stressing for the animals.
Bring a long lens (a big tele or a camera with a 400mm+ focal equivalent). Most point-and-shoots, many mirror-less and some heavy SLR options are available.
Use a pair of binoculars for approach.
Organize groups as small as possible (more people = more animal stress = less wildlife to see). Here, kudos to Heritage Expeditions which tend to spread the zodiac on a wide area, which quickly becomes more efficient.

A few bears from the Great North

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 16:35:54 +0000

The polar bears were found in the North of Nunavut, Canada, in August 2016. There were a few beluga whale carcasses in Conningham Bay. So much food that bears were very relaxed and did not care much about our zodiac boat (and or cameras). So, we could shoot a few good pictures of this great male and a few others (including the mother and child that are appearing in several of the images).

Conningham Bay, Nunavut, Canada, August 2016.
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, ours polaire).

Polar bears are marine mammals

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 11:24:02 +0000

Most people tend to forget it, but polar bears are living in the sea. They tend to get out to the ground (and be photographed more easily there), but they are more than at ease in the water.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, Ours polaire).
Conningham Bay, Nunavut, Canada.
August 2016.

Polar bear in Bellot Strait

Yves Roumazeilles — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 22:34:42 +0000

When crossing Bellot Strait, so narrow and so emblematic of the centuries-long search for the Northwest Passage, we came across this bear which seemed to be interested in mountain climbing (or those bird nests perched halfway up on the so-colourful rock).

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, Ours polaire).
Bellot Strait, Nunavut, Canada.
August 2016.

Backlit polar bear

Yves Roumazeilles — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 22:22:40 +0000

Lower Savage Island, Nunavut, Canada
August 2016.

Panoramic polar bear

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 22:58:10 +0000

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, Ours polaire).
Monumental Island, Nunavut, Canada.
August 2016.

Polar bear on a kill

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 22:51:26 +0000

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, Ours polaire).
Monumental Island, Nunavut, Canada.
August 2016.

Polar bear on red rock

Yves Roumazeilles — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 22:24:31 +0000

Lower Savage Island, Nunavut, Canada
August 2016.

Polar bear at Lower Savage Island

Yves Roumazeilles — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 22:21:24 +0000

Polar bears are not afraid of water. This is my evidence:

Lower Savage Island, Nunavut, Canada
August 2016.

Polar bear hunting – Seen from the prey’s eyes

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 17:19:18 +0000

Filmmaker Gordon Buchanan, while shooting a BBC documentary in Svalbard, Norway, experienced being considered as a prey worth hunting. Despite ending with no killing (the glass cage was strong enough), this must have been a real moment of stress.

Some of the photos shot by Gordon are in the article published in the Daily Mail Online.

Polar bear

Yves Roumazeilles — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:29:52 +0000

Polar bear

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, ours polaire)
Svalbard, June 2013.

Polar bear, king of Svalbard

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 22:04:46 +0000

Our paths crossed those of several bears (four at the end of the trip) in very different weather conditions. But it was possible to shoot some snapshots of the king of the North.

Polar bear

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus, ours polaire)
Svalbard, June 2013.

Polar bear: King of the Artic world

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:22:12 +0000

The polar bear is a fascinating animal. Marion Jonchères presents it in a photo and video documentary.

L'Ours Polaire – roi de l'Arctique par mjoncheres

Why nature photography is dangerous…

Yves Roumazeilles — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:31:24 +0000

…for the photo/cinema gear.

YouTube link

The icecap is breaking

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:13:23 +0000

Call Al Gore, please.