several years ago I was cruising along the coast of British Columbia up in
the coast of British Columbia up in
the coast of British Columbia up in northern on the west coast of Canada and
northern on the west coast of Canada and
northern on the west coast of Canada and Marvin Robinson a First Nation get gat
Marvin Robinson a First Nation get gat
Marvin Robinson a First Nation get gat guide a wonderful man came up to me and
guide a wonderful man came up to me and
guide a wonderful man came up to me and out of the blue does you know he’s got
out of the blue does you know he’s got
out of the blue does you know he’s got talking and he found out I was a
talking and he found out I was a
talking and he found out I was a photographer and he told me that Canada
photographer and he told me that Canada
photographer and he told me that Canada oil sands wants to ship their bid him in
oil sands wants to ship their bid him in
oil sands wants to ship their bid him in their oil their dirty crude through
their oil their dirty crude through
their oil their dirty crude through these narrow passageways and he said
these narrow passageways and he said
these narrow passageways and he said please help me can you do a story and
please help me can you do a story and
please help me can you do a story and help us keep these oil tankers out of
help us keep these oil tankers out of
help us keep these oil tankers out of there so I tried to think what could I
there so I tried to think what could I
there so I tried to think what could I do that would help bring attention to
do that would help bring attention to
do that would help bring attention to this area this sensitive fragile habitat
this area this sensitive fragile habitat
this area this sensitive fragile habitat and I thought I could do a story on the
and I thought I could do a story on the
and I thought I could do a story on the crow Modi bear the spirit bear the black
crow Modi bear the spirit bear the black
crow Modi bear the spirit bear the black bear that has the rare recessive gene
bear that has the rare recessive gene
bear that has the rare recessive gene that’s pure white and I thought if I
that’s pure white and I thought if I
that’s pure white and I thought if I could just get pictures of this really
could just get pictures of this really
could just get pictures of this really rare hard to find a loose of white bear
rare hard to find a loose of white bear
rare hard to find a loose of white bear then I can bring attention to this cause
then I can bring attention to this cause
then I can bring attention to this cause of trying to keep oil tankers out of
of trying to keep oil tankers out of
of trying to keep oil tankers out of this area it’s such a beautiful pristine
this area it’s such a beautiful pristine
this area it’s such a beautiful pristine habitat now proposing that story was one
habitat now proposing that story was one
habitat now proposing that story was one of the Dumber things I’ve ever done if
of the Dumber things I’ve ever done if
of the Dumber things I’ve ever done if this bear is more rare than the Panda it
this bear is more rare than the Panda it
this bear is more rare than the Panda it rains 24/7 in this area it’s not a nice
rains 24/7 in this area it’s not a nice
rains 24/7 in this area it’s not a nice place to work but off we went
place to work but off we went
place to work but off we went and I told Marvin Robinson the spirit
and I told Marvin Robinson the spirit
and I told Marvin Robinson the spirit bear get get guide that I was having a
bear get get guide that I was having a
bear get get guide that I was having a really hard time finding bears there was
really hard time finding bears there was
really hard time finding bears there was a place where tourists go they have a
a place where tourists go they have a
a place where tourists go they have a higher chance of seeing spirit bears I
higher chance of seeing spirit bears I
higher chance of seeing spirit bears I didn’t want to go there I don’t like the
didn’t want to go there I don’t like the
didn’t want to go there I don’t like the trees I didn’t like the habitat I didn’t
trees I didn’t like the habitat I didn’t
trees I didn’t like the habitat I didn’t want to be other run around other people
want to be other run around other people
want to be other run around other people I wanted to lose myself in the habitat
I wanted to lose myself in the habitat
I wanted to lose myself in the habitat with this wonderful bear and so he said
with this wonderful bear and so he said
with this wonderful bear and so he said I’ll put you on this Creek I can’t
I’ll put you on this Creek I can’t
I’ll put you on this Creek I can’t guarantee anything but I know of a great
guarantee anything but I know of a great
guarantee anything but I know of a great big male spirit bear and if you see him
big male spirit bear and if you see him
big male spirit bear and if you see him he’s wonderful he’s gentle and he’ll
he’s wonderful he’s gentle and he’ll
he’s wonderful he’s gentle and he’ll give you all your pictures and so I sat
give you all your pictures and so I sat
give you all your pictures and so I sat there for a month along the edge of this
there for a month along the edge of this
there for a month along the edge of this river and one day I’m walking back to
river and one day I’m walking back to
river and one day I’m walking back to the boat sort of you know my head held
the boat sort of you know my head held
the boat sort of you know my head held down low and camber gears all wet and
down low and camber gears all wet and
down low and camber gears all wet and kind of kind of bumming out and kind of
kind of kind of bumming out and kind of
kind of kind of bumming out and kind of miserable and thinking you know this
miserable and thinking you know this
miserable and thinking you know this it’s not going to end my career but you
it’s not going to end my career but you
it’s not going to end my career but you know it really it would really suck to
know it really it would really suck to
know it really it would really suck to fail a coverage for National Geographic
fail a coverage for National Geographic
fail a coverage for National Geographic and just tell him I couldn’t do it
and just tell him I couldn’t do it
and just tell him I couldn’t do it because I proposed it and they always
because I proposed it and they always
because I proposed it and they always remind us here that you know there a
remind us here that you know there a
remind us here that you know there a magazine they publish pictures not
magazine they publish pictures not
magazine they publish pictures not excuses so I’m walking back to the
excuses so I’m walking back to the
excuses so I’m walking back to the sailboat lost time I catch out of the
sailboat lost time I catch out of the
sailboat lost time I catch out of the corner of my eye there’s this big bear
corner of my eye there’s this big bear
corner of my eye there’s this big bear just sitting there on the forest beside
just sitting there on the forest beside
just sitting there on the forest beside me on the other side of the river I take
me on the other side of the river I take
me on the other side of the river I take a couple pictures he comes down to the
a couple pictures he comes down to the
a couple pictures he comes down to the river
river
river and he grabs a big salmon and before I
and he grabs a big salmon and before I
and he grabs a big salmon and before I know it I find my the the intensity I’ve
know it I find my the the intensity I’ve
know it I find my the the intensity I’ve been trying to get this moment now for
been trying to get this moment now for
been trying to get this moment now for three months the intensity of just
three months the intensity of just
three months the intensity of just wanting to get this situation I find
wanting to get this situation I find
wanting to get this situation I find myself three feet away from this bear
myself three feet away from this bear
myself three feet away from this bear I’m shooting this scene on a 16
I’m shooting this scene on a 16
I’m shooting this scene on a 16 millimeter lens wide-angle I’ve got
millimeter lens wide-angle I’ve got
millimeter lens wide-angle I’ve got off-camera flash going pop-up pop-up
off-camera flash going pop-up pop-up
off-camera flash going pop-up pop-up motor drives cooking
motor drives cooking
motor drives cooking he could hardly care that I was there he
he could hardly care that I was there he
he could hardly care that I was there he just ate his fish and he was so casual
just ate his fish and he was so casual
just ate his fish and he was so casual he would take his big pink salmon he
he would take his big pink salmon he
he would take his big pink salmon he would lay it up on a rock take one one
would lay it up on a rock take one one
would lay it up on a rock take one one nail one clod he’d cut it open suck the
nail one clod he’d cut it open suck the
nail one clod he’d cut it open suck the eggs out let the fish go and he would
eggs out let the fish go and he would
eggs out let the fish go and he would swim away with his belly cut open and I
swim away with his belly cut open and I
swim away with his belly cut open and I had you know I ended up killing a lot of
had you know I ended up killing a lot of
had you know I ended up killing a lot of fish following this bear up the river
fish following this bear up the river
fish following this bear up the river because he was wounding all these fish
because he was wounding all these fish
because he was wounding all these fish and it just made me sad for him but
and it just made me sad for him but
and it just made me sad for him but there and they were gonna die eventually
there and they were gonna die eventually
there and they were gonna die eventually in the spawning process and then I
in the spawning process and then I
in the spawning process and then I followed him into the forest you know
followed him into the forest you know
followed him into the forest you know I’ve always dreamed of being close to a
I’ve always dreamed of being close to a
I’ve always dreamed of being close to a barren of forest we’ve seen pictures of
barren of forest we’ve seen pictures of
barren of forest we’ve seen pictures of bears along rivers and I followed him
bears along rivers and I followed him
bears along rivers and I followed him into the forest and he’s eating this
into the forest and he’s eating this
into the forest and he’s eating this fish and all sudden he stands up and he
fish and all sudden he stands up and he
fish and all sudden he stands up and he walks right up to me he’s about a foot
walks right up to me he’s about a foot
walks right up to me he’s about a foot away from me two feet from me and he’s
away from me two feet from me and he’s
away from me two feet from me and he’s just staring at me and I’m crouched down
just staring at me and I’m crouched down
just staring at me and I’m crouched down I’m staring at him and he looks so
I’m staring at him and he looks so
I’m staring at him and he looks so relaxed and I realized that there was
relaxed and I realized that there was
relaxed and I realized that there was only one little entrance into this
only one little entrance into this
only one little entrance into this little cove and I was blocking his exit
little cove and I was blocking his exit
little cove and I was blocking his exit so I stepped to the side like this and
so I stepped to the side like this and
so I stepped to the side like this and he walked back and went down to the
he walked back and went down to the
he walked back and went down to the river and got another fish and this went
river and got another fish and this went
river and got another fish and this went on for two days and I got to the point
on for two days and I got to the point
on for two days and I got to the point where I could start shooting art of this
where I could start shooting art of this
where I could start shooting art of this you know artistic artful pictures of
you know artistic artful pictures of
you know artistic artful pictures of this bear when I photograph I use a
this bear when I photograph I use a
this bear when I photograph I use a formula I say 20 percent of your time
formula I say 20 percent of your time
formula I say 20 percent of your time just nail the picture get something get
just nail the picture get something get
just nail the picture get something get it sharp get in the middle you know get
it sharp get in the middle you know get
it sharp get in the middle you know get the exposure right give my editor
the exposure right give my editor
the exposure right give my editor something to look at and then once I get
something to look at and then once I get
something to look at and then once I get that I jump into the next 60 percent
that I jump into the next 60 percent
that I jump into the next 60 percent where I try and push the photography
where I try and push the photography
where I try and push the photography artistic boundaries a little bit you
artistic boundaries a little bit you
artistic boundaries a little bit you know here I was doing these three second
know here I was doing these three second
know here I was doing these three second exposures and bears never stopped moving
exposures and bears never stopped moving
exposures and bears never stopped moving their head so when I’m doing three
their head so when I’m doing three
their head so when I’m doing three second exposures I’ve got all these
second exposures I’ve got all these
second exposures I’ve got all these sharp butts and all these blurry heads
sharp butts and all these blurry heads
sharp butts and all these blurry heads and all you can see is sort of a white
and all you can see is sort of a white
and all you can see is sort of a white ball and so finally I got sick of this
ball and so finally I got sick of this
ball and so finally I got sick of this and I’ve taken about 500 pictures at
and I’ve taken about 500 pictures at
and I’ve taken about 500 pictures at this point and I waved my arm and I like
this point and I waved my arm and I like
this point and I waved my arm and I like this and he just goes stops for a second
this and he just goes stops for a second
this and he just goes stops for a second he stares that mean I go click and that
he stares that mean I go click and that
he stares that mean I go click and that was the only one that was sharp
was the only one that was sharp
was the only one that was sharp and then finally this I call this a walk
and then finally this I call this a walk
and then finally this I call this a walk so I followed him I followed him up into
so I followed him I followed him up into
so I followed him I followed him up into the forest and it was really sort of
the forest and it was really sort of
the forest and it was really sort of eerie you’re in this forest and it’s
eerie you’re in this forest and it’s
eerie you’re in this forest and it’s just shaved and paved forest is terrible
just shaved and paved forest is terrible
just shaved and paved forest is terrible but way up in the hills there was this
but way up in the hills there was this
but way up in the hills there was this one old-growth cedar that the the
one old-growth cedar that the the
one old-growth cedar that the the loggers left behind probably because it
loggers left behind probably because it
loggers left behind probably because it was culturally modified if you look at
was culturally modified if you look at
was culturally modified if you look at this here the the first nations probably
this here the the first nations probably
this here the the first nations probably you know hundreds of years ago cut off
you know hundreds of years ago cut off
you know hundreds of years ago cut off the bark to make baskets and that’s why
the bark to make baskets and that’s why
the bark to make baskets and that’s why the first nations think that that big
the first nations think that that big
the first nations think that that big beautiful red cedar was not taken down
beautiful red cedar was not taken down
beautiful red cedar was not taken down and the bear chose that tree to go to
and the bear chose that tree to go to
and the bear chose that tree to go to sleep on her and as we were heading out
sleep on her and as we were heading out
sleep on her and as we were heading out this we got this entire story out of
this we got this entire story out of
this we got this entire story out of three months we got it in a day and a
three months we got it in a day and a
three months we got it in a day and a half if you can imagine and it was on
half if you can imagine and it was on
half if you can imagine and it was on the last week of the three months and I
the last week of the three months and I
the last week of the three months and I was were heading out in the sailboat we
was were heading out in the sailboat we
was were heading out in the sailboat we see a bear up on a hillside eating crab
see a bear up on a hillside eating crab
see a bear up on a hillside eating crab apples and it was so dark they could
apples and it was so dark they could
apples and it was so dark they could hardly see but I thought I’d grab a
hardly see but I thought I’d grab a
hardly see but I thought I’d grab a couple pictures I wasn’t that excited by
couple pictures I wasn’t that excited by
couple pictures I wasn’t that excited by them at the time after having this
them at the time after having this
them at the time after having this incredible experience on the river but
incredible experience on the river but
incredible experience on the river but somehow it made the cover of National
somehow it made the cover of National
somehow it made the cover of National Geographic which was pretty exciting and
Geographic which was pretty exciting and
Geographic which was pretty exciting and it also was great because it gave my my
it also was great because it gave my my
it also was great because it gave my my girlfriend partner Christina minima who
girlfriend partner Christina minima who
girlfriend partner Christina minima who founded international League of
founded international League of
founded international League of Conservation photographers and when she
Conservation photographers and when she
Conservation photographers and when she found out we were there working she
found out we were there working she
found out we were there working she brought an entire team of the some of
brought an entire team of the some of
brought an entire team of the some of the world’s top photographers and she
the world’s top photographers and she
the world’s top photographers and she brought an NBC TV TV ABC Treehugger
brought an NBC TV TV ABC Treehugger
brought an NBC TV TV ABC Treehugger you know bloggers and Dahmer’s and she
you know bloggers and Dahmer’s and she
you know bloggers and Dahmer’s and she brought in everybody to bring attention
brought in everybody to bring attention
brought in everybody to bring attention to this cause and right now we’re
to this cause and right now we’re
to this cause and right now we’re currently still working with the First
currently still working with the First
currently still working with the First Nations and we’re we’re doing well we’re
Nations and we’re we’re doing well we’re
Nations and we’re we’re doing well we’re fighting a good fight against the
fighting a good fight against the
fighting a good fight against the counted oil sands and shipping their
counted oil sands and shipping their
counted oil sands and shipping their dirty oil through these waters and we
dirty oil through these waters and we
dirty oil through these waters and we need your help on that issue as well
”
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