SVALBARD 78°59’30.4”N 20°18’21.3”E
Not yet satisfied that we had been investigated sufficiently, the mother bear suddenly launched herself up onto her back legs, her front paws flat on the side of the hull as she stretched up and sniffed the air. Her size was impressive—nearly the height of the boat. I began to shoot through one of the drain holes, giving me a lower perspective and one that was close to her eye height as she stood. This obviously caught her attention, and she immediately came over and stood up once more, right in front of the hole. I pushed myself as far back as I could, my back against the side of the boat as she poked her head through, followed by her paws sweeping left to right. Less than one meter separated us. The moments that followed were a blur, much like most of my photos. The distance and focus was too short for the lens, and my hands shook uncontrollably. My heart thumped through my chest. To be so close that I could smell her breath, see every detail of her snout, and look into her eyes cannot be put in words. After close inspection and her curiosity satisfied, she dropped back down onto all fours, gave the anchor a final sniff and began to walk away. The yearlings continued their examination for a short while longer before following, pausing a few times to look back at us. She, on the other hand, never turned back. We were of no interest to her now and she had the next meal to find to feed her family. We watched until they disappeared into the vast white landscape once more. It was 3:09 a.m. The perception of time was again distorted in this great land. Looking back, it seems impossible that this extraordinary experience had only lasted for 15 minutes. But they were 15 minutes that the Queen of the Arctic had chosen to spend with us. What a great privilege that was. all moments spent with wildlife are special, but bears hold a unique place in my heart. To me, they are not only a symbol of power, intelligence, and fragility, they are my guide. My first encounter with bears, and the moments that led up to and followed, changed me profoundly. The gratitude I felt for what I had experienced compelled me to want to do more and to give back. On my return home, I made a decision and promise that I would seek out every opportunity to do just that. Bears led me to this path that I am on and have taken me to some of the most beautiful places on the planet. They have inspired and taught me, and given my photography purpose and passion. These places no longer captured just my imagina- tion—now that I had experienced them, they had captured my heart. “Most Australian children were obsessed with the sun and the sand, but I was captivated by snowy landscapes—the rugged mountains, the glaciers, and the wildlife that called it home. Magical and otherworldly scenes that captured my imagination.”
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MOTHER VOLUME TWO
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